6 bottles per lot
Details
RIDGE VINEYARDS AND BRILLIANCE OF PAUL DRAPER
Paul Draper has been at this game longer than many of the Wine Specialists cataloguing auction sales today. Next to Robert Mondavi and Andre Tchelistcheff he is perhaps the last of the great old guard of classic California wine making still practicing his trade. His palmarès is as singular as it is remarkable. It was he who fashioned, without formal training, the now legendary 1971 Ridge Monte Bello first globally recognized in The 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting. In 2000, Decanter Magazine declared him Man of the Year; 2007 recognized as Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation; and just this year recognized by the Institute of Masters of Wine with their Winemakers' Winemaker award to which Mr. Draper responded in a Decanter interview, "I'm blown away, because it is one of the most difficult groups to become a part of"
Since coming to Ridge Vineyards in 1969, Mr. Draper can also be credited with being one of the few serious winemakers who took Zinfandel under his wing as a grape with excellent potential. His understanding of fruit quality from old vine plantings, and California had many acres planted to old vine Zinfandel at that time, unquestionably saved this national treasure from being grubbed up and replanted to something more fashionable, like Merlot. Discovered by Paul Draper are among some of the state's finest grape sources, many of which have gone on to bottle under their own label, such as Lytton Springs and York Creek (note, following the Ridge section there is a smart lot up of some fine York Creek Cabernets). The quality of his Ridge Zinfandels inspired many a young winemaker to follow in his footsteps and many young wine lovers cut their teeth on his amazing Geyserville bottling.
The following selection is a broad offering of the multitude of Ridge Vineyard offerings, including a stellar dozen of the 1979 Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard. Acolytes of Mr. Draper's style will recognize much of what is on offer, including the Cabernet Program or CP designates, as well as those from Ridge's Advance Tasting Program or ATP designates offered as winery direct releases and often only available at auction after release.
Ridge, York Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon--Vintage 1982
Napa Valley
Levels: into neck
6 bottles per lot
Paul Draper has been at this game longer than many of the Wine Specialists cataloguing auction sales today. Next to Robert Mondavi and Andre Tchelistcheff he is perhaps the last of the great old guard of classic California wine making still practicing his trade. His palmarès is as singular as it is remarkable. It was he who fashioned, without formal training, the now legendary 1971 Ridge Monte Bello first globally recognized in The 1976 Judgment of Paris wine tasting. In 2000, Decanter Magazine declared him Man of the Year; 2007 recognized as Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year by the James Beard Foundation; and just this year recognized by the Institute of Masters of Wine with their Winemakers' Winemaker award to which Mr. Draper responded in a Decanter interview, "I'm blown away, because it is one of the most difficult groups to become a part of"
Since coming to Ridge Vineyards in 1969, Mr. Draper can also be credited with being one of the few serious winemakers who took Zinfandel under his wing as a grape with excellent potential. His understanding of fruit quality from old vine plantings, and California had many acres planted to old vine Zinfandel at that time, unquestionably saved this national treasure from being grubbed up and replanted to something more fashionable, like Merlot. Discovered by Paul Draper are among some of the state's finest grape sources, many of which have gone on to bottle under their own label, such as Lytton Springs and York Creek (note, following the Ridge section there is a smart lot up of some fine York Creek Cabernets). The quality of his Ridge Zinfandels inspired many a young winemaker to follow in his footsteps and many young wine lovers cut their teeth on his amazing Geyserville bottling.
The following selection is a broad offering of the multitude of Ridge Vineyard offerings, including a stellar dozen of the 1979 Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard. Acolytes of Mr. Draper's style will recognize much of what is on offer, including the Cabernet Program or CP designates, as well as those from Ridge's Advance Tasting Program or ATP designates offered as winery direct releases and often only available at auction after release.
Ridge, York Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon--Vintage 1982
Napa Valley
Levels: into neck
6 bottles per lot