2005 Oltranti Zinfandel

In 1987, Niccolo and Flora Oltranti purchased the old Mazzoni Home Ranch. Above the surviving nineteenth-century vines were several abandoned hillside vineyards, which Niccolo and son Paul restored, replanting to zinfandel. These younger vines make up eighty-four percent of the 2005. The rest comes from the back block of the old Mazzoni planting, which includes carignane and petite sirah. Late spring rains delayed the start of the growing season, but a warm July recaptured lost time. In late August and September temperatures fell, and the damp, foggy weather caused bunch rot to develop in some of the tight-clustered young zinfandel. To eliminate the damage, about fifteen percent of the fruit was dropped. The three contributing parcels fermented separately on their own yeasts; after assemblage, they were racked to air-dried american oak for eleven months’ aging. Enjoyable now for its delicious bramble fruit, this well-structured zinfandel will develop fully over the next four to six years.

Since 1962, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, exploring California in search of those rate sites where climate, soil, and varietal are ideally matched. Our aim is to guide the natural process; using traditional methods, we strive to produce exceptional wines from distinctive fruit.

Average Rating: 90.5

No. of Tasting Notes: 52

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