Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/17414
Top of Their Game Ridge Vineyards Is Still Stunning Ridge Vineyards winemakers (left to right) Eric Baugher, VP of Winemaking, Monte Bello; founding winemaker and CEO Paul Draper; John Olney, VP of Winemaking, Lytton Springs. WHEN PAUL DRAPER AND A GROUP OF FRIENDS founded Ridge Vineyards in the remote Santa Cruz Mountains in 1962, they created what would quickly become an iconic California winery. Now, almost 50 years later, Ridge is still at the top of its game, with its stunning single-vineyard Zinfandels at the core of a near-faultless portfolio that also include the classic Cab-driven Monte Bello estate wine and a superb Chardonnay. I’ll let my recent tasting notes speak for themselves. California ($60) Silky with smooth texture and rounded fruit, crisp acidity and a nice hint of cinnamon; rich and yet quite elegant with length and balance. 92 ($145) Fresh and juicy with enormous depth and rich plum and raspberry fruit; silky, supple and showing balance, elegance and finesse as well as great aging potential; another classic from this amazing vineyard. 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 96 Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley ($26) Smooth and dense with blackberry and spice; racy and rich and showing good acidity and texture; long and juicy. 89 Sonoma County ($35) Mellow and lush with smooth texture and silky plum, cassis and spice; pillowy and rich with a pleasant tanginess; long and generous. 72% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro. 90 Ridge Vineyards 2008, Geyserville Vineyard, Ridge Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel, East Bench Ridge Vineyards 2007 Monte Bello, California Ridge Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay, Monte Bello, 92 91 88 Dry Creek Valley ($35) Bright and juicy with wild berries, sweet summer plums and racy acidity; smooth, seamless and complete with balance and elegance plus a long, homogeneous finish. 74% Zinfandel, 21% Petite Sirah, 5% Carignane. 94 Ridge Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel, York Creek Vineyard, Napa Valley ($30) Crisp and racy with lovely plum, berry and spice flavors with superb structure and elegant acidity; a lovely sophisticated take on Zin; fresh, bright and balanced with a long, stylish finish. Ridge Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel, Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley ($35) Dark and dense with intense plum, blackberry and pomegranate fruit; very ripe and concentrated with a touch of jamminess and lots of spice and vanilla; rich and long. Ridge Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel, Benito Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles ($30) Ripe and intense with some jammy berry fruit and juicy acidity; rich, dense and nicely structured; long and charming. Ridge Vineyards 2008, Lytton Springs Vineyard, PHOTO COURTESY OF RIDGE VINEYARDS