“I open one every few weeks, because I like it so much.”

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Gang of Pour was known for (among other things) our devotion to all things Ridge. Canadian Zinfan, califusa, Madame l’Pour and this taster had all been enjoying Geyserville, Lytton Springs and Monte Bello for years before we all hooked up in the late ‘90s, and we filed many a report on their wines and their events under the Gang banner. We coined phrases like “Mr. Ridge” and “Draper perfume” that became commonly used by wine geeks around the turn of the century and well into the 2000s.

These days, I don’t buy nearly as much Ridge as I used to. For the longest time, they were able to hold the line on prices, but now, the going rate for the two flagship Zin blends mentioned above is around $45 in the Detroit market. I still buy them, just not in the quantities I used to. Monte Bello, on the other hand, is simply priced right out of our range, at $245 for the current vintage listed on the Ridge website.

So, while we’re waiting for the Geezers and Lyttons to age and mature (they’re almost always 10-year wines and more), what do we drink? Ridge makes a wine for that, and it’s called Three Valleys.

2019 Ridge Vineyards Three Valleys Sonoma County, 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, 3% Mataro, 1% Alicante Bouschet, 14.5% alc., $27.99-32.99: Exudes lovely aromatics very much like what we used to call “Draper perfume,” with rich black raspberry, lavender and little hints of coffee and cocoa. Give it some air and the claret-smooth flavors pick right up where the nose left off. There are some oak characteristics too, but for me, these add accents, rather than detractions. Full-bodied, not heavy, and built with enough tannins and acids to cellar for at least a few years, but if you decant this for half an hour now, it’ll be gorgeous when you pour a glass. I’ve enjoyed multiple vintages of Three Valleys many times over the years, and this 2019 several times since its release. I liked things better when it was priced in the low $20s, but the world has moved on since then. It’s not my “everyday wine,” but I open one every few weeks, because I like it so much. The price variance above reflects what I’ve seen in a number of retail establishments here in the Detroit market. I buy at the $28 price point, and always with a 4, 6 or 12-bottle discount.  Find this wine

“The history of the Ridge Three Valleys began with the release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards—this year, ten. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented on its native yeast and naturally occurring malolactic bacteria at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs wineries. Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards—winemaking—at its finest. Zinfandel determines the wine’s varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah spice, depth of color, and firm tannins.”

Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo

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