if I like Ridge, what else will I like?

I'm not very sophisticated about wine, but I've tried several Ridge wines, and been very favorably impressed by them.

Are there other wineries that have comparable winemaking standards that Ridge fans are likely to be fans of as well?

Reply to
bt
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I'd take exception to your first sentence. I think that one's appreciation of Ridge shows "sophistication." They do very good wines.

Aside from Ridge, I really enjoy(ed) the Ravenswood single-vineyard wines, though more in the past, than some recent efforts. Robert Biale is one of my favorite Zin winemakers, though is style is a bit more "lush," and "juicy," than Paul Draper's. Almost everything that Rosenblum does, from their starter Zin Cuvee XX? to their single-vineyard wines is very good. Sue Selby's "Selby" Zins are also quite nice, as is the Limerick Lane Collins Vineyard Zin.

Hunt

Reply to
Hunt

Karly Warriors Fire comes to mind. Karly's Bucks 10 Point is a favorite of many as well.

Soban Estates is another that produces great Zin's I prefer a bit better than Ridge.

T-Vine is one of my favorites but has gotten expensive lately.

Reply to
miles

Well, Ridge is arguably one of the finest wineries in California. Some of their wines (Monte Bello, Geyserville and Lytton Springs) are world class and hard to find the equals of. Another complication is that their wines are often made in a somewhat restrained style that is rare in CA. If you've liked their Cabs (Monte Bello or Santa Cruz Mtns) you might like the cabs of Joseph Phelps and Chateau Montelena; if it's their Zins that you've enjoyed, I'd second Hunt's suggestion of Biale's and add Storybook Mountain's too. You might also find better success going outside of the US and looking at wines of the Rhone Valley and the Languedoc in France. You could start with some Cotes-du-Rhones from the bigger producers (Perrin Reserve, Chapoutier, Jaboulet) or some wines from the Languedoc such as Pic St. Loup and Minervois (it's a bit harder to give specific recommendations from there without knowing where in the US you are).

HTH Mark Lipton

Reply to
Mark Lipton

Thanks to all of you for the useful info. I'll fill in a bit of the requested info: I'm in Los Angeles. Two Ridge wines I've really enjoyed have been the Santa Cruz Mtns Cab blend (2001) (somewhat surprisingly, I found this at the discount grocery "Trader Joe's" for $25) and a couple of Geyservilles (2002 was good, I've forgotten the other vintage I tried but it was also impressive). Every Ridge wine I've tried has been both enjoyable and interesting--I'm more aware of the particular characteristics of the grapes than with most other wines I've had. I even liked a Ridge Merlot that I had--and I have little taste for Merlot. But it left me with a vivid memory of the character of Merlot, if that makes sense. I'm hoping to track down some older bottles--I'm especially attracted to the complexities that show up in these wines (well, not so much the Merlot). Until very recently, paying $30 a bottle for wine was financially out of reach, hence my limited experience with wines of this quality. As to other wines I've liked... I'm partial to Cabernet, and am most familar with the California style, living here as I do. I fondly recall couple of older bottles (one from the 70s) of Cakebread cabernet.

Anyway, if you have further thoughts, especially for wines that aren't much more costly than the Ridge zins (my improved finances aren't as extensive as one might hope), please add them. I'm sure I'll enjoy pursuing the suggestions you've offered thusfar. Thanks again.

Reply to
bt

Two that immediately come to my mind are the Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernet & Merlot. Costco, in PHX usually has these in the US$30 range. I share your feelings towards many US Merlots, but for the price pt. Phelps offers a good one. I've never had Draper's Merlot.

Another producer, but you may have to go up US29 to Oakville is Milat. They do a Napa Cab, Zin and Merlot, that are not out of reach. Don't know what their distribution in CA is.

Obviously, Duckhorn Napa Merlot, and the Beringer Howell Mtn Bancroft Ranch Merlot are worth the $, but both will be in the US$45 range.

Hunt

Reply to
Hunt

I'm fond of Rosenblum, especially the Rockpile Road and try the De Loach very well crafted wines.

Reply to
PP

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