The Fine Wine Review reviews Fall 2016 releases and a short note on Paul Draper

The Fine Wine Review

August 2016

The Fine Review has published a review of our recent Fall releases and also shares a short note of appreciation for Paul Draper. Here a the reviews for our Fall release wines and a few excerpts from the article as well. Enjoy!

• 2013 Monte Bello – “This is one of the most extraordinary young Monte Bellos that I have tasted (and my experiences tasting them young date to the late 1970s vintages)…this is ultra-classic Monte Bello, tasting like a cross between Château Latour and Château Haut-Brion…” 97/A+
• 2014 Lytton Springs – “…blackberry and other similar berry fruit with a velvet texture in a medium-full body. There’s also nice minerality here…” 91/A
• 2014 Ponzo Zinfandel – “Once you start the bottle, it’s hard not to finish it (fast), this Ponzo Zinfandel is such a delicious Zinfandel. The wine is light on the palate with dark berry fruit and some minerality…” 91/A
• 2014 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah – “…classic for Petite Sirah. However, the tannins are quite round here, making for immediate approachability…wine drinks well now and should last 10 years or more in peak condition…” 91/A
• 2014 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel – “…smoky and slight chocolate aromas and flavors to go with dense, chewy, spicy dark fruit in a medium-full body with some firmness…” 88/B

“It is impossible to overstate Paul’s role in the development of California wine, and indeed in the development of wine of quality throughout the whole world. Simply, he is a giant among the giants.

“Perhaps not widely-known are the ethics that Paul insisted upon to make his wines at Ridge true California wines, and thereby help establish a standard and tradition for California. Thus, he would produce from grape types that had been in California prior to Prohibition; accordingly, no Pinot Noir, and Syrah came only (I understand) after research revealed that the grape had indeed been present in the first part of California wine history. Oak was sourced from the United States. And perhaps most importantly, back in the 1960s and early 1970s, an era when what was old was not prized as it is today, Paul roamed up and down California to find the true heirloom vineyards — many of which are still the sources of Ridge wines today. Most significantly, Paul recognized early on the potential of Zinfandel and also of other traditional grapes such as Barbera and Petite Sirah…”

“…the wines of the last ten years were made by others (trained by Paul), yet the tradition continues and will continue. Wine enthusiasts everywhere should be grateful that there has been a Paul Draper who has helped to shape wine of the past fifty years…”

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