2009 Pagani Ranch

2009 pagani ranch

Varietal Information

2009 Zinfandel, Pagani Ranch, bottled March 2011
80% zinfandel, 14% alicante bouschet, 4% petite sirah, 2% carignane
15.0% alcohol by volume

History

Since 1991, Ridge has made zinfandel from the old Pagani vineyard on the east-facing side of Sonoma Valley. Almost all the vines here were planted more than a hundred years ago. Pagani Ranch is a fine example of what we look for in a vineyard: low-yielding old vines, carefully tended by a quality-conscious family who, in this case, have worked the land for four generations. The vineyard's long survival is proof of its merit. An average site would have been abandoned during the thirteen years of Prohibition, or during the Depression.

Vintage

Harvest Dates: 11 October
Grapes: Average Brix 26.1 degrees
Fermentation: No inoculation; natural primary and secondary. Pressed at nine days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (14% one year, 53% two years old and 33% four years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Growing Season

Rainfall: Below average (34 inches)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: A dry winter saved by spring rains and a warm, dry summer.

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Deep garnet. Mixed boysenberry/strawberry/rhubarb compote. Peppermint, old-vine black pepper. Medium-to-full body, with round tannins, firm acid. Tart juicy plum, intense cherry. Layered and sensuous. (8/11)

Tasting Notes and Reviews


Secure Sites