Not all the great wines of California come from Napa or Sonoma.  There are other regions producing top quality wines as well, and Santa Cruz is one of them.  The most well known of those wineries would be Ridge Vineyards.  Ridge sits 2600 feet high up in the mountains, and the views and scenery are just a thing of beauty.  The staff is friendly and extremely knowledgable.

When I heard that they would be having an open house and tasting several of their wines on March 3rd and 4th, there was no doubt that I was going to find a way to be there.

What is great about Ridge is they keep their alcohol content low, and they make their wines old world style.  Paul Draper is the long time winemaker there and truly a legend to say the least.  It is great to see great winemaker like Draper stay with old world style, while so many other wineries are putting out these wines that are ready to drink now, and are not worth of cellaring more then a couple of years.

Ridge wines are meant to last, and last a very long time.  Here is a short piece of history about Ridge and a part of what put them on the map.  In 1976, Steven Spurrier who owned a wine shop in France decided to put up some of the California wines against 4 top Bordeaux wines.  The judges were some of the most recognized and best in France.  Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Estate took 1st place and the French were shocked. 

The French then said that California wines will never age good.  In May of 2006, there was a rematch.  Once again the 1971 Monte Bello at 35 years old took 1st place, and proved that California wines can indeed have a long cellaring life.  A person I met at a wine store in San Jose still has some of the 1971 and said it has at least 10 or 15 more years of life in it.

I will now give my reviews of the wines I feel I was very fortunate to get to taste.

2004 California Geyserville,  75% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah.(They spell it Sirah) - 14.9% alcohol.

This is their highest alcohol wine.

It has a purple color with heavy body, Aromas of cherries, menthol and spices.  Tastes of black fruits, plums and cassis.  This wine is good now and will last a good 10 years.  Points -- 88-90.

2002 Petite Sirah, 84% petite sirah, 16% zinfandel.  Alcohol 14.7%

A wine with a deep, dark purple color and heavy body, it has Aromas of dried herbs, minerals, bay leaf and blackberry.  Tastes - blackberry, tobacco and currants.  Points -- 89-91.

2004 Ridge Montebello Chardonnay. 100% Chardonnay, 14.7% alcohol.

This wine has a light hay clear yellow color with heavy body.  It has Aromas of orange blossoms, honey and minerals.  Tastes of minerals, lemon zest, and green apples and a buttery flavor as well.  This is one of the few California white wines that can cellar.  Let is sit 5 years and you will be rewarded.  Drink this one between 2012 and 2017+.    Points -- 94

2002 Home Ranch, 50% Cab. Sauv., 48% Merlot, 2% Petite Verdot.  Alcohol - 13.8%

A ruby red wine with medium body, it has Aromas of dried cherries, herbs and spice and Tastes of mocha, cherry and spice.  Best from 2008 to 2018.   Points -- 87-89

2006 Ridge Monte Bello Merlot  -- barrel sample.   100% merlot.

This merlot was superb.  The sad thing is that it does not look like it will be bottled, but instead go into a blend.  I can only hope that with the countless comments to Ridge by the people there that they would love to see this wine bottled as a merlot will influence them to do so.

Aromas - blackberries, violets and currants.  Taste - black fruit, black licorice, coffee bean and herbs. This is a merlot, that if bottled can easily last 20 or more years.  The tannins are fine but very firm and the structure is enormous.  If bottled, then best between 2012 and 2026+.  Points -- 92-95+.

2006 Ridge South Twin Peaks Cab. Sauv. -- barrel tasting.  100% cab. sauv.

The wine has a deep purple color with heavy body.  Tannin is again fine, but very tight and firm with massive structure to it.  It has Aromas of spice, raspberry, violets and cassis, with Tastes of blackberry, cassis, cocoa and expresso.  2012 to 2030.   Points -- 92-94+.

1994 Ridge Montebello, 73% cab. sauv. 15% merlot, 9% Pet. Verdot, 3% Cab. Franc.  Alcohol -- 12.7%

This is a wine that is a dark ruby red in color .  It is going more and more towards tasting like a bordeaux and would fool most people into thinking it is actually from Bordeaux.   The wine has not even hit its peak yet and may need another 5 to 7 years to get there.  The Aromas are earthy, and herbal with dried cherries and spices.  Tastes  cassis, mocha, minerals, and spices.  Drink now through 2030+.  Points -- 95+

2004 Ridge Montebello, 76% Cab. Sauv., 13% merlot, 8% Pet. Verdot, 3% Malbec(??). Alcohol - 13.2%

This is a wine with deep purple color, and heavy body.   The tannin is very tight and firm, but fine.  It has Aromas of violets, cassis, herbs, spice, and is a bit earthy.  Flavors of ripe berries, cassis, currants and coffee.  Another long life wine, I would wait until 2014 to open the 1st bottle, and this wine has the potential to go until 2035+  Points -- 95-96+

2006 Ridge Montebello, barrel tasting.  71% Cab. Sauv., 27% Merlot, 2% Pet. Verdot.  This may not be the final blend, as of right now alcohol is estimated 13% to 13.2%

The wine is a deep dark ruby red with heavy body.  At first tasting the wine was ok, but it rapidly closed down and the tannin got stronger to the point of overpowering.  The tannins were fine, very tight and firm, but not harsh. 

Aromas of earth, cigar, herbs, earth and cassis, and Flavors of cassis, berries, herbs and spices.  This looks to be a massive wine that needs a minimum of 10 years of cellaring after its release.  Best guess for this wine, 2019 to 2046+.  Points -- 95-97+

I did not get to taste the 2005 vintage, but it will be up for tasting next year, the Monte Bello that is.  Talking to Ridge Staff, they said that the 2005 and 2006 vintages are some of the biggest, and that this is a trend they look to continue.  They truly believe that the wines will last 40+ years, and from tasting it, I believe it.  And with the history of how well the 1971 Montebello has aged and still has more life left in it, I have no reason to doubt 40+ years.

Special thanks to Paul Draper, for proving that California Wines can last and making great top of the line wines in the old world tradition.