2015 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 15.5%
Grape Varieties 100% Zinfandel
Drinking Window Producer projected ten to twelve years of continued development; no absolute end year was specified.
Region Paso Robles
Harvest Dates 25 August–10 September
Brix at Harvest 28.0°
Natural Yeast Yes
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Maceration 9 days
Oak Types American oak
Used Oak Only Yes
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details Dusi Ranch grapes from a vineyard planted in 1923 were hand-harvested, destemmed and crushed, then underwent submerged-cap fermentation with native yeast and full malolactic fermentation on naturally occurring bacteria. The wine received a 1.4% water addition and was pad filtered at bottling. Sulfur additions were 35 ppm at crush and 182 ppm cumulatively over aging; these are process additions, not a finished-wine sulfites analysis. The page contains an unresolved maturation-duration conflict: its Vintage Notes say fifteen months in barrel, while its Winemaking specification says seventeen months. The specified barrels were air-dried American oak, 65% one- and two-year-old and 35% five-year-old.
Tasting Notes Deep garnet; ripe bramble fruit, compote, black licorice and barrel spice; black cherry, lively acidity, elegant tannins and a long, sweet-fruited finish.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2013 Technical Specifications
Region Paso Robles
Harvest Dates 14 September
Brix at Harvest 25.8°
Natural Yeast Yes
Maceration 7 days
Oak Types American oak
Used Oak Only Yes
Production Details Full-crush, natural primary and secondary, submerged-cap fermentation was pressed at seven days. The wine aged seventeen months in air-dried American oak: 65% two- and three-year-old barrels and 35% five-year-old barrels.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
2012 Technical Specifications
Region Paso Robles
Brix at Harvest 26.0°
Maceration 7 days
Oak Details 25% First Fill New Oak
First Fill New Oak25%
Oak Types American oak
Production Details The wine underwent submerged-cap fermentation and was pressed at seven days. Maturation used air-dried American oak comprising 25% new, 43% three-year-old and 32% five-year-old barrels.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1994 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.3%
Grape Varieties 100% Zinfandel
Drinking Window Producer expected the wine to be at its best during the five years following the release note; absolute dates were not stated.
Region Paso Robles
Oak Types American oak
Production Details Vineyard lots harvested over four weeks were kept separate, with the selected wine released through Ridge’s Advance Tasting Program. Unlike Ridge’s usual submerged-cap Zinfandel fermentation, this release used a floating cap and pumpovers for extraction. Approximately 25% was aged in new air-dried American oak and the balance in three-year-old oak; the new-oak share is approximate and therefore is not emitted as an exact numeric oak claim.
Tasting Notes Sweet ripe berry fruit balanced by firm tannins.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1992 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 15.6%
Grape Varieties 100% Zinfandel
Drinking Window Producer expected the wine to be at its best during the five years following the release note; absolute dates were not stated.
Region Paso Robles
Production Details The most stressed old-vine blocks were harvested first and had very high grape sugar, although no numeric must analysis is supplied. After separate-lot fermentation and tasting, Ridge selected the richest and ripest lots for an Advance Tasting Program release.
Tasting Notes Plummy aroma, fresh raspberry fruit and a well-structured palate.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1989 Technical Specifications
Grape Varieties 100% Zinfandel
Drinking Window Producer expected the wine to be at its best during the six years following the release note; absolute dates were not stated.
Region Paso Robles
Production Details Ridge delayed harvesting part of the old Dusi vineyard while attempting to make Zinfandel Essence, but those grapes did not reach the conditions required for a natural dessert wine. The final dry Dusi Ranch Zinfandel combined an earlier-picked, higher-acid lot with the richer late-harvest lot.
Tasting Notes Intensely fruity, rich and supported by the higher acidity of the earlier-picked component.
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
Producer Information
Website
Address
17100 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014-5435, USA
Phone
+1 408.867.3233
Owner
Private ownership (founding families)
Cellarmaster
John Olney (Head Winemaker & CEO)