2018 Ridge Three Valleys Sonoma County ($30)
Ridge Vineyards was founded in 1959 when four Stanford Research Institute engineers—David Bennion, Charles Rosen, Hewitt Crane, and Howard Zeidler—purchased a mountainside property on the Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
While winemaking on the site dated back to 1885, the partners produced their first small vintage of "Estate" Cabernet in 1959 and officially re-bonded the winery for the 1962 vintage.
Ridge Three Valleys red blend is produced from 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane and 4% Mataro (a.k.a. Mourvedre).
The “Three Valleys” name comes from the fact that the grapes came from vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Sonoma Valley.
Each lot of grapes was fermented for nine days on their skins followed by aging for 10 months in oak.
This 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend is medium ruby in color with aromas of dark fruit and dried herbs. On the palate, this medium-full bodied wine has rich black and red fruit flavors including black berry, black plum, raspberry and a hint of strawberry and red cherry. Although a 2018, it still had good tannin and medium acidity. It was a bit jammy with soft, smooth sweet-fruit flavor (not sweet, but invoking sweet fruit flavors).
Ridge is a dependably great winery and this 2018 Ridge Three Valleys red blend lives up to the Ridge reputation. A wonderful fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!
The opinions expressed are entirely my own.