RIDGE VINEYARDS
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA 2024
WHY BUY: The headliner here is Ridge’s 97-point Lytton Springs Zinfandel, a benchmark for that varietal, and Vinous declared the 2024 vintage "magnificent." At just $52, it's a certifiable steal, and the rest of this lineup delivers exceptional value, too (along with a wonderful splurge in the 99-point Monte Bello Cabernet 2023). Act now, folks; these are going to go faster than fast.
THE SIGNATURE: Ridge's "pre-industrial" philosophy, as they like to call it, eschews modern techniques in favor of the methods that defined Bordeaux and 19th century California: wild yeast fermentation, minimal filtration, and the judicious use of oak. The results, well, we can't wait for you to taste these for yourself and see.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: The Wine Advocate's review of the Monte Bello goes well beyond just the 99 points. The wine, it wrote, is "the definition of classicism across every metric," fusing "a slow-moving, even-keeled profile with an enviable combination of charm, assertion and effortlessness," and delivering an experience that is "simultaneously seamless, supple, juicy and firm,” before concluding "on a chassis of ultra-refined, chalky tannins." Vinous matched that same publication's own 99-point score and was nearly as smitten over the 97-point Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2024: a “magnificent” wine, "so vibrant and resonant," with "a well of truffly earth tones and serious minerality," tannins "already integrated quite a bit in bottle," and "an incredibly long finish."
OUR TASTING NOTES: The Monte Bello arrives almost immediately, a fully realized (and sonically dynamic) production. Mountain herb and cedar appear first, the dark fruit lurking underneath, and then everything moves forward in glorious, unhurried fashion, all the way to the sinuous and sensual finish. The assurance is breathtaking. This is winemaking at its most confident. The Lytton Springs is the wine that turns Zinfandel skeptics into converts. And not by pretending to be something other than Zin. There’s a wonderful earthiness to it, with tannins that are already, at this early stage, settling into something silky. The finish, when it arrives, feels inevitable, and carries you home like a limo ride from a grand feast. It’s an astonishment, that it only costs $52. Likewise, the Santa Cruz Cabernet, at $46, has no business drinking so effortlessly at this price; we loved the way the blackberry and cedar play with and against one another, and the way, too, this is determinedly an Old World expression: a tight chamber piece. The Pagani brings its own quiet complexity; it's Burgundian in its elegance, structure, and balance. As for the Grenache Blanc, the lone white in the lineup: it’s a wine that goes with everything, and brings a sense of harmony to every meal.
THE STORY: Long before Apple made Cupertino famous, the company of legend in these parts was Ridge Vineyards, founded in 1959 on a plot of Santa Cruz Mountain land that had been producing wine grapes since 1885. Paul Draper arrived here in 1969, and has remained ever since, a tenure that makes most tech CEOs look like job-hoppers. His philosophy can pretty much be boiled down to four words: minimal intervention, maximum character. All grapes are organic, estate-grown, and hand-harvested; only native yeasts handle fermentation; pump-overs happen just once daily. And, while other wineries chase trends and consultants, Ridge has quietly perfected their throwback approach. The Monte Bello vineyard itself stretches from 1,600 feet to 2,700 feet across four different ranches, divided into 55 separate blocks that get picked and fermented individually. By harvest's end, Draper selects his final blend from these myriad lots through blind tasting. It’s a process that would make most winemakers dizzy but who can argue with the results? It's yielded decades upon decades of consistent (and frankly mind-blowing) brilliance.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: The Monte Bello deserves only the grandest cuts: a dry-aged porterhouse, say, or a rack of lamb with rosemary, or, simply, a quiet room and (as your teachers used to say) your full and undivided attention. The Zinfandels are built for the grill, for barbecue with real char and savor; they go especially great with sausages, lamb shoulder, and pork ribs. The Grenache Blanc is the wine you want for any sort of shellfish or a simple meal of roast chicken, potatoes, and a salad.
FUN FACT: Draper insists on listing every ingredient used in winemaking on Ridge's back labels. Why? Not because he's required to, but because he considers it a kind of statement of integrity. This, he seems to be saying, is how little should go into a bottle of great wine.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, to ensure pristine provenance every time. Secure your bottles and cases today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, OK, or TN. The SoCo Fredson Ranch is not available in VA. This offer will expire on Tuesday, October 6th, 2026.