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WINERY REFLECTIONS

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Santa Cruz Mountains

The Santa Cruz Mountains wine region, located south of San Francisco in Northern California, is an exciting and largely underappreciated area. While the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA was officially approved in 1981 wine has been produced here for nearly as long as in the rest of California. The majority of this mountainous region is populated by dense old growth redwood forests. Vineyards here tend to be small and situated in particularly favorable microclimates that allow for complete ripening of fruit. Soils here are riddled with granite and relatively infertile leading most vines to produce small yields of tremendous quality. The area is most known for production of high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but the warmest microclimates can also produce world class wines made from Bordeaux varietals. Farming in this remote region requires passion, effort, and intentionality so very few budget or bulk wines are produced here. If a wine says Santa Cruz Mountains AVA on the label chances are its going to be good!

Black Ridge Vineyards

July 14, 2021
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Dried Bing cherry, sautéed mushroom, rhubarb purée. Boysenberry preserves, fallen pine needle, dehydrated raspberry…

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Black Ridge Vineyards, Pinot Noir
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Black Ridge Vineyards

August 12, 2020
Black Ridge Vineyards Chardonnay.jpg

Juicy pineapple, vibrant honeysuckle, freshly baked apple pie. Sweet mango, ocean air, cinnamon poached pear…

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Chardonnay, Black Ridge Vineyards
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Black Ridge Vineyards

May 18, 2020
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Tart black currant, loose-leaf tobacco, young blackberry. Damson plum, smooth graphite, dark chocolate…

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Black Ridge Vineyards, Red
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Pescadero Vineyards

April 30, 2020
Pascale Pinot Noir.jpg

Vibrant cranberry, pine tree, tart red cherry. Crunchy rhubarb, exotic spice, young black raspberry…

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Pescadero Vineyards, Pinot Noir
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Big Basin Vineyards

April 16, 2019
Big Basin Syrah.jpg

Wild blackberry, cold charcoal, raw acai. Dark cherry, cracked pepper, tart huckleberry…

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Big Basin Vineyards, Syrah
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Ridge Vineyards

July 13, 2018
Ridge Monte Bello.jpg

Crafted by legendary winemaker Paul Draper using a minimal intervention approach, the 2014 Ridge Monte Bello is composed of a blend...

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In Wine, Santa Cruz Tags Ridge Vineyards
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Wild blackberry, worn leather, dark cherry pit. Red delicious apple, wild herbs, black licorice. A marvelously complex and concentrated eruption of blueberry, fig, and dark plum booms with dense yet delightfully juicy intensity as complicating impres
Tart blackberry, sage brush, wild cherry. Ripe strawberry, fresh wildflowers, crushed cranberry. A excitingly juicy and expressive fruit core packed with black currant, raspberry, and pluot writhes with tense and youthful exuberance while pronounced
Poached yellow apple, blooming jasmine, ripe mango. Peach cobbler, struck match, warm grapefruit. An irresistibly pure and succulent parade of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and brûléed pear playfully prances with incredible energy and expressi
Plush dark cherry, ground coriander, rhubarb purée. Juicy blueberry, forest floor, cranberry preserves. An intriguingly lifted and layered display brimming with tart blackberry, strawberry, and orange zest booms with incredibly high toned and
White raspberry, crushed rocks, grapefruit zest. Rainier cherry, rose water, mirabelle plum. Strikingly dainty and delicate waves of red pear, lemon, and nectarine lead a pure and wonderfully pretty attack that comes across as tart and crisp while al
Wild blackberry, worn leather, dark cherry pit. Red delicious apple, wild herbs, black licorice. A marvelously complex and concentrated eruption of blueberry, fig, and dark plum booms with dense yet delightfully juicy intensity as complicating impres Tart blackberry, sage brush, wild cherry. Ripe strawberry, fresh wildflowers, crushed cranberry. A excitingly juicy and expressive fruit core packed with black currant, raspberry, and pluot writhes with tense and youthful exuberance while pronounced Poached yellow apple, blooming jasmine, ripe mango. Peach cobbler, struck match, warm grapefruit. An irresistibly pure and succulent parade of Meyer lemon, pineapple, and brûléed pear playfully prances with incredible energy and expressi Plush dark cherry, ground coriander, rhubarb purée. Juicy blueberry, forest floor, cranberry preserves. An intriguingly lifted and layered display brimming with tart blackberry, strawberry, and orange zest booms with incredibly high toned and White raspberry, crushed rocks, grapefruit zest. Rainier cherry, rose water, mirabelle plum. Strikingly dainty and delicate waves of red pear, lemon, and nectarine lead a pure and wonderfully pretty attack that comes across as tart and crisp while al