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Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $45.94 $48.80
The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will...
12 FREE
VM
95
WNR
93
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $34.33 $36.80
A wine of weight and substance, the 2019 Petite Syrah Lytton Estate is fabulous. Best of all, readers won't have to...
VM
95
JD
93
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $27.53 $29.60
A broad-shouldered red, with a potent structure but expressive blackberry, savory dill and white pepper flavors that...
WS
92
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $40.68 $45.20
12 bottles: $39.52
This takes a few minutes to open up, then reveals raspberry and red plum flavors highlighted by anise and white...
WS
92
Sale
Rapid Ship
Red
750ml
Bottle: $42.94 $44.00
12 bottles: $41.80
The 2021 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a wine of tremendous stature. Vertical and composed in bearing, the 2021 has a ton...
12 FREE
VM
95
Sale
Red
750ml
Bottle: $40.68 $45.20
12 bottles: $39.52
Captures the best of Paso Robles Zinfandel, deeply structured and appealingly briary, with notes of bright cherry,...
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $92.73
Ridge’s 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a fabulous choice for readers who want a Monte Bello fix now, without...
VM
94
JD
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $989.95
Expansive black-fruit aromas, plus some mulberry and bitter chocolate, make this mature Californian red hard to...
JS
98
WA
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $399.57
This has a wonderful balance of full, silky tannins and creamy ripeness, but with a degree of delicacy that...
JS
94
VM
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $350.76
The 2008 Monte Bello is in a gorgeous spot right now, as the aromatics are just starting to show the complex nuances...
WA
95
VM
95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $289.95
The 2009 Monte Bello ,72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot is simply magnificent. Layers of dark...
WA
98
JS
98
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $307.61
The 2012 Monte Bello is one of the most harmonious young Monte Bellos I can remember tasting. Seamless and voluptuous...
VM
98
WA
96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $394.95
A Monte Bello for the ages, the 2013's brooding bouquet unfolds to reveal notes of black raspberry, juicy...
DC
100
WA
100
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $255.35
Stunning depth, power, purity and elegance. The blackcurrants and plums are fresh and intense on the nose with...
JS
100
VM
98
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $225.68
One of the highlights in this tasting, the 2016 Monte Bello has turned out just as beautifully as I hoped it would....
VM
98
JD
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $563.82
Pure perfection, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a sensational effort from this estate that should be...
JD
100
JS
99
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $213.60
Pure perfection, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a sensational effort from this estate that should be...
JD
100
JS
99
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
375ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $127.45
A bright and beautiful Monte Bello with dark and black fruit, such as blackcurrants, as well as walnuts and hints of...
WA
97
WS
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $240.40
A bright and beautiful Monte Bello with dark and black fruit, such as blackcurrants, as well as walnuts and hints of...
WA
97
WS
97
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 3
Bottle: $597.32
#45 Wine of the World 2022. This is a very powerful Monte Bello with currants and blackberry, black licorice and...
JS
99
DC
98

It isn’t difficult to make half-decent wines, so long as you have some good fruit and a bit of know-how. However, it takes time, dedication, craft and love to make great wines. Winemaker Paul Draper of Ridge Vineyards knows all about this, and has now brought out no less than forty-three distinct vintages, and his highly sought-after wines have consistently benefited from his hands-off, knowledgeable and practical approach for which he has become renowned. Indeed, Ridge Vineyards regularly produces Californian wines which are often compared to some of the great wines of the world, such as first growth wines from Bordeaux, and the finest white Burgundies. For those seeking the classic heart of Californian winemaking, Ridge Vineyards really isn’t a bad place to start.

The vineyards of Ridge have a serious bit of history behind them, too. Indeed, vines were first planted at Monte Bello Ridge in the mountains of Santa Cruz way back in the late 19th century, but the project which was launched there so long ago was quickly abandoned and left to the elements. In 1959, the land was bought by a group of researchers, and then sold to Paul Draper in 1969, who immediately saw the potential of this beautiful spot. It was the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting, however, where Ridge Vineyards got their big break, and their triumphs at this particular competition saw them become cult figures almost overnight.

Then, as today, Ridge Vineyards has focused almost exclusively on using their amazing terroir to produce high quality, complex Bordeaux blends and crisp, full Chardonnay wines which continue to impress on the international stage. The land is elevated and cool, allowing for a long ripening period which allows the grapes to reach full expression, before the winemaker’s distinctly Old World production techniques of careful blending and ageing come into play, resulting in beautiful depth and complexity in every bottle. Draper puts the success of Ridge Vineyards down to a couple of simple factors: Minimal intervention, and trust of the fruit. Draper is renowned for the fact that he has faith in his land and his grapes, allowing them to reach full ripeness in the beautiful sunshine of the Santa Cruz mountains, and then allowing them to express his prized land in the ageing process and eventually in the bottle.