2019 Buchignani Zinfandel

Nose of rich plum, red cherry and baking spice. Medium bodied with excellent acidity and well-coated tannins. Focused notes of strawberry, raspberry and chocolate with a velvety finish. SR (12/23)

Our first Buchignani Zinfandel was in 1999. It is one of our longest-running ATP wines. Plentiful winter rains and warm spring weather encouraged vigorous growth and a full crop. We blended the zinfandel with carignane from an adjacent block to bring bright acidity to the wine. A third of the grapes were crushed and fermented with a submerged cap to maximize full, gentle extraction. Balanced, elegant tannins suggest a wine that will age gracefully over eight years. JO (2/21)

This wine comes from a small planting of old-vine zinfandel on the Buchignani Ranch on Dutcher Creek Road in the hills north of Dry Creek Valley (carignane planted on the rest of the ranch provides a separate ATP selection). The zinfandel block, approximately five acres in size, was planted in the 1940s and ’50s on a rocky knoll overlooking the family home.

Rainfall: 57.5 inches (above normal)
Bloom: May
Weather: Total rainfall for the season was almost double our usual amounts. The vines responded with bountiful yields of great quality.

Harvest Dates: 9 – 12 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.0˚
TA: 5.40 g/L
pH: 3.82
Fermentation: Grapes fermented on the naturally-occuring yeasts. Pressed at eight days. Full malolactic carried out without inoculation.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (15% new, 15% one year old, 20% two years old, and 50% four to five years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested; sustainably farmed grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the indigenous yeast, followed by a full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 108 ppm during aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points + Editors’ Choice “Aromas of crushed raspberry and blueberry erupt from the glass of this Zin-Carignan blend. On the seamless palate, flavors of ripe berries mingle with chopped mint, toasted baking spices and anise in a framework of silky tannin and pinpoint-focused acidity. Drink this with anything savory/meaty and/or roasted.” -Tom Capo (June 2024)

Zinfandel Chronicles: 94 Points “Crimson in color. 13.9% ABV. 75% Zinfandel and 25% Carignane from an Alexander Valley vineyard. Sublime nose of red and black fruits, sage and pepper. Light to medium body with exquisite acidity. Bursting with crunchy fruits. Blackberry, cranberry, earth and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. With a few extra years of bottle age this wine is already singing and will drink well for another 3-4 years.” -Tom Lee (March 2024)

JamesSuckling.com: 93 Points “This is the only Ridge zin that gets extra bottle age before release to develop more floral, evolved aromas and softer tannins. Great depth, luscious raspberries and blackberries and hints of wild sage. Drink or hold.” -Jim Gordon (May 2024)

Vinous Media: 92 Points “Sourced from Alexander Valley, the 2019 Zinfandel Buchignani Ranch is a blend of 75% Zinfandel and 25% Carignane, an unusual mix that really jives. It marries the spicy red-fruited nature of Zinfandel with Carignane’s peppery, floral, citrusy lift. Bright orange fruit, candied tangerine peel, cinnamon, star anise and racy red raspberry run through this sexy, sensual, exuberant blend. This is particularly glued together and seamless. I like it a lot.” -Billy Norris (October 2024)

JebDunnuck.com: 91 Points “The 2019 Zinfandel Buchignani Ranch comes from a site in Sonoma County and is 75% Zinfandel and 25% Carignan. Beautiful ripe black cherries, redcurrants, spicy herbs, and dried flower notes all shine in this beauty, and it’s another ripe yet elegant, polished 2019 from this estate. It’s about as seamless as they come and drinking great today, yet I see no reason it shouldn’t evolve for a decade. -Jeb Dunnuck (August 2024)

JancisRobinson.com: 16 Points (out of 20) “Medium ruby. Sweet rose jam, redcurrant and black plum on the nose. Fresh acidity. Lightly astringent tannin. Rounded on the palate. Flavourful but not very persistent. Light for Zin. Drink 2022 – 2028.” -Samantha Cole-Johnson (December 2024)

Average Rating: 89.8

No. of Tasting Notes: 21

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