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?

In article <bt-69AE3A.03075308042006@localhost>, says...
>
>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?

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

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

bt wrote:
> 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?

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.

On Sat, 08 Apr 2006 10:07:51 GMT, bt > wrote:

>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?

I'm a big Ridge fan and have been for quite a while. You don't mention
which Ridge offerings you've encountered, so the assumption is that
you've had their Zinfandels. They also offer a Cabernet Sauvigon blend
called Monte Bello--which is quite pricey, but very good in most
years.

In limited releases they do some small batch wines in other grapes
than zin, but unless you either visit the winery or join their ATP
(Advanced Tasting Program) club you probably won't find them.

Some zinfandels that I've liked as well as Ridge come from Fife (look
for their Whaler or Mendocino), and Renwood (try the Grandmere for
something special.)

If you like the big fruit taste of Ridge zins, you might also enjoy
Shiraz bottlings from a number of Australian makers.

Tell us what you liked about the Ridge experience and maybe what you
haven't liked in wines and I'm sure you'll get a lot more info.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com

bt wrote:
> 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?

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

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.

In article <bt-64063D.12205108042006@localhost>, says...
>
>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.

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

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

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

"bt" > wrote in message
news:bt-64063D.12205108042006@localhost...
> 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.