RIDGE VINEYARDS
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
Why Buy: At the 30th anniversary re-run of the Judgment of Paris, Ridge's Monte Bello came in first – the best red wine in France and California. Every release of a Monte Bello has long been an event, and the 2020 is up there with the most stunning that star winemaker Paul Draper and his team have ever produced. We're also thrilled to have secured allocations of three others from their stellar portfolio: all from high-elevation grapes, all produced with minimal intervention, and all proof that when you're in expert hands, there's no such thing as an ordinary wine.
The Story: Long before Apple arrived in Cupertino, the company of legend was Ridge Vineyards, founded in 1959 on a plot of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains that had been producing wine grapes as far back as 1885. From the start, Ridge has done things the right way, espousing a rigorous, throwback model of winemaking that turns its back on modernity and recent technology. All grapes are organic, estate-grown, and hand-harvested; only native yeasts are used in fermentation; and pump-overs are limited to once daily. This conscientious, precise approach – a passionate nod to the timeless traditions of winemakers past – yields major dividends in the glass.
Our Tasting Notes: Not only are these wines of "remarkable balance," as Sonoma Magazine has written, but they also possess extraordinary character, proudly shunning the cliches of so much internationally-marketed wine in their determination to taste like only themselves. And the Monte Bello is, quite simply, one of the great wines of our time – year in and year out a masterpiece of power, depth, expressiveness, and length.
Fun Fact: That list of ingredients you see on the back labels of a bottle of Ridge? Draper regards it as a statement of integrity and honor, a way of showing the drinker just how little ought to go into a fine wine.
What to Pair Them With: The Monte Bello is meant for those meals when you want to impress; trust us – it's guaranteed to dazzle. The other four are built for food. Pagani Ranch has the size and power you might expect of Zinfandels, but also a danceability that will surprise you; it'll work wonderfully with rich roasts, grilled steaks and chops, and braises. The Lytton Springs cries out for a tagine, a charcuterie board, a meatball pizza. As for the Petite Sirah, think polenta and sausage, olives and cheese, steak and mushrooms.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured: your wines will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Secure your order today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2023 (December 21, 2023 - March 20, 2024). 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 IN, KS, MI, NY or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Monday, August 21, 2023.
