1997 Dusi Ranch Zinfandel

Dusi Ranch, typically, is the first zinfandel vineyard Ridge harvests each year. In 1997, the first grapes from the ranch were already very ripe in early September. Their zinfandel fruit was so pure and intense that we decided to set them aside for an Advanced Tasting Program bottling. Though similar in size to its sister, the 97′ Paso Robles, this lovely, late-picked wine shows the specific character of it small parcel. A superb example of the rich, jammy style, it will be most appealing over the next four or five years.

The zinfandel on this Paso Robles ranch was planted in 1923. It was purchased soon after by Sylvester and Catarina Dusi, who raised three sons there—Guido, Dante, and Benito. When Guido and Dante went to war in 1944, vineyard cultivation was left to Sylvester and young Benito—eleven years old at the time. Beni, as his many friends call him, maintained the vines from then on. Ridge’s long relationship with Beni and the Dusi vineyard began when Dave Bennion— scouting the area in 1967—knocked on the Dusis’ door and asked to buy five tons of grapes.

Average Rating: 90.2

No. of Tasting Notes: 7

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