2015 Monte Bello

This set of new releases from Ridge is full of highlights. For starters, the 2016 Zinfandels are outrageously beautiful and confirm my impressions from tastings earlier in the year. The 2016s are fresh, nuanced and deeply impressive wines. The flagship Monte Bello is equally compelling. Speaking of Monte Bello, Paul Draper and Eric Baugher opened a handful of older vintages going back to 1971 during my most recent visit. I have included notes on those wines here for future reference.

Winemaker Eric Baugher showed me an extensive range of new and upcoming releases during my most recent visit, including a handful of older Monte Bellos that I wrote about in my article Seven Classics from Ridge and forthcoming library releases of the Geyserville and Lytton Springs that are reviewed here. Despite the effects of drought, two thousand fourteen turned out to be an outstanding vintage for Bordeaux varieties, not just in terms of quality but also in production. Ridge bottled all of their small lot Merlots and Cabernets, which means that readers with an interest in exploring the nuances of the various ranches that make up the present-day estate will have many different choices with which to do that. All varieties ripened within a fairly compact time range, which meant most of harvest took place within just three weeks or so.

This is an absolutely stellar set of wines from Ridge. For starters, Ridge enjoyed what I can only describe as a sensational vintage in 2013, especially for the Bordeaux varieties. The Cabernet Estate and Monte Bello are both exceptional, while a number of wines in the Historic Vineyard series are compelling. Zinfandel fans will find much to like in the 2014s, a vintage that produced super-elegant wines. Of course, the biggest news at Ridge is Paul Draper's retirement, but then again, that has been in the works for so long that it was hardly a surprise when it was formally announced earlier this summer. As one of the foremost ambassadors of American wine, Draper leaves behind a rich legacy at Ridge going back to 1969 and a team that is more than capable of leading the winery into the next generation.