2009 East Bench®

Varietal Information

bottled January 2011
100% zinfandel
15.2% alcohol by volume

History

Ridge has made the East Bench as a single-site zinfandel since 2006. One of our few single-variety wines, this zinfandel vineyard sits high on top of the bench land that overlooks Dry Creek Valley from the east.

Vintage

Harvest Dates: 12 - 15 September
Grapes: Average brix 26.2 degrees
Fermentation: Natural primary and secondary; twice daily pump-overs; pressed at ten days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (20% new, 25% one and two years old, 55% three, four and five years old.)
Aging: Thirteen months in barrel

Growing Season

Rainfall: Thirty-four inches (below average)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Dry winter with spring rains followed by a warm, dry summer.

Winemaking

All estate-grown grapes, hand harvested. Destemmed and crushed. Fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria. 1.5 grams/liter tartaric acid and a total of four percent rehydration (added to five particularly ripe parcels) during fermentation. Minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush, 163 ppm over the course of aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Garnet/crimson color. Raspberry and red currant fruits, black pepper, brown sugar clay earth, iron/rust. Classic Dry Creek briar, attractive barrel toast and spice, lively acid. Drink young. -Eric Baugher (2/11)

• 2008 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH AMERICAN NEW RELEASES, Joshua Greene , Wine & Spirits 10-2010 , Tasting
  RATED: 92
  
  2008 Dry Creek Valley East Bench Zinfandel (Best Buy)
  
  Ridge may be known for old-vine zin but the future is with the young, like this vineyard t...(more)
• 2008 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH ZINFANDEL New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 04-2010 , Tasting
  2008 Ridge, "East Bench," Dry Creek Valley ($26) Medium-dark ruby; attractive, herbal, briary, plummy, red berry fruit aroma with hints of rhubarb and stewed tomatoes; ...(more)
• 2008 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH 2008 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench, Robert Parker , Wine Advocate 02-2010 , Tasting
  Rating: (90-92)
  
  The more powerful 2008 Zinfandel East Bench (100% Zinfandel; nearly 15% alcohol) boasts a dark plum/ruby color in addition to a big, sweet bouquet o...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH 2007 Ridge Zinfandel East Bench, Robert Parker , Wine Advocate 02-2010 , Tasting
  Rating: 90+
  
  This was my first look at a new offering from Ridge, the 2007 Zinfandel East Bench. From a young Dry Creek Valley vineyard, it is a blend of 92% Zinfand...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH Five-Star California Zinfandels , Quarterly Review Of Wines 06-2009 , Tasting
  2007 RIDGE ZINFANDEL "EAST BENCH" (CALIFORNIA: DRY CREEK VALLEY). 92% Zinfandel and 8% Petite Sirah. Sweet, nutty, spicy, ripe, elegant, well-focused, wild-berry flavor...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH ZINFANDEL - More New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 06-2009 , Tasting
  2007 Ridge, "East Bench," Dry Creek Valley ($30) Medium-
  dark purplish ruby; attractive, earthy, briary, cherry
  and blueberry fruit aroma with notes of licorice, dill, and
  ...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH Zinfandel, Charles E. Olken , Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 05-2009 , Tasting
  RIDGE VINEYARDS Zinfandel East Bench Dry Creek Valley 2007
  
  SCORE: 92
  
  8% Petite Sirah. Here is marvelous proof that high ripeness and fine balance need n...(more)
• 2006 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH ZINFANDEL - More New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 08-2008 , Tasting
  2006 Ridge, "East Bench," Dry Creek Valley – Medium to medium-dark ruby; attractive, briary, cedary, cherry and blackberry fruit aroma; full body; forward, rich, briary...(more)
• 2006 ZINFANDEL EAST BENCH Zinfandel, Charles E. Olken , Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 05-2008 , Tasting
  2006 RIDGE VINEYARDS Zinfandel East Bench Dry Creek Valley
  
  SCORE: 87 *
  
  Sporting the heretofore unseen "East Bench" designation, this new offering from Ri...(more)