A Testament to the Ageability of Ridge Wines

Blog Post

September 2024

With the release of our 50th anniversary bottling of Lytton Springs, we looked back at older vintages of all our wines and gathered thoughts from some of the top sommeliers in the world on the ageability of our wines and why including library RIDGE wines makes sense for wine programs and guests across the world. Check out what some of the sommeliers had to say:

• Jim Rollston, MS, Lead Sommelier, The Village Pub, Woodside, CA – “In an age of ever-escalating prices for fine wines from around the world, it becomes more and more difficult to stock a restaurant’s cellar with wines laid down to age until a sense of maturity can be offered to our guests. This is why the Ridge Library release program is such a boon: ageable wines direct from the winery’s cellar right to your list! For me, Ridge is a winery where most of their range rewards aging, obviously the Monte Bello Cabernet is the best-known example, but I have a soft spot for the Zinfandels, especially Geyserville and Lytton Springs, both of which develop amazingly well…”

• Clement Robert, MS, Wine Director, The Golden Vines Awards, United Kingdom – “Over the years, working for various establishments in the luxury Hospitality sector, I have had the privilege of tasting and listing mature Ridge wines. I have always been impressed by the incredible age-ability of not only the iconic Monte Bello but also Geyserville, Lytton Springs, and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. To me, Ridge is one of the best wineries in the USA and certainly one of the most iconic estates in the world.”

• Brahm Callahan, Corporate Beverage Director, Himmel Hospitality Group, Boston, MA “When I think about Iconic wineries in the world that have stood the test of time Ridge is always in the conversation globally for one of the best, most consistent producers making some of the most age worthy wines anywhere in the world. The wines speak of a sense of place, show vintage expression clearly, and have maintained their identity and focus for almost 70 years now and there really isn’t another winery that I can think of that has that kind of an uninterrupted track record”

• Phillip Dunn, Director of Spirits Buyer, Wally’s Fine Wine, Beverly Hills, CA– “I have been fortunate to have had multiple bottlings of Montebello, York Creek, Lytton Springs and even the older bottlings of Jimsomare Cabernet. The wines are so surprisingly fresh from Cabernet, Petit Sirah or Zinfandel it doesn’t seem to matter what varietal. It’s hard to guess the best bottle I have had. The one that stands out the most was the 1971 York Creek Petite Sirah from Spring Mtn. in 2022. A 50 + year old Petite Sirah I would have never guessed could be that complex and still have incredible concentration, aromatics of the old world but still fruity and alive on the palate.”

• Brent Kroll, Sommelier, Maxwell Park Wine Bar, Washington DC – “Trying Ridge on release is exciting but in a sense it reminds me of seeing a trailer to a movie. It’s thought provoking, I’m into it and I know it’s going to be a good movie. It’s not just Montebello or Lytton Springs, all thought those are obvious choices. I’ve had Carignan and Montebello Chardonnay with over a decade of age from multiple vintages. I think of Ridge as old vines, dry farming and really good people.”

• Virginia Philip, MS, Master Sommelier/Wine Director, The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL “How does a wine stand out on a wine list with over 2200 selections? The ability for a wine to age well and gracefully is obviously a key component. Having accessibility to older vintages from the winery direct is non-negotiable for our program. Ridge does both. When I think of the top California Cabernet Sauvignons that go the distance with taste, structure and distinction, without a doubt Ridge jumps to the forefront of the list. And compared to some of their competitors, they do so at half the price.”

• Takenori Nakazato, GM, Chef Sommelier, Jean-Georges, Tokyo, Japan “As a RIDGE fan, I am in awe of how many people continue to love the winery. I am confident that RIDGE will continue to lead the industry into the future with its innovative vineyard practices, management, and working environment. As the wine has earned its reputation for long aging, I think you will enjoy the process of elegance and its depth over time with great experience and good management. We look forward to your continued success in the future.”

• Jesse Fenn, Director of Food & Beverage & Sommelier, The London Club, Ontario, Canada “As a sommelier I have always prized Ridge wines for their ability to age gracefully. Having visited Ridge vineyards, I was given the opportunity to meet with the production team who is truly passionate about their work. It is evident from viticulture to winemaking every step is taken to ensure a legacy of wine making that continues to produce benchmark wines. After tasting past vintages of Cabernet and Zinfandel it was clear the wines have aged beautifully and will continue a long path of evolution. Wines aged several decades not only provided an incredible experience but also maintained power and structure with the ability to develop for many years to come. These wines are approachable in their youth and remarkable with age.”

• Jon Leopold, Wine Director, The Alinea Group, Chicago, IL “I had the good fortune to live in Menlo Park for three years while my wife completed her medical training. Working in restaurants, I naturally started to visit nearby wineries, including Ridge’s Monte Bello property. The wines have captured my attention ever since, especially Monte Bello, which I’ve personally collected for several years now. To not only have world-class wine but a story of consistency and longevity given the history of the winemaking; it’s no surprise that Ridge and their wines continue to impress both me and my guests.”

• Doug Frost, Master of Wine “Much about aging wine is nearly accidental, but I’ve always found Zinfandel to be more vexing than most grapes. There are many wonderful Zins out there and I’ve put a few in the basement to try them ten years or so later and they taste, well, nice. But they seem to merely be older, more muted versions of their younger selves. So, truth be told, I don’t age much Zin. Unless you walked into my cellar and started counting all the Ridge Zin. Then you would know that I don’t age much Zin aside from Ridge. It’s because I’ve had so many times that experience of opening an older Zin and finding that there is something new there, that something has been added to the wine, rather than merely tasting a smaller version of the younger bottle. I can name one in particular, 1973 Geyserville. Yes, yes, I know it’s not pure Zin and who cares. When we opened it, I just about lost my mind. And, surely, someone will hate me for this comparison, but it was almost Pinot Noir-like in its elegance, its ethereal-ness, hell, even its color. But then, at that time, it was about 40 years old. I save a lot of other Ridge Zins because I know I’m going to have something like that experience again. Maybe tonight.”

More on Ageing Ridge Wines:

• A Comprehensive Guide to Wine Ageing
• Large Format Bottles and Ageability
• The Top 10 California Wines to Collect Right Now