Ridge Vineyards

I sat down today with Dan Buckler, the regional sales manager for Ridge Vineyards, to taste through some of their current lineup.

As usual, the wines were well-made, balanced, expressed a sense of place, and fun to drink. What else would you expect from a winery that’s been around for fifty years?! (Speaking of sense of place, check out their vineyard map at www.ridgewine.com/vineyards).

You can find great press about these guys everywhere, so I won’t bother singing their praises here, but I WILL tell you what I tried, and what I thought of each.

2009 Ponzo Vineyard Zinfandel (98% Zinfandel, 2% Petit Sirah) – A silky texture with tight red berry notes, Slightly acidic at first, but opened up over time, and tasted much more full after time in the glass. Average retail price is $28

2009 Paso Robles Zinfandel (95% Zinfandel, 5% Petit Sirah) – From the Dusi vineyard, the oldest in Paso Robles, this one is juicy, with cherry notes and a bit of spice. Average retail price is $30

2008 Geyserville (74% Zin, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro). The Geyserville is a “field blend” that Ridge has been making since 1966. It varies each year, but it is primarily Zinfandel. The additional grapes really round this wine out. It’s fat, juicy, kind of briary and well worth the average retail price of $35.

2009 York Creek Zinfandel (93% Zin and 7% Petit Sirah) – This is a spicy, full-bodied Zin. This is also the last vintage that this wine will be in distribution, and starting next year it will be available through their mailing list and at the winery only. Also well worth the average retail price of $30, so I suggest you get some now, or sign up for their mailing list!

2007 Santa Cruz Cab/Merlot ( 58% Cab and 42% Merlot) – This was a little thin, but like the Ponzo Zin, it developed in the glass and filled out. Some clove and dark fruit flavors helped to carry it along. Average retail price is $36

2007 Montebello (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc) – It’s always a treat to taste the wine that Robert Parker has called “one of the candidates for the longest-lived Bordeaux blend made in California”. Full-bodied, but mellow and balanced, it is sure to age beautifully, and I would give it at least 3 years to develop in the bottle before drinking. Average retail price is $145.

As always, these are just my opinions, so I suggest you try these for yourself!

Cheers,

Chuck