2009 Paso robles

Varietal Information

bottled September 2011
95% zinfandel, 5% petite sirah
14.8% alcohol by volume

History

The Benito Dusi Ranch is the only vineyard in the Central Coast Viticultural Area from which we source grapes. The 1967 vintage was our first wine from this vineyard. It is planted entirely to zinfandel, unusual in a vineyard more than eighty years old. Purchased by Sylvester and Catarina Dusi in 1924, the property has    been farmed since the 1940s by their son Benito, the owner.

Vintage

Harvest Dates: 4 - 22 September
Grapes: Average brix 25.1 degrees
Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation, 100% submerged cap; pressed at nine days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrel (18% new, 43% one and two years old, 39% three and four years old)
Aging: Nine months in barrel

Growing Season

Rainfall: 9 inches (below average)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Cool, dry spring and summer with late heat that helped ripen an above-average crop.

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Garnet/medium ruby. Intense sun-dried cherry; sweet, defined tropical guava, old-vine pepper spice. Approachable, fruit-forward style. Viscous, smooth-body, coated tannins. Long finish with bursts of juicy stone fruits. -Eric Baugher (2/11)

• 2008 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 04-2010 , Tasting
  2008 Ridge, "Benito Dusi Ranch," Paso Robles ($30) Medium-dark ruby with purplish tinges; attractive, intense, briary, very ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit aroma...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL - More New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 06-2009 , Tasting
  2007 Ridge, "Benito Dusi Ranch," Paso Robles ($30) Medium
  to medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, briary,
  raspberry jam aroma with a note of black pepper; full body;
  forw...(more)
• 2007 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel, Charles E. Olken , Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 05-2009 , Tasting
  RIDGE VINEYARDS Zinfandel Benito Dusi Vineyard Paso Robles 2007
  
  SCORE: 90 *
  
  If as usual among the more forward and accessible of the many Ridge Zinfandels...(more)
• 2006 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES California's Central Coast, Stephen Tanzer , International Wine Cellar 11-2008 , Tasting
  2006 Zinfandel Paso Robles: Ruby-red color. Expressive cherry-vanilla and dark berry preserve aromas are complicated by dark chocolate and dried flowers. Spicy dark berry and ...(more)
• 2006 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL - More New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 08-2008 , Tasting
  2006 Ridge, "Benito Dusi Ranch," Paso Robles -- Medium-dark ruby; attractive, forward, intense, spicy, peppery, blackberry fruit aroma; full body; forward, rich, slight...(more)
• 2006 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel, Charles E. Olken , Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 05-2008 , Tasting
  RIDGE VINEYARDS Zinfandel Benito Dusi Vineyard Paso Robles 2006
  
  SCORE: 91 **
  
  Ridge gets Paso Robles Zinfandel right with this wonderfully well-made wine t...(more)
• 2004 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL ZAP, Harold Baer , Colorado Wine News 04-2007 , Press
  The 2004 Zinfandel, Paso Robles, $30, was aged for thirteen months in American oak, 21% new. It opens dark and earthy with blackberry, currant, and smoky oak before round, rip...(more)
• 2004 PASO ROBLES New Releases from California's Central Coast, Stephen Tanzer , International Wine Cellar 09-2006 , Tasting
  2004 Zinfandel Paso Robles ($28; 100% zin):
  
  Bright red-ruby. High-toned nose combines blackberry, black raspberry, licorice and black pepper. Supersweet, intensely flavore...(more)
• 2004 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel, Robert Parker , Wine Advocate 06-2006 , Tasting
  This venerable producer, with as fine a track record as any winery in the world, continues to turn out high quality Zinfandels...
  
  RIDGE 2004 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES --- SC...(more)
• 2004 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel, Joshua Greene , Wine & Spirits 06-2006 , Tasting
  SCORE: 87
  
  2004 Paso Robles Zinfandel Sweet cherry jam flavors balance soft, chocolatey richness with the dusty tannin of Paso Robles fruit. Serve it with saus...(more)
• 2004 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel, Charles E. Olken , Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine 05-2006 , Tasting
  RIDGE VINEYARDS Zinfandel Dusi Ranch Paso Robles 2004
  
  SCORE: 87 *
  
  There is typically a plump and easy-going aspect about Ridge's Dusi Ranch Zins, and this...(more)
• 2004 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES Zinfandel - New Releases, Nicholas Ponomareff , California Grapevine 02-2006 , Tasting
  2004 Zinfandel Paso Robles: "Medium to medium-dark ruby color with a touch of purple; attractive, forward, spicy, herbal, briary, very ripe, jammy, raspberry and dark c...(more)
• 2003 PASO ROBLES , James Laube , Wine Spectator 08-2005 , Tasting
  Effusively fruity, offering ripe, supple wild berry, raspberry and stewed plum flavors that are complex, balanced and harmonious, and a nice show of creamy coconut-tinged oak....(more)
• 2002 PASO ROBLES Planning a Down Under Journey, Matt Kramer , The Oregonian 01-2005 , Press
  All good wines have their fans. But zinfandel has fanatic partisans. For these admirers, zinfandel is not merely a good red wine with bold, rich flavors but a statement, a cal...(more)
• 2002 PASO ROBLES New Wines from the Central Coast, Stephen Tanzer , International Wine Cellar 08-2004 , Tasting
  2002 Zinfandel Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County:
  
  Dark red. Superripe nose suggests Kahlua and raisin, along with a hint of herbs. Then creamy in the mouth, with superrip...(more)
• 2001 ZINFANDEL PASO ROBLES California Zinfandels – A Very Good Vintage, Robert Parker , Wine Advocate 10-2003 , Press
  2001 Zinfandel Paso Robles -- SCORE: 90
  
  Paul Draper continues to perform brilliantly with his diverse group of Zinfandels and Zinfandel-based blends. His recent portfolio ...(more)
• 2000 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL New Releases, California Zinfandel & Blends, James Laube , Wine Spectator 06-2002 , Press
  SCORE: 83 Ridge Zinfandel Paso Robles 2000 $25
  
  A ripe and funky style, with high-toned cranberry, stewed plum and sour cherry notes. Not for everyone. Needs food to offset...(more)
• 2000 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Zinfandel New Releases, Nick Ponomareff , California Grapevine 06-2002 , Press
  2000 Ridge, Paso Robles ($25) - Medium-dark ruby; attractive, herbal, plummy, briary, very ripe raspberry and currant aroma with a hint of saddle leather; medium-full body; ri...(more)
• 2000 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Focus on California, Stephen Tanzer , International Wine Cellar 05-2002 , Press
  2000 Zinfandel Paso Robles California ($25): Bright dark red. Aromatic nose of currant, plum, leather, chocolate, pepper and spice cake. Powerful and thick but rather aggressi...(more)
• 1999 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Zinfandel, Joshua Greene , Wine & Spirits 10-2001 , Press
  1999 Paso Robles Dusi Ranch Zinfandel - Baking spices add an accent to the lush blackberry and strawberry fruit of this zinfandel. It’s gentle and fresh, ready to enjoy ...(more)
• 1999 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL New Releases, California, Zinfandel, James Laube , Wine Spectator 06-2001 , Press
  Ridge Zinfandel Paso Robles 1999 $25 Raisin and dried berry flavors up front, with modest tannins and herbal notes through the finish. Drink now through 2004. 2,555 cases made...(more)
• 1999 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Shoppers Guide to California Zinfandel, Randy Sheahan , Quarterly Review Of Wines 06-2001 , Press
  1999 RIDGE ZINFANDEL (PASO ROBLES), $25. This is 95 percent Zinfandel and five percent Petite Sirah. Medium-deep, purple-tinged, ruby color; rich, ripe, intensely toasty, blac...(more)
• 1999 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL , Quarterly Review Of Wines 06-2001 , Press
  1999 RIDGE ZINFANDEL (PASO ROBLES) $25. This is 95 percent Zinfandel and five percent Petite Sirah. Medium-deep, purple-tinged, ruby color; rich, ripe, intensely toasty, black...(more)
• 1999 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL , The Insiders' Wine Line , Press
  The 1999 Zinfandel, Dusi Ranch-Paso Robles, California (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah) has a bouquet of raspberry, cassis, ripe strawberry, roses, herb and toasty oak. The jammy fl...(more)
• 1998 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Zinfandel, Joshua Greene , Wine & Spirits 10-2000 , Press
  Ridge 1998 Paso Robles Dusi Ranch Zinfandel

  Dark and fruity, this wine’s firm blackberry scents are buried under the oak. The wood dries up the fruit for now le...(more)

• 1998 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL , James Laube , Wine Spectator 05-2000 , Press
  Ridge Zinfandel San Luis Obispo County Paso Robles 1998 $23 Ripe and jammy on a modest frame, with black cherry, raspberry and vanilla, almost like a cobbler. Turns crisp and ...(more)
• 1998 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Focus on California, Stephen Tanzer , International Wine Cellar 05-2000 , Press
  1998 Zinfandel Paso Robles San Luis Obispo County (14.9%): Medium ruby-red. Strawberry preserves, black cherry, coffee, mocha and a hint of pepper on the somewhat port-like n...(more)
• 1997 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL LATE PICKED California Reviews, ARG, PRE, SAM, WHS, D&D , Tastings 12-1999 , Press
  Dark, saturated violet-red. Fantastic black fruit and chocolate aromas carry distinctive floral overtones. A firm entry leads a moderately full-bodied palate with velvety tann...(more)
• 1997 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL 1997 Zinfandels, Dan Berger , California Grapevine 06-1999 , Press
  1997 Ridge, “Late Picked,” Paso Robles - Medium-dark ruby; attractive, intense, floral, briary, peppery, very ripe grape aroma with overtones of creamy oak; full b...(more)
• 1997 PASO ROBLES ZINFANDEL Ridge Vineyards, Robert Parker , Wine Advocate 12-1998 , Press
  The 1997 Zinfandels are all high in alcohol, largely because of vintage conditions. All are slightly more successful than Ridge’s very fine 1996s. For example, the 1997 ...(more)