Would you like to have my tasting notes readily on hand for your own personal tasting of this wine, either to develop your own palate and/or share information with friends you are hosting and serving this wine to? If so, click below!

For most California wine lovers, Ridge Vineyards is a household name.

First established by a doctor who purchased 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. At this high elevation, he terraced the slopes, planted vineyards and established what is now the Monte Bello winery out of limestone available locally. After this time, the winery changed hands a few times until it ultimately landed in the hands of four Stanford Research Institute engineers who (in the 1960s) realized they were sitting on a goldmine of excellent fruit and terroir. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Today, Ridge has an extensive list of vineyards and wines in its portfolio and it is undoubtedly a well-regarded leader on the world-stage. With their simple, block letter labels and unwavering commitment to single vineyard wines and sustainable and low intervention winemaking, Ridge wines constitute cellar worthy selections in most savvy wine lovers’ portfolios.

The 2019 Ridge Three Valleys is however not a single vineyard wine - rather it is made from fruit that is sourced (in 2019) from 10 different vineyards all around Sonoma County. Made from a blend of 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, 3% Mataro (Mouvedre) and 1% Alicante Bouschet, this wine is made from fruit that is carefully selected and hand harvested and then vinified at both of Ridge’s wineries utilizing native yeasts. It is a lovely wine that is intended to represent what is possible in the art of fine winemaking. While perhaps not an “everyday” wine for some, it is one of the more affordable options in the Ridge Vineyards portfolio and a great way to try what this producer is all about!

My Tasting Notes

A rich maroon colour in the glass, this wine has a very full and inviting nose, with aromas of cooked prunes, crushed lavender, sweet baking spices, strawberries, some bramble and garrigue and a finishing touch of cherry cola. On the palate, the wine is medium-plus bodied, with ripe acidity and a long, heavy, zesty finish. In the mouth, the wine displays black pepper, plums, blackberries, black cherries and ripe strawberries alongside a hint of earth and perhaps a slight touch of tobacco/cigar. While some might say that the fruit in this wine is a bit jammy, I would counter that any sense of jamminess is not overwhelming at all.

This is a gorgeous wine that is very complex and well balanced at a very fair price for what you get. At this moment, I do think it is a bit on the young side so if you are going to drink it right away, do decant it for an hour beforehand. This wine will easily do well for another 3-5 years if you choose to cellar it, or buy a few bottles to put away.

Truly lovely, especially at this price point, and sure to impress many, many people!

Wine it up a notch by pairing this wine with grilled or stewed game, grilled meat or, as we head into the colder temperatures ahead - a blanket and cozy time near a fireplace! :)

Cheers, Friends!