| Producer | Ridge Vineyards |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Paso Robles |
| Varietal | Zinfandel |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 4444286100 |
| Size | 750ml |
Zinfandel Chronicles: 96 Points “Bright crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. 100% Zinfandel from Benito Dusi Ranch. Soaring nose of red fruits, spearmint and baking spices. Medium body with exquisite acidity and balance. Loaded with bright, juicy fruits. Bing cherry, raspberry liqueur, strawberry and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Arguably, the best Zinfandel in the Ridge portfolio. Drink over the next 5-7 years.” Tom Lee 3/2023.
100% Zinfandel from the Benito Dusi Ranch.
Though born in the early sixties to the post-Prohibition world of modern California winemaking, Ridge relies on nature and tradition rather than technology. Our pre-industrial approach is straightforward: find intense, flavorful grapes; intrude upon the process only when necessary; draw the fruit’s distinctive character and richness into the wine.
At Ridge, we are committed to sustainability and farming our vineyards organically. We are the largest grower of organically certified grapes in Sonoma County and in the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation...In 2008, we began the transition to farming our vineyards organically, which brought our viticultural practices in line with our traditional winemaking approach, which employs only the non-invasive treatments used in fine winemaking prior to the 1940s. As of harvest 2021, a total of 379 acres of vines at our Monte Bello, Lytton Springs, Geyserville, and East Bench vineyards are certified organic. All of the vineyards that we farm are certified by the Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification Program, which acknowledges agricultural properties working to restore fish and wildlife habitats and improve water quality. As a result, the Sonoma County Winegrowers have recognized our Sonoma County vineyards as Certified Sustainable.
Ridge Vineyards
In 1962, Ridge made its first Monte Bello, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched.
The history of Ridge Vineyards begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor who became a prominent member of San Francisco’s Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge. He terraced the slopes and planted vineyards; using native limestone, he constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage under that name in 1892.
In the 1940s, William Short, a theologian, bought the abandoned winery and vineyard just below the Perrone property; he replanted several parcels to Cabernet Sauvignon in the late 1940s. From these vines — now the “middle vineyard” and referred to as the Torre Ranch — new owners Dave Bennion, Hew Crane, Charlie Rosen, and Howard Ziedler, all Stanford Research Institute engineers, made a quarter-barrel of “estate” cabernet. That Monte Bello Cabernet was among California’s finest wines of the era. Its quality and distinctive character, and the wines produced from these same vines in 1960 and ’61, convinced the partners to re-bond the winery in time for the 1962 vintage.... By 1968, production had increased to just under three thousand cases per year, and in 1969, Paul Draper joined the partnership. A Stanford graduate in philosophy - recently returned from setting up a winery in Chile’s coast range - he was a practical winemaker, not an enologist. His knowledge of fine wines and traditional methods complemented the straightforward “hands off” approach pioneered at Ridge. Under his guidance the old Perrone winery (acquired the previous year) was restored, the finest vineyard lands leased or purchased, the consistent quality and international reputation of the wines established.
The 2021 Zinfandel Paso Robles is all varietal and comes from the Benito Dusi Ranch in Paso Robles. It's more medium-bodied and elegant, with classic Zinfandel notes of red and black plums, peppery herbs, cigar smoke, and sweet spices. I love its forward, seamless texture, and it has soft tannins as well as flawless balance. It's another gorgeous 2021 from this team with so much to love. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade.
Captures the best of Paso Robles Zinfandel, deeply structured and appealingly briary, with notes of bright cherry, brown baking spices and orange peel that finish with fleshy tannins. Drink now through 2032. 4,800 cases made. Tim Fish, 10/15/2023.
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