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 new releases.
2024 Ridge Vineyards Zinfandel Pagani Ranch – Bright crimson in color. 14.9% ABV. 82% Zinfandel, 9% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Petite Sirah and 4% Mataro. Sublime nose of red fruits, licorice, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with perfect acidity. Packed with bright, juicy fruits. Tremendous structure, concentration and balance. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, spiced plums and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Just a stunning vintage of Pagani Ranch that will drink well for at least a decade. $48 at the winery and retail. My rating: 95 points.
2024 Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs – Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 76% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 6% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Grenache. Brilliant nose of red and and black fruits, plums and baking spices. Medium to full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Packed with dark, tart fruits. Impressive structure and concentration. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, boysenberry and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. The 2024 Lytton Springs is a monumental effort. Best over the next 10-12 years. $56 at the winery and retail. My rating: 97 points.
2024 Ridge Vineyards Geyserville – Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah and 2% Alicante Bouschet. Beautiful nose of red fruits, citrus, earth and flowers. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Fresh, vibrant and well balanced. Cherry, raspberry, blood orange and roasted herbs on the palate. The finish is long and supple. This vintage of Geyserville is all about charm, elegance and finesse. Best over the next 6-8 years. $56 at the winery and retail. My rating: 96 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.
Great wines year after year!
I actually think the Zins have leveled up in the last few years.