If I were asked to name my favorite California wineries, Ridge Vineyards would most certainly be in the top five. Ridge, founded in the early 1960s, specializing in premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay, produces wines at two locations in northern California. The original winery is located on Monte Bello Ridge in Santa Clara County. The other Ridge facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) of Sonoma County.
Ridge Vineyards achieved international fame when its 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet achieved fifth place in the “Judgment of Paris,” against nine other French and California wines. The Monte Bello Cab was acclaimed in subsequent competitions, including the “Judgment of Paris 30th Anniversary,” the retesting of the same red wines evaluated in the 1976 Paris competition. In this blind tasting, held both in the United States and UK, judges in both countries ranked Ridge Monte Bello number one among all the wines judged.
Although, as noted above, Ridge was founded in the early ‘60s, wine production at the winery’s Monte Bello location has a much longer history. Vines were first planted on Monte Bello in 1885 by Esea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of the northern California Italian immigrant community. The first Monte Bello wine was produced in 1892. Following Prohibition, the vineyard at Monte Bello passed through the hands of several amateur winemakers until it was purchased in 1959 by David Bennion, Charles Rosen, Hewitt Crane, and Howard Zeidler, all engineers at the nearby Stanford Research Institute. Ridge Vineyards was bonded and produced its first commercial wine, a Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon, in 1962.
In 1969 the partners hired Paul Draper, a 33-year-old Stanford graduate with a degree in philosophy, who had been making wines in Chile. “I think they liked the fact that I had no formal training in winemaking or chemistry,” Mr. Draper chuckled. A goateed intellectual who is part beatnik poet, part history professor, part gentleman farmer, he seemed equally comfortable with science and the humanities.
Now 81, he has worked 47 harvests at Ridge Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains. His flagship Monte Bello, the aforementioned single-vineyard Cabernet, is grown near the winery. Robust yet complex and elegant, the Monte Bello has often been called California’s first-growth. Mr. Draper retired as CEO and Head Winemaker on July 1, 2016, but remains Chairman of the Board. Interestingly enough, while Mr. Draper’s name is synonymous with that of Ridge Vineyards, the winery has actually been owned by Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical since 1986.
If you’re considering purchasing a bottle (or several) of Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon – and it is certainly worthy of consideration – you should bear several things in mind. First of all, what vintage should you seek out? Right now, in my opinion, the vintage of choice is the 2012. Rated 94 (100 point scale) and ranked number 7 in the Wine Spectator “Top 100 of 2016,” this beautiful blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot also received exceedingly high marks from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Antonio Galloni’s Vinous.
Secondly, bear in mind that this is a wine that needs a good deal of aging before it hits its peak. Speaking of the 2012 vintage, Antonio Galloni noted: “Monte Bello is a wine that really should not be touched until its tenth birthday, and even that requires an optimistic view.” The Wine Spectator: “Cellaring for five to seven years is the right approach… Best from 2020 through 2035.” And the Wine Advocate added: “It needs 5-6 years of cellaring and will hold for two decades beyond that.” So the question is: Once purchased, can you keep your grubby hands off it for the next five years? L
Finally – and this is not of minor importance – there’s the price factor. A single bottle of Ridge 2012 Monte Bello will set you back between $175.00 and $200.00, depending upon your retailer…. It’s your call.
If you’re looking for more price-friendly Ridge wines, I highly recommend both the 2014 Lytton Springs and the 2015 Geyserville, two Zinfandel blends. The former is comprised of 69% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 11% Carignane, and 2% Mataro (Mourvedre); the latter, 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet. I have sampled both of these wines on numerous occasions over the years; and their consistent quality borders upon the legendary. According to Wilfred Wong of Wine.com: “Dollar for dollar in the world of ultra-premium red wines, the Ridge Lytton Springs stands tall as one of the greatest red wine values.” This after bestowing a whopping 96 points (100 point scale) on the 2014 vintage. The 2015 Geyserville received equally glowing marks from the Connoisseurs Guide. And the 2015 is also the “Geyserville 50th Anniversary” vintage. Both wines retail around the $35.00 mark.
Although more famous for its red wines, the Ridge 2014 Estate Chardonnay, has quite a following of its own, garnering 95 points from Decanter and 93 points from the Wine Spectator and Antonio Galloni. And Decanter is right on the money when it describes the 2014 as exhibiting “an almost Burgundian persistence of flavor.” There is absolutely no question that this wine is reminiscent of a fine white Burgundy. It is complex, intense, and beautifully textured. There’s a touch of oak here, but that quickly gives way to the more interesting elements of fruit and spice. If you enjoy focused Chardonnays, as opposed to some of California’s other over-oaked monstrosities, you will not be disappointed. A simply fabulous wine; and a relative steal in the $45.00 – $50.00 range. Available through Pennsylvania’s LCB at $49.99.
One final word… If you would like to get to know this exceptional winery without investing a small fortune, be sure to try the 2014 Three Valleys, Ridge’s entry-level Zinfandel-based wine. This is a delicious value-priced red that is vibrant and ready to drink. Retails at $24.99 at PA State Stores; several dollars less if ordered online.
Cheers!
TAD
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