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 Head Winemaker at Ridge. Shauna Rosenblum was recently named the Winemaker at Ridge Lytton Springs.
Ridge recently sent me samples of a few wines that were previously released.
2021 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Benito Dusi – Bright crimson in color. 15.3% ABV. 100% Zinfandel. Sensational nose of red fruits, licorice and baking spices. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Absolutely packed with bright, juicy fruits. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, boysenberry and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Always one of my favorite wines in the Ridge Zinfandel portfolio. Best over the next 3-5 years. $40 at the winery. My rating: 96 points.
2021 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Pagani Ranch – Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 90% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah and 5% Alicante Bouschet. Brilliant nose of red fruits, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Lush upfront fruits on a wine with notable power and concentration. Cherry, raspberry compote, strawberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Another in a long line of breathtaking Zins from the iconic Pagani Ranch. Best over the next 5-7 years. $50 at the winery and retail. My rating: 96 points.
2021 Ridge Lytton Springs – Crimson in color. 14.3% ABV. 72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carigane and a smattering of Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault and Counoise. Heady nose of red and black fruits, licorice and flowers. Medium to full bodied with strong acidity. Power and concentration in spades. Blackberry, crushed raspberries and charred meat on the palate. The finish is long with prominent, gritty tannins. This will be a long lived Lytton Springs. Give this a few years in the cellar and drink over the next decade. $55 at the winery and retail. My rating: 94 points.
Ridge has been defined by their Zin program for as long as I can remember and in recent years these wines have soared to new heights.
The entire Ridge lineup is available at the winery and for the most part at retail as well. Exceptional wines that are fairly priced, well crafted and easy to find. Everyone is always looking for the latest and greatest when it comes to wine. Sometimes it pays to stick with the tried and true. There is so much to like here.