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2016 Ridge East Bench Zinfandel

Not Currently In Auction

Latest Sale Price

December 3, 2023 - $36

Estimate

RATINGS

94Vinous / IWC

...bright acids that give the wine the tension and energy... Primary sweet red and purplish berry fruit notes are pushed forward in this vibrant, beautifully delineated pure Zinfandel...all the elements are impeccably balanced... Put simply: what a wine!

94James Suckling

Very fresh and juicy, fruit-focused zinfandel with a raspberry and fresh red-plum core of juicy and quite elegant fruit. An exuberant style with vitality and energy, as well as length and depth.

93Jeb Dunnuck

...charming, beautifully pure wine... Offering medium-bodied notes of blueberries, mulberries, crushed flowers, and spice, it has plenty of sweet fruit, beautiful balance, and the purity of fruit that’s the hallmark of this great vintage.

92The Wine Advocate

...classic aromas of blackberry, cherry pit, warm spices and licorice. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins, an ample core of succulent fruit and lovely balance. Generous and structurally open-knit...

90Wine Spectator

Offers an appealing briary structure, accented by bright cherry, smoky dill and pepper flavors that linger on the crisp finish.

PRODUCER

Ridge

Ridge Vineyards is a multi-estate enterprise with vineyards and wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Sonoma County and Paso Robles. It is a leader in organic, sustainable winemaking and is the largest grower of certified organic grapes in the appellations of Sonoma County and the Santa Cruz Mountains. The business was founded in 1959 when three Stanford Research Institute engineers bought an abandoned winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyards had been planted in the late 19th century by a San Francisco physician who produced his first vintage in the original winery, called Monte Bello, in 1892. The first Ridge vintage was in 1962. For more than 50 years Ridge’s winemaker and CEO was Paul Draper, a legendary figure in California winemaking. Draper retired in 2016 and Ridge veteran Mark Vernon became CEO. Each winery has its own winemaker. Ridge makes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Rhone style wines. Robert M. Parker Jr. writes that Ridge “is undeniably one of California’s top wineries.”

TYPE

Red Wine, Zinfandel

Zinfandel is a black-skinned grape, but 85% of the wine produced is made into a rosy “White Zinfandel.” Red Zin is far more complex and bold, while still being light-bodied. It grows in popularity as winemakers continue to experiment with new styles and blends.

VINTAGE

2016 Ridge East Bench Zinfandel