Blog » 1992
-
Santa Cruz Late Release: Ahlgren Bates' Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot
My fondness for the old school winemaking mentality that can be regularly found in pockets of the Santa Cruz Mountains is no surprise. Names like Ridge, Mount Eden, and more recently Arnot-Roberts have proved emblematic of Cabernet Sauvignon's ability to show a more nuanced and earth-inflected tone in this ultra-cool zone of California. This is where my excitement for the variety reaches its fever pitch in America. There's always an element of mystery to these vineyards that have remained way off the radar as compared to Napa counterparts. Among the mysteries residing in the Santa Cruz Mountains, no winery elicits the same intrigue as that of the former Ahlgren Vineyards and their Bates Ranch bottlings.Posted by Alexander Rosen
Today, I'm happy to offer the late release direct from the winery of Ahlgren's 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon for $68, and their 2005 Merlot for $39. I've also created special 6-pack pricing to sharpen up this rare back-vintage offer even more.
Val and Dexter Ahlgren had been producing wines from this Boulder Creek zone of the Santa Cruz Mountains since the 70's. Upon their relatively recent retirement they had sold all of their library stock to a favorite distributor of mine whom I've long turned to for everything from Soldera Brunello to Foradori Teroldgeo to Cedric Bouchard champagne. When they announced these Ahlgren wines would be poured at their portfolio tasting I was very excited to taste. The results in bottle were so impressive I took every bottle available.
Now, I've painted the Santa Cruz Mountains with a broad brush in the past, describing a middle ground between Napa and Bordeaux for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot-based wines. When we talk about Ahlgren we need to pull away from this simple analogy a bit. Ahlgren produces wines from these two varieties with a transparency and light extraction that actually bears little resemblance to either Napa or Bordeaux. Ahlgren exists in its own category of style, and pointing to similar references wouldn't do these wines justice or accurately explain what you'll find in bottle.
For me, these late releases impress first and foremost in their soundness of fruit. These had been resting at the winery since initial bottling until their recent purchase.There's a singular sweet brown spice found in both the 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Merlot that's simply Bates Ranch. Tannin was never the basis of structure for these wines, interestingly enough from two varieties that rarely have a shortage in that department. Instead, it's the acidity and sense of freshness that serves as the wines' foundation today with bright red and black fruits pulsating with energy. Each has a soft and utterly drinkable quality that's at once fun and playful, yet lingers with dead-serious tertiary development that makes terroir the prime feature.
Late releases from wineries always offer something that's worthy of getting excited about. Especially in these more delicately constructed wines the provenance is so critical in enjoying them at their apogee. Today's final release from Ahlgren Vineyards Bates' Ranch is one that sums up why this ultra old school zone of California warrants so much attention.
Recent Articles
Tags
- 1.5
- 1.5l
- 12
- 1954
- 1959
- 1961
- 1964
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1973
- 19731978
- 1974
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1985
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 1er
- 1er cru
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 36
- 3L
- 4 Monos
- 5 ano
- 6 ano
- 6 pack
- 750
- 890
- 904
- a.j. adam
- abrossar
- accomasso
- Aglianico
- al
- alain
- albarin
- Albarino
- albe
- Albillo
- aldo conterno
- Alex Foillard
- alicante bouchet
- Aligote
- Allemand
- almonds
- Alsace
- alte
- alter holle
- Alto Piemonte
- alzinger
- Amarone
- Amity
- amphore
- Anjou
- antle vineyard
- Antonio galloni
- antoniolo
- arbois
- Arbois-Pupillin
- argile
- Arinto
- arnot roberts
- asili
- atalier
- atoine foucault
- Aubert de Villaine
- Auguste Clape
- auslese
- austria
- austrian
- Aux Malconsorts
- auxey duresses
- avize
- avni
- ayler
- baby margaux
- back vintage
- Baden
- Baga
- bairrada
- balnc
- balthazar
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- barbera d'alba
- Barolo
- Barraida
- barrigards
- bartelemy
- Basque Country
- bassenon
- Basso
- bastardo
- batard montrachet
- Bates Ranch
- BB
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais-Villages
- Beaune
- beauroy
- Beaux Bruns
- Beer
- Benanti
- benchmark
- benje tinto
- bernard
- Beru
- Bianco
- Bien Nacido
- bienvenues
- bienvenues batard
- Bierzo
- bilbro
- bildstock
- biodynamic
- biondi
- blanc
- blanc de blancs
- blanco
- blau
- blonde
- Blot
- blue fruit
- Bockenauer
- boisson
- Bonnes Mares
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- boudignon
- boudots
- boulay
- bourg
- Bourgogne
- bourgogne blanc
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Bourgueil
- Branco
- bressandes
- bretonniere
- Breze
- brovia
- BruEmm
- brunate
- brunate-Le coste
- brune
- Brunello
- Brunello di Montalcino
- brut
- brut nature
- bruyeres
- bugundy
- bunker hill
- burguet
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- california
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- canneyt
- cannubi
- cannubi (san lorenzo)
- Cappellano
- cappuccio
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carinyena
- carmenere
- caroline morey
- Carricante
- Cascina
- cascina franca
- Cascina Francia
- Cassis
- castell
- cava
- Caves San Joao
- celler
- ceps centenaires
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- certified
- cevins
- Chablis
- chache
- Chaillot
- chalk
- chambertin
- Chambeyron
- chambolle
- Chambolle Musigny
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champ Gain
- Champagne
- champange
- champans
- champs gains
- chapelle des bois
- Chardonnay
- chardoonay
- Charlemagne
- charlie trotter
- charlopin
- Charmes
- charpentrie
- charvin
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateau Thivin
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavaroche
- Chave
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenas
- chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Cherbaudes
- chevalier
- chevalier montrachet
- chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- chinato
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christiane
- Christoph Schaefer
- Ciro Picariello
- citrine
- Clairette
- Clape
- Classique
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- clos de guichaux
- Clos de la Grand Coeur
- clos de la grand cour
- clos de la marchale
- Clos de la Roilette
- Clos de la Rue
- clos des aigrots
- clos des chenes
- Clos des Ducs
- Clos des Mouches
- clos du bourg
- Clos du Chapitre
- clos du chateau des ducs
- clos du roy
- Clos du Verseuil
- CLos Prieur
- clos rougeard
- Clos Saint-Joseph
- clos st. jacques
- Clos Vougeot
- Club de Cosechadores
- clusel roch
- co
- Coastal
- Coche
- Coche-Dry
- Colin
- collier
- Collines Rhodaniennes
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Combe Aux Moines
- combottes
- complantee
- Comtes Lafon
- conterno
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Cool Climate
- Coombsville
- Corbieres
- Corison
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- cornu
- Corse
- Corsica
- Cortese
- corton
- corton-bressandes
- coste
- Cotat
- cote
- Cote Brune
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- Coteaux Bassenon
- coteaux champenois
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes de Provence
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Cras
- Crinquand
- crozes
- Crozes-Hermitage
- cru
- cry
- CS
- cuvee
- cuvee alexandrine
- cuvee reserve
- Cuvee Syrah
- Cuvee Tradition
- cuvee vigne alte
- d'alba
- D'Angerville
- Dagueneau
- dard
- Dauvissat
- dd
- de
- De Montille
- de valtuille
- del
- dervieux
- dessus
- dexter
- Dijon
- Dogliani
- Dolcetto
- Dolomites
- domaine
- Domaine Chave
- Domaine de la Cadette
- Domaine de la Cras
- Domaine du Bagnol
- domestic
- dominik Huber
- dominique
- Domprobst
- double magnum
- dry
- duc des nauves
- Dujac
- dutraive
- east block
- Ecueil
- edmond
- Egon Müller Scharzhofberger
- Eichberg
- el rapolao
- electric
- emilien
- En Champans
- En Combe Roy
- en coteaux
- encinas
- enfield
- enfield wine co
- Eola
- Eola-Amity Hills
- eric
- estate
- Etna
- experience
- extra brut
- Falanghina
- fass 12
- fass 7
- faury
- faviken
- fellom ranch
- Felseneck
- figari
- Fixin
- Fleurie
- folatieres
- Fontanasanta
- food tread
- for ross-seaview
- Foradori
- forest
- forets
- fossati
- fourrier
- fox hill
- France
- francesco
- Francia
- franco fiorina
- Francomar
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- frederic
- Freisa
- fresh
- freu
- fritz haag
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Frohlich
- Fronholz
- fruity
- Fuoripista
- G.B. Burlotto
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Gavi
- Genevieres
- Genevrieres
- gentaz
- gerard
- Germain
- German
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- geyserville
- GG
- Ghemme
- Ghislaine Barthod
- giacomo
- Gigondas
- Gilles
- ginger
- giulia
- giuseppe
- gnemiz
- godello
- gold standard
- Goldkapsel
- gonon
- Goulots
- Gour de Chaule
- Graach
- graillot
- Gramenon
- gran reserva
- Granato
- granbussia
- grance
- Grand Colline
- Grand Cru
- Grands Charrons
- Grands-Echezeaux
- Granite Terroir
- graviers
- Greco di Tufo
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- greves
- griffe de marquis
- Grille midi
- griotte
- Griotte Chambertin
- Griotte-Chambertin
- grolleau
- Grosjean
- Grotte Alte
- gruenchers
- gruner veltliner
- gruyaches
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- hajo
- halbtrocken
- Haro
- haut
- haut medoc
- haute-cotes de beaune
- Hautes cote de nuits
- hayne vineyard
- haynes
- haynes chardonnay
- hectare
- henri jayer
- hermitage
- Hermitage Blanc
- Hermtage
- heron lake
- Herve
- Hills
- himmelreich
- Hirotake ooka
- hope well
- Hubacker
- hubert
- huet
- IGP
- IGT
- indiana jones
- italian
- Italy
- jaboulet
- Jacky
- jacques
- jamet
- jasmin
- jean luc
- jean michel stephan
- jean-marie
- Jean-Michel
- jeroboam
- jewel
- jj prum
- joao
- john lockwood
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- Jose Pastor
- Joseph Drouhin
- Juge
- julian haart
- Jura
- kabinett
- Kallstadter
- Karthäuserhof
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- king
- kings vineyard
- kirschenmann
- Klaus Peter Keller
- koehler
- koehler-ruprecht
- Kronos Vineyard
- kupp
- kye
- l'esprit
- l'etonnat monsieur victor
- l;ultime
- La Baronne
- La Bidode
- La Charme Aux Pretes
- la charmes aux pretres
- La Chatelaine
- la claudrina
- la combe
- la del vivo
- la fresnaye
- la Geynale
- La Ghibellina
- La guiraude
- la landonne
- la madonne
- La Rioja Alta
- la ripaille
- la taille aux loups
- la vitoriana
- lafarge
- langhe
- Languedoc
- Late Release
- Lavaux Saint Jacques
- le chapitre
- le clos
- le coste
- le haut-lieu
- le mesnil
- le mont
- Le Pied de la Rue
- le poutet
- le pur
- le trezin
- Leflaive
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- Les Amoureuses
- les arboises
- Les Arvelets
- Les Barrigards
- les beaux regards
- Les Bons Batons
- les caillerets
- Les Cazetiers
- les champs canet
- les champs perdrix
- Les Chapaudaises
- les chaumees
- les chevalieres
- Les Crais
- les cran
- Les Cras
- Les Fuees
- les grandes places
- Les Grands Epenots
- les longeroies
- Les macherelles
- les manyes
- Les Minots
- Les Mitans
- les monts fournois
- les motelles
- les moulins
- Les Pallieres
- Les Petits Monts
- Les petits Vougeots
- les peyrouses
- Les Pezerolles
- Les Referts
- les rieux
- Les Rougeots
- Les Rugiens
- Les Rugiens-Bas
- Les Sentiers
- Les Suchots
- Les Taillepieds
- Les Tillets
- les tosses
- Les Veroilles
- Lessona
- Levet
- library
- Lieu Dit en Papolet
- lieu-dit
- Limestone
- limit
- lisbon
- little hill
- little hillwest block
- loibner
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Lopez de Heredia
- low sulphur
- lust
- lychee
- lytton springs
- Macabeau
- Macon
- magic
- Magma
- Magnon
- magnum
- mailloche
- Mainin
- malbec
- Malvasia
- Manzoni Bianco
- Marc Roy
- margaux
- marl
- marsannay
- marsanne rousanne
- martinenga
- Mascarello
- Maxime
- Mazis-Chambertin
- mead ranch
- Mediterranean
- medoc
- Meix Chavaux
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- mencia
- mendocino
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Mersault
- mes favorites
- Meursault
- michel lafarge
- mimis mind
- mind bending
- mineral
- mix pack
- moccagatta
- Mondeuse Blanche
- monfortino
- monopole
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Monte bello
- montee de tonnere
- Montee de Tonnerre
- Montefalco
- montefico
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- montmains
- montrachet
- monttrachet
- monvigliero
- morey
- Morey Saint Denis
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- mosel saar ruwer
- moulin de tricot
- Moulin-a-Vent
- mount eden
- mountains
- Muenchberg
- mugnier
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- musigny
- musingy
- Nahe
- napa
- Napa Valley
- narvaux
- native yeast
- natur
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero d'Avola
- Nero di Lupo
- New California
- niellucciu
- no additives
- No Sulfur
- non-vintage
- north coast
- Northen Rhone
- northern California
- Northern Rhone
- Nosiola
- nouvelle R
- Nuits
- nuits saint george
- nuits saint georges
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- NV
- oberberg
- Occhipinti
- off dry
- oger
- old vine
- Orange
- Oregon
- organic
- osso san grato
- Ostertag
- oubilee
- outis
- outlier
- Overnoy
- oyster
- PA
- Pardas
- paso robles
- Passetoutgrain
- patchwork
- Patrick Baudouin
- pearl
- Peñafiel
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- pernand vergelesses
- Perrieres
- persan
- peter lauer
- peter martin ray
- petillant
- petit verdot
- Petite Arvine
- petite syrah
- Peyrouses
- Pezerolles
- Pfalz
- Pfersigberg
- pian del ciampolo
- pie
- Pie franco
- pie rupestris
- Piedmont
- piedmontese
- pierre
- pierre gonon
- pierre Yves Colin Morey
- Pietra Marina
- pigs stomach
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot GRis
- pinot meunier
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Plaisir
- Ploussard
- Poco do Lobo
- Poignee de Raisins
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- porto
- Portugal
- poruzots
- poruzots-dessus
- Poulsard
- pre-phylloxera
- premier
- premier cru
- premier cry
- pretty horses
- priorat
- Produttori
- produttori del barbaresco
- Prousots
- Provence
- PT
- pucelles
- pugnane di castiglione
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- pulingy montrachet
- PYCM
- QBA
- qualitatswein
- R
- rabaja
- Rajat Parr
- Ramonet
- raul perez
- ravera
- red
- red blend
- reduction
- reflet d'Antan
- Regnie
- reiserva speciale
- remensis rose
- remi jobard
- Renaissance
- reserva
- reserve
- Reynard
- rheinberg
- rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- ribo
- Ribolla Gialla
- Ridge
- ried
- Riesling
- right bank
- rinaldi
- Rioja
- riserva
- Robert michel
- Roccalini
- rodchen
- romanee
- ronco
- rosae
- Rose
- rose-marie
- rosso
- rostaing
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roulot
- Rousanne
- Roussillon
- Rozeta
- RR
- rubicon
- rupestris
- ruprecht
- russian river
- ruwer
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- saint
- Saint Amour
- saint emilion
- Saint Esteph
- saint jacques
- saint joseph
- Saint-Aubin
- Saint-Joseph
- San Fereolo
- san lorenzo
- San Zuan
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- sans soufre
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Rita Hills
- santenay
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumaged
- saumagen
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- savagnin
- Savoie
- Schafer
- Schäfer-Fröhlich
- schiste
- Schoenfels
- sciacacarellu
- sciaccarellu
- sec
- sekt
- selection
- senior
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Serralunga d'alba
- Sgarzon
- Siccagno
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Sierra du Sud
- Sigaut
- singular
- singulier
- sisters
- sitges
- Skin Contact
- Skin Fermented White
- Slate
- small production
- smaragd
- So'Brune
- sol
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Souhaut
- souillard
- sous fretille
- sous la tour
- Sous la Velle
- Southern Rhone
- SP68
- Spain
- sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- spatlese
- speciale
- spicy
- st. amour
- st. helena
- St. Pierre de soucy
- stater west
- stein
- steinertal
- stems
- Stephan
- strawberry
- summer of riesling
- Super Tuscan
- Superiore
- supernova
- sweetwater
- sylvain pataiile