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 is the Winemaker at Ridge Lytton Springs.
The winery recently sent me samples of some of their upcoming releases.
2022 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Blasi – Crimson in color 14.7% ABV. 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah from Metcalfe Vineyard in the Chalk Hill AVA of Sonoma County. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, licorice, peach and citrus. Medium body with perfect acidity. Packed with plush, rich fruits. Impeccable balance. Cherry, raspberry compote, blood orange and white pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Definitely and up and coming Zinfandel in the Ridge portfolio. Best over the next 4-6 years. $42 at the winery and retail. My rating: 94 points.
2022 Ridge Vineyards Rockpile – Purple in color. 14.2% ABV. 68% Zinfandel and 32% Petite Sirah from Botticelli Vineyard in the Rockpile AVA of Sonoma County. Sublime nose of black fruits, anise and pepper. Full bodied with medium acidity. Dark fruited and well balanced. Black cherry, blackberry, plums and pepper on the palate. The finish is silky smooth. The Petite Sirah is the hero here and this wine will certainly age well. Best over the next 6-8 years. $42 at the winery and retail. My rating: 93 points.
2022 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs (50th Anniversary Bottling) – Purple in color. 14.4% ABV. 67% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Savory nose of black fruits, tobacco and flowers. Full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Dark fruits, structure and concentration in spades. Black cherry, blackberry, plums and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. The 50th Anniversary bottling of Lytton Springs has the stuffing to drink well for a decade if not longer. $56 at the winery and retail. My rating: 95 points.
2022 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Pagani Ranch – Crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. 82% Zinfandel, 9% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Petite Sirah and 4% Mataro. Stunning nose of red fruits, citrus and baking spices. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. Amazing purity of fruits. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, blood orange and a hint of earth on the palate. Always one of my favorite Zins in the Ridge lineup and the 2022 is stellar. Best over the next 4-6 years. $51 at the winery and retail. My rating: 96 points.
2022 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Pagani Ranch Norma’s Block – Purple in color. 14.4% ABV. 78% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Grand Noir and 4% Lenoir from the oldest and best blocks of Pagani Ranch. Killer nose of red fruits, anise and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Bursting with bright, juicy fruits. Cherry, strawberry, crushed raspberries and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and seamless. Ridge captured lightning in a bottle here. Truly the essence of Pagani Ranch on full display. Best over the next 4-6 years. $42 at the winery and retail. My rating: 97 points.
You can read more about Norma’s Block on the Ridge Wine Blog.
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.