2020 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel

Rich plum and pipe tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate with boysenberry, ripe black cherry and pepper. Well-balanced with lively acidity and a long, layered finish. MB (7/22)

This is our twentieth vintage of Pagani Zinfandel. The cool climate of Sonoma Valley typically delays harvest but an early bud break and warm weather throughout August moved harvest up to mid-September. Color and tannin extracted easily during fermentation; bright acidity focuses the plentiful fruit. After fourteen months of barrel age, this excellent zinfandel is enjoyable now and will develop over eight years. JO (2/22)

Since 1991, Ridge has made zinfandel from the Pagani Vineyard on the western side of Sonoma Valley. The majority of the vineyard was planted ninety to one hundred twenty years ago; portions of it were replanted between 2013—2018. The vineyard is meticulously tended by a quality-conscious family who has worked the land for four generations. An average site would have been abandoned during the thirteen years of Prohibition, or during the Depression. Its long survival is proof of its merit.

Rainfall: 25 inches (below average)
Bloom: Late May
Weather: Rains in March and April helped the vines get through the summer.

Harvest Dates: 11 – 16 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.5˚
TA: 6.3 g/L
pH: 3.52
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and crushed. Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; pumped over a floating cap.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (15% new, 15% one year-old, 30% three years-old, 20% four years-old and 20% five years-old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Pagani Ranch 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 for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 101 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Zinfandel Chronicles: 95 Points “Stunning nose of red fruits, peach and baking spices. Medium body with perfect acidity. Sleek and silky with an abundance of bright, juicy fruits. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, cranberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Ridge Pagani has been on a great run since the 2018 vintage. I’ll be a buyer of this wine. Best over the next 5-7 years.” -Tom Lee (September 2022)

OwenBargreen.com: 94 Points “Nearly all Zinfandel (90%), this has 4% Alicante blended in. Very juicy and bright, this shows ripe strawberry and bing cherry with prosciutto and green olive notes on the palate. Complex and delicious, this has a long way to go in the cellar. Vibrant, with a terrific mineral backbone, this weighs in at only 13.8% alcohol.” -Owen Bargreen (August 2022)

Vinous Media: 93 Points “The 2020 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a terrific wine for the year. Dark red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, licorice and dried fruits all run through this fleshy, racy zinfandel from one of Sonoma’s very finest sites. Plush and yet not quite as ample as Pagani Zinfandels can be, the 2020 is an exceptional effort for the vintage. All the elements are so well balanced.” -Antonio Galloni (October 2022)

Wilfred Wong: 93 Points “Packed, powerful, satisfying; ripe berries and licorice flavors.” (September 2022)

Average Rating: 89.8

No. of Tasting Notes: 32

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