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.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys – Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. 71% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Savory nose of dark fruits, baking spices and earth. Full bodied with ample acidity. Big, rich and grapey. Black cherry, blackberry cobbler, plums and earth on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Delicious, approachable and fairly priced. Best over the next 2-3 years. $36 at the winery and retail. My rating: 93 points.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel East Bench – Bright crimson in color. 14.3% ABV. 100% Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley. Brooding nose of black fruits, baking spices and flowers. Medium to full bodied with just the right amount of acidity. Big, dark and earthy. Blackberry, boysenberry, earth and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. Delicious Zinfandel that embodies the Dry Creek. Best over the next 3-4 years. $40 at the winery and retail. My rating: 92 points.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Paso Robles – Dark crimson in color. 14.9% ABV. 100% Zinfandel from Benito Dusi Ranch in Paso Robles. High toned nose black fruits, licorice and mint. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and balance. Rich, silky and concentrated. Blackberry, raspberry liqueur, strawberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Sublime Zinfandel that will drink well for another 3-5 years. $46 at the winery and retail. My rating: 94 points.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Pagani Ranch – Crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. 79% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 9% Petite Sirah and 2% Mataro. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, cocoa, citrus and licorice. Medium body with tremendous acidity. Concentrated, dark fruits in spades. Cherry, strawberry, blood orange and earth on the palate. The finish is long and smooth. Super Zinfandel from the iconic Pagani Ranch. This will age well. Best over the next 6-8 years. $46 at the winery and retail. My rating: 94 points.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs – Dark crimson in color. 14.4% ABV. 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro. Showstopping nose of red and black fruits, plums, earth and pepper. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. There is a remarkable core of dark fruits presented in a package with notable power, structure and concentration. Blackberry, raspberry liqueur, marionberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. This is a Lytton Springs for the ages. Best over the next decade or so. $56 at the winery and retail. My rating: 96 points.
2023 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville – Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Beautiful nose of red fruits, baking spices, anise and pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity and impeccable balance. Packed with juicy, intense fruits. Raspberry, cherry, tobacco leaves and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. This wine has the stuffing to drink well for the next decade. Blockbuster Geyserville. $56 at the winery and retail. My rating: 96 points.
I’ve been fortunate enough to try the new release Zins from Ridge for many years. On the whole this is the biggest set of Zins from Ridge in recent memory. All of these wines could use some time in the cellar.
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.