2018 Evangelho

Dark garnet red color. Scented cherry and blueberry fruits, seductive, layered and deep. Opulent bramble fruit entry, sensuous tannins, rich and complex. EB (9/20)

Planted in 1888, Evangelho vineyard made beautiful wine for Ridge from 1990-1993. When offered the grapes this year, we were delighted to have the chance to make this wine again. Its warm climate is well-suited to the three varietals grown there. Picked early to avoid overripening, we made a wine that shows excellent old-vine character. It will be at its best over the next decade.

Ridge produced its first wine from the Evangelho vineyard in 1990 and went on to produce small bottlings of mataro and zinfandel from this distinctive 1890s-era vineyard for the next three years. The vineyard is located 50 miles east of San Francisco in Contra Costa County and is planted on an ancient alluvial sand bar at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The cooling influence of the nearby San Francisco Bay along with the vineyard’s deep, sandy soils produce elegant wines with excellent natural acidity.

Rainfall: 13.22 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Early May
Weather: Hot, dry summers with afternoon winds

Harvest Dates: 14 August – 15 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.2˚
TA: 7.00 g/L
pH: 3.55
Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation; 100% floating cap; pressed at nine days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (59% Appalachia, 41% Ozark), 15% new, 54% three years-old, 31% four years-old.
Aging: Nineteen months in barrel

Evangelho Vineyard grapes, hand-harvested; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur; 35ppm at crush, 66ppm during aging. Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Wine Enthusiast: 92 Points “Firmly structured and nicely spicy, this full-bodied wine (made from Carignan, Mataro and Zinfandel vines from a property first planted in 1888) is packed with raspberry, blackberry and black-pepper flavors. Its polished texture of fine-grained tannins balance a warm, dried fruit finish.” -Jim Gordon (January 2021)

The Wine Advocate: 90 Points “The 2018 Evangelho is made up of 57% Carignane, 26% Mataro and 17% Zinfandel. Its tricolored fruits are laced with earthy accents and warm spices, while the palate is medium-bodied with a gently grainy texture, earthy character and just enough freshness.” -Erin Brooks (February 2021)

Average Rating: 90.5

No. of Tasting Notes: 39

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See all food pairing recipes we have created specifically for this wine.