Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when three Stanford Research Institute engineers bought an abandoned winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyards had been planted in the late 19th century by a San Francisco physician who produced his first vintage in the original winery, called Monte Bello, in 1892. The first Ridge vintage was in 1962. John Olney is making the wines at Lytton Springs while Eric Baugher makes the wines at Monte Bello. Ridge makes Cabernet, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah and a variety of Rhone style wines.
When I first became interested in Zinfandel the buzz was always around the Three R’s of Zinfandel: Ravenswood, Rosenblum and Ridge. 30 years later Ridge is still at the top of its game, turning out single vineyard Zinfandel from some of California’s most precious vineyards.
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, 3% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet. Pretty nose of red and black fruit, plums and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Well balanced with lush and jammy fruits. Black cherry, black raspberry, earth and pepper on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Value and availability make this wine very appealing. Best over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 92 points.
Review based on sample provided by the winery.
This wine is widely available at around $25 per bottle.
I wrote about Ridge previously in New Releases from Ridge Vineyards.
Coincidentally, I just had a bottle of this a few nights ago. Such a good value and a very well made wine. I have so much respect for Ridge. A few years ago I had the opportunity to try a well stored bottle of Ridge Petit Sirah from the 70s and it was dynamite. The structure of Petite Sirah obviously facilitates longer aging but you know you are dealing with a great winery when they can make wines that last like that.
Your spot on. I think the blend is a big contributor to why these wines age so well.