2023 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 13.3%
pH 3.71
Total Acidity 8.15 g/L
Grape Varieties 78% Zinfandel, 9% Petite Sirah, 6% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Trousseau, 3% Carignane
Drinking Window Enjoyable on release and expected to be at its best over the following six years
Region Russian River Valley
Soil Alluvial, Rocky clay-loam benchland
Harvest Dates 20–23 October 2023
Brix at Harvest 23.4°
Sites Heritage Zinfandel block comprising 22 varieties
Fermentation Vessels Stainless-steel tank
Pressing Method Whole-Cluster Pressed
Indigenous Yeast Yes
Oak Types Air-dried American oak
Contains Added Sulfites Yes
Production Details Sustainably farmed and hand harvested. The fruit was 100% crushed, fermented in stainless steel with two pumpovers daily through natural primary and secondary fermentation, and whole-cluster pressed. Full natural malolactic fermentation followed. The wine aged fourteen months in air-dried American oak barrels, comprising 12% new and 88% five-plus-year-old barrels. Sulfur additions were 35 ppm at crush and 90 ppm cumulatively over aging; these are addition amounts, not a finished-wine sulfites analysis. The wine was pad filtered at bottling. Growing-season rainfall was 64 inches (above normal), bloom occurred at the end of June, and consistently cool conditions produced a late, prolonged harvest.
Certifications California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance; California Land Stewardship Institute; Historic Vineyard Society
Tasting Notes Strawberry, rose petal and cranberry aromas; medium body and juicy acidity; garnet color; bramble, fresh tarragon, baking spice and slight earthiness on the palate
1996 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 15.6%
Grape Varieties 75% Zinfandel, 22% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
Drinking Window Expected at the December 1997 tasting to be most appealing over the following four to five years
Region Russian River Valley
Harvest Dates Mid-September 1996
Vine Age 90
Production Details Initial sugar at harvest was 27.1%, and residual sugar at bottling was 0.1%; these source-native percentages are retained without conversion to °Brix or g/L. Most fruit came from ninety-year-old interplanted parcels, with younger Zinfandel making up the remainder. Parcels richest in Petite Sirah were selected for the final assemblage. Ridge designated the dry wine as “late picked” because of grape ripeness.
Tasting Notes Rich and almost thick, with dominant red ripe fruit; rustic and full-bodied
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1994 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.9%
Grape Varieties 84% Zinfandel, 12% Alicante, 4% Petite Sirah
Drinking Window Expected at the December 1995 tasting to be at its best over the following five to eight years
Region Russian River Valley
Harvest Dates Mid-October 1994
Oak Types Air-dried American oak
Production Details One-third of the wine aged in new air-dried American oak, one-third in two-year-old barrels, and the remainder in older, more neutral barrels.
Tasting Notes Intense berry fruit; big, earthy and robust
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1993 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 15.3%
Grape Varieties 76% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Sirah, 5% Alicante
Drinking Window Enjoyable at the February 1995 tasting and expected to develop over the following five to seven years
Region Russian River Valley
Soil Gravelly soils close to the russian river
Harvest Dates Early October 1993; all varieties picked together in a single day
Fermentation Vessels Traditional submerged-cap fermentation vessel
Oak Types American oak
Production Details All varieties were picked together in one day, crushed as a vineyard blend, and given a traditional submerged-cap fermentation. The wine was aged in four-year-old American oak.
Tasting Notes Bright raspberry fruit, wood spice, and firm, elegant tannins
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1991 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.5%
Grape Varieties 78% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah, 10% Alicante
Drinking Window Enjoyable at the July 1992 tasting and expected to be at its best over the following five years
Region Russian River Valley
Soil Gravelly old river-bed soils close to the russian river
Harvest Dates Fourth week of October 1991
Production Details The wine was bottled earlier than usual to retain its rich fruit.
Tasting Notes Full and complex, with rich fruit and a touch of sweetness from particularly ripe Zinfandel
Sources: www.ridgewine.com ↗ · Compare this vintage
1990 Technical Specifications
Alcohol 14.2%
Grape Varieties 76% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 6% Alicante
Region Russian River Valley
Production Details First Ridge release from the old mixed-varietal vineyard. Alicante was initially held apart, then included after barrel tastings showed that it added spiciness and definition.
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)