2013 Three Valleys

Medium-garnet color. Briar, cherry/plum nose, with clay mineral, dried herbs, oak spice. Elegant fresh-raspberry entry; soft, textured tannins; sweet oak. Good finish.

A dry winter was followed by a dry spring and summer. Despite continuing drought, our Sonoma vineyards set an abundant crop, which ripened fully for a September harvest. Natural yeasts fermented the wine dry in seven days. Uninoculated malolactics finished quickly, allowing an early assemblage in which petite sirah added structure and depth of color to the softer zinfandels. This sensuous wine will be most enjoyable over the next four to five years. JO/EB (8/14)

The history of the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards — this year, six. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards — winemaking — at its finest. Zinfandel determines the wine’s varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah spice, depth of color, and firm tannins.

Rainfall: 24.5 – 30 inches (below average) with no rain mid-winter.

Bloom: Early to Mid-May

Weather: Warm spring and early summer followed by cooler weather that slowed ripening.

Harvest Dates: 5 September – 16 October.

Grapes: Average Brix 24.6

Fermentation: No inoculation; natural primary and secondary. Grapes fully crushed; pressed at seven days on average.

Barrels: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (10% new, 32% one and two years old, and 58% three, to six years old).

Aging: Ten months in barrel.

Hand-harvested grapes, destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts followed by a full malolactic on the natural-occurring bacteria; a total of 0.74 grams/liter tartaric acid; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35ppm at crush, 195ppm over the course of aging); membrane sterile filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions. Ingredients: Hand harvested, sustainably grown grapes; indigenous yeasts; naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; tartaric acid; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective SO2.

The Wine Advocate (October 2015): 91 Points “A blend of 80% Zinfandel, 11% Carignan, 8% Petite Sirah and a splash of Alicante Bouschet, the 2013 Three Valleys has lots of berry fruits, bramble, spice-box and licorice in its medium-bodied, supple, nicely textured and delicious profile. It doesn’t have the structure or depth of the Lytton Spring, but it’s a full-flavored, delicious wine to drink over the coming 7-8 years. This was a terrific set of wines from Ridge. The 2012 Bordeaux releases all have brilliant purity of fruit, with surprising freshness and focus. They’ll need short term cellaring to be approachable, especially the Monte Bello. The 2013s are similar in style to the 2012s, with tight, fresh profiles and solid tannic grip.” – Jeb Dunnuck

Average Rating: 89.3

No. of Tasting Notes: 129

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