Today we share one of California’s great wineries, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Ridge is one of the outstanding producers in the state, producing everything from tension-filled Chardonnay to inky Cabernet Sauvignon. Paul Draper helped put this winery on the map back in the 1960s. Draper saw the potential to make 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 adored the 2024 Ridge ‘Estate’ Chardonnay (OB, 97) which comes from the famed Monte Bello Vineyard and is a dazzling wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. I adore the 2023 Ridge ‘Monte Bello’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 99) which is a stunning wine that is built to age. Learn more about this historic winery at ridgewine.com Here are the amazing new release wines from Ridge Vineyards.
2025 Ridge ‘Heringer’ Chenin Blanc- Nicely textured, this shows off nutty nuances around shades of ripe melon and white plum. Enjoy now. Drink 2026-2031- 91
2024 Ridge ‘Estate’ Chardonnay- Sourced from the famed ‘Monte Bello Vineyard’ this incredible 2024 ‘Estate’ Chardonnay offers baking spice laced pastry crust and custard notes on the nose alongside shades of ripe banana and Japanese pear. The palate is dense and rich with sensational weight and length. This glides throughout the drinking experience, with a near minute-long finish. Extraordinary and very mineral-laden, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 97
2024 Ridge ‘Three Valleys’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘Three Valleys’ is 67% Zinfandel with 17% Carignan and smaller parts Mataro and Petite Sirah. This is juicy, forward and delicious with layers of red and dark fruits alongside milk chocolate and fresh sage. This is incredible wine for the price. Drink 2026-2033- 92
2024 Ridge ‘East Bench’ Zinfandel- 100% varietal, the outstanding 2024 ‘East Bench’ offers molten chocolate, tar and briar notes on the nose alongside suggestions of tobacco leaf. The palate is dense and delicious with a refined mouthfeel and great sense of weight and tension, loaded with salty nuances. Complex and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Ridge ‘Pagani Ranch’ Zinfandel- This 2024 Zinfandel has small parts Alicante Bouchet (9%), Petite Sirah (5%) and Mataro (4%) blended in. Inky in the glass, this is seamless throughout the drinking experience, with terrific freshness. Black and blue fruits collide with orange peel, wintergreen and shades of black licorice. Refined and luxurious on the mouth, with terrific length, enjoy now and over the next twelve plus years. Drink 2026-2039- 96
2024 Ridge ‘Paso Robles’ Zinfandel- Sourced from the Benito Dusi Ranch, the 2024 ‘Paso Robles’ Zinfandel offers sweet sandalwood and loganberry notes on the nose alongside suggestions of coffee grounds. The palate is plush and rich with terrific toffee and roasted fig notes alongside serious tension on the palate. Delicious now, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 95
2024 Ridge ‘Lytton Springs’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘Lytton Springs’ combines 78% Zinfandel with 13% Petite Sirah and small parts Carignane, Alicante and Grenache. Garrigue notes mark the nose alongside wild blackberry and suggestions of blood orange zest. This is elegant and fresh with a smooth mouthful and loads of salty/stony tension, with dried huckleberry fruit nuances. Enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next ten years. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 Ridge ‘Geyserville Vineyard’ Red Wine- The 2024 ‘Geyserville’ combines 71% Zinfandel with 19% Carignane and 8% Petite Sirah with a touch of Alicante. On the nose this takes on layers of milk chocolate and roasted dates alongside shades of espresso grounds with loganberry compote notes. The palate is plush, round and generous with a tremendous sense of salty tension and weight. Drink 2026-2042- 96
2023 Ridge ‘Santa Cruz Mountains’ Cabernet Sauvignon- All sourced from the famed ‘Monte Bello Vineyard’ this 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon has 19% Merlot blended in with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Red bell pepper and fresh sage mark the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings, Arabica bean and creme de cassis. The palate is lush and tension-filled with terrific tension and verve with a smooth texture. The combination of weight, length and finesse is seriously good. Drink 2026-2040- 94
2024 Ridge ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah- Inky in the glass, the 2024 Ridge ‘Lytton Estate’ Petite Sirah offers rich huckleberry and graphite tones on the palate, with dark chocolate shavings. Full-bodied and also very finesse-driven, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2039- 94