One of California’s truly great winery, Ridge got its start with Paul Draper all the way back in the 1960s. Draper saw the calling to produce a range of varietals in the Santa Cruz Mountains as this high-elevation site is set at 2300. This is a must-visit for any lover of great California wine. Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon achieved international fame for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” wine tasting.
I loved the new wines by Ridge. Check out the fabulous 2021 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay (OB, 97) which is one of the finest Chardonnays that I have tasted all year. Big, viscous and broad-shouldered, with serious aging potential, this is a total stunner. Learn more about this historic winery at ridgewine.com Here are the amazing new release wines from Ridge Vineyards.
2023 Ridge Grenache Blanc- Mostly sourced from the Fossil Creek and Adelaida Vineyards, the 2023 Grenache Blanc has 14% Picpoul, and 2% Roussanne blended in. Mostly stainless steel fermented, this offers bright kiwi, green papaya and shades of salted cashew nut on the palate with a smooth texture. Seriously good now, enjoy over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2021 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay- Truly one of the outstanding new world Chardonnays, the 2021 ‘Monte Bello’ Chardonnay was stored in mainly American oak barrels (18% new) before bottling. This really needs about an hour to breathe. Everything is in total harmony here. Vanilla and pear notes mingle well with peaches, and shades of banana on the nose. The palate is viscous, seamless and beautifully textured, as this glides throughout the drinking experience. While quite rich, the dazzling underlying tension produces a mouth-watering effect, as the mid-palate flavor density and flavor range really drives this beauty. This has both the poise and opulence to cellar well for another fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 97
2022 Ridge ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine- The outstanding 2022 Ridge ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine is now the 50th bottling of this wine. Mainly Zinfandel (67%) with 19% Petite Sirah and the remainder Carignan and Alicante, this offers rich dark fruits and chocolate on the nose alongside black rose petals. The palate is rich and seamless on the palate, with gorgeous texture and length. A big and broad wine, with dark chocolate, black cherry and red raspberry core, this is already drinking beautifully now. Drink 2024-2040- 95
2022 Ridge ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- The 2022 ‘Pagani Ranch’ has 9% Alicante Bouchet as well as smaller portions Petite Sirah and Mataro blended in. This is rich and concatenated Zinfandel, showing chocolate with bramble, red cherry and dill notes on the nose. The palate is fresh and beautifully textured, with serious depth and structure. The balance here is impeccable despite the obvious warmth of the vintage. Drink 2024-2034- 95
2022 Ridge ‘Blasi’ Zinfandel- The 2022 ‘Blasi’ Zinfandel has a touch of Petite Sirah blended in. Fresh herbs and bright red fruits combine with citrus peel and cardamom on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with good elegance and richness. Showing beautifully right now, this will continue to evolve well for at least another decade. Drink 2024-2034- 94
2022 Ridge ‘Pagani Ranch Norma’s Block’ Zinfandel- A stunning wine and a truly novel blend, the 2022 Ridge ‘Pagani Ranch Norma’s Block’ Zinfandel has 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Grand Noir, and 4% Lenoir blended in. White pepper dusted coffee bean and dark chocolate shavings meld well with cinnamon and allspice alongside boysenberry fruit flavors on the palate. Fresh and showing great nerve, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039- 95
2022 Ridge ‘Evangelho’ Red Wine- Coming from Costa County, the 2022 ‘Evangelho’ combines 55% Carignane with the remainder Zinfandel and Mataro. This shows spicy, savory and salty notes on the nose alongside pretty red florals and shades of menthol. The palate is rich and soft with a serious sense of nerve and seamless drinking experience. Showing no rough edges, this beautifully balanced and red fruit-driven blend will cellar well for another fifteen years. But why wait? Drink 2024-2039- 96
2022 Ridge ‘Rockpile’ Red Wine- The 2022 Ridge ‘Rockpile’ Red Wine has a large portion of Petite Sirah (32%) blended in. Chocolate and roasted figs mark the palate, alongside good structure and depth, with boysenberry fruit and salty nuances. Delicious now, this has both the stuffing and finesse to cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2024-2038- 94
2022 Ridge ‘Sandy Lane’ Carignane- The beautiful and 100% varietal 2022 Ridge ‘Sandy Lane’ Carignane opens with a beautiful bouquet of black rose petals, wild blackberry and garrigue alongside suggestions of loamy soils and tobacco leaf. Soft and very approachable right now, with a great concentrated core of black and red fruits, this is drinking marvelously in its heady youth. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2024-2036- 95
2021 Ridge ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah- The outstanding 2021 Ridge ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah sits dense in the glass, as this 100% varietal offers tar, black licorice, black rose petals and graphite notes on the nose. The palate is beautifully textured, filled with dense black and blue fruits that parade with shades of creme de violette flavors. Great now, enjoy this over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2024-2039- 94