2004 Caboose Zinfandel

Ed Nervo, whose family purchased the ranch in the 1890s, grew up at their winery on the Northwestern Pacific main line, and came to love all things pertaining to railroads. After becoming a winemaker, he somehow moved a caboose up the steep hill behind the winery. That caboose gives this hillside parcel of the Nervo Vineyard its name. An early spring and warm, dry summer ripened all the fruit by late August–three weeks ahead of schedule; we harvested the entire vineyard in a single day. Fermented with a floating cap on its natural yeasts, the wine was pressed after eleven days. After completing a natural malolactic, it aged for twelve months in air-dried american oak barrels. Rich black fruit, exotic spice, and firm, integrated tannins define this excellent zinfandel. Approachable now, it will soften and develop over the next five years.

Since 1962, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, exploring California in search of those rare sites where climate, soil, and varietal are ideally matched. Using traditional methods and minimal handling, we strive to produce the highest quality wines from superior and distinctive fruit.

Average Rating: 89.5

No. of Tasting Notes: 31

View this wine on CellarTracker