RidgeGeyservilleZinfandel2019

The Ridge we know today started very modestly in 1962 at the Monte Bello vineyard, by 1966 Geyserville Zinfandel was being made, pushing production by 1968 to 1000 cases. In 1969 Paul Draper, fresh from winemaking in Chile, joined the partnership. Cabernet and Zinfandel are most of the production with Syrah, Grenache, Carignane, and Petite Sirah making a small percentage and a little Chardonnay. As of harvest 2022, 100% of Ridge’s estate vineyards have been certified organic, including Monte Bello, Lytton Springs, Geyserville, and East Bench.rrThis is Ridge’s 54th consecutive vintage from the vineyards in Geyserville, the oldest vines Ridge farm, up to 130 years old. The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards on a single soil type, deposited by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried river stone and gravel. It is approximately one-and-a-quarter miles long and half a mile wide. Geyserville is a traditional field blend of zinfandel and its complementary varieties; Carignane, Petite Sirah, & Mataro aka Mourvedre. Today the Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley are two of the most sort after locations for top quality red from Sonoma County.rrWeather in 2019 This year’s long, wet winter, and a mild summer, delayed harvest by two weeks. Of the forty-three fermented lots, we chose thirty-two for their superb Geyserville character and blending synergy. Enjoyable now, this excellent wine will develop more complexity over the next fifteen years. rrTechnical Information: rVineyard: GeyservillerGrape: 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah & 3% Alicante BouschetrAppellation: Alexander ValleyrAlcohol: 14.5 %rTA: 6.83 g/LrpH: 3.54rrFermentation: Full Crush, 100% floating cap. Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; daily pump-overs; pressed at six days. rrBarrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% new, 2% one year-old, 22% two years-old, 25% three years-old, and 22% four years-old and 9% five years-old).rrTasting Note: Dark garnet red with classic Geyserville nose of ripe black cherry and plum, gravel, wintergreen, and beautiful oak spice. Deep and sensuously layered with polished tannins, river-rock minerality, and a long finish.