1997 Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello Santa Cruz Mountains

Veteran winemaker Paul Draper began at Ridge in 1969, which seems like a long time. It is, but the history of this spot goes much farther back-- an Italian doctor purchased the land and planted vines back in 1886. Draper excels at both Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. In the latter, he favors purity of flavor and structure over sheer alcoholic weight and residual sugar, and these wines have long enjoyed a reputation for graceful aging. For Cabernet, his high-altitude vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains ripen late, producing classic, elegant wines with aromatic complexity, structure and an impression of intensity without excess weight.

Veteran winemaker Paul Draper began at Ridge in 1969, which seems like a long time. It is, but the history of this spot goes much farther back-- an Italian doctor purchased the land and planted vines back in 1886. Draper excels at both Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. In the latt... more