Ridge, Zinfandel "Benito Dusi Ranch" Paso Robles, California 2021

100% Zinfandel

Deep garnet color with aromas of cherry, ripe plum, spearmint, strawberry compote and toasted oak. Ripe Bing cherry and fresh acidity create a mouthwatering entry. Medium bodied with hints of exotic spices and underlying earth tones. The finish shows minerality and is long and satisfying.

During a very dry winter the vines were given two long, deep irrigations that provided the water needed to set a good crop. Despite a July heat spike, harvest unfolded in ideal conditions. The wine shows the exotic spice typical of the vineyard and the freshness of firm acidity. Fifteen months in oak has brought these elements into balance. Enjoyable on release, it will develop further over the next eight years.

Benito Dusi’s Ranch is the only zinfandel vineyard that Ridge sources from within the Central Coast Viticultural Area. The grapes are hand-harvested; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine. Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.