2021 Mancini Ranch

Stunning purple and garnet hues with aromas of black cherry, cassis, baking spices, cedar, root beer, and cinnamon toast. Lively entry on the palate with fresh red fruit, mouthwatering acidity, fine-grained tannins and a long finish. TG (10/22)

Nestled in the Russian River Valley, this 80-year-old vineyard is planted to carignane and zinfandel of stunning quality and distinct character. The vineyard has been farmed with great care by Max Reichwage since 2015 when he purchased the property. The grapes from this cooler micro-climate consistently show bright acidity and fresh red fruit. Approachable as a young wine it will age with grace over the next six to seven years. TG (10/22)

Luca Mancini planted this 15-acre vineyard between 1922 and 1924. It is located west of Santa Rosa at the corner of Olivet and Piner Roads. While it consists mostly of zinfandel vines, there is also a significant portion of carignane where we source our fruit. The cool summers of the Russian River Valley add to the distinctive acidity associated with carignane. Fruit, nut, and oak trees are interspersed in the the vineyard, making it a very special vineyard.

Rainfall: 14 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Early May
Weather: A dry winter and spring stressed the vines, limiting yields and concentrating flavors.

Harvest Date: 20 September
Grapes: Average Brix 23.9˚
TA: 9.15 g/L
pH: 3.42
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and crushed, pumped over a floating cap twice daily. Pressed at seven days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (10% new, 90% three years old).
Aging: Fourteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested grapes fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring malolactic bacteria; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 99 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.

JebDunnuck.com: 95 Points “Based on 73% Carignan and 27% Zinfandel, the 2021 Mancini Ranch reveals a ruby/plum hue as well as a gorgeous nose of red and black plums, cigar wrapper, cedarwood, and candied strawberries. It’s incredibly complex, medium to full-bodied, has a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and fine tannins. This is a brilliant example of Carignan, and I’d put it up with the finest expressions of the variety I’ve tasted. I generally don’t like how Carignan ages (it tends to turn more rustic), but the level of purity and balance in this beauty makes me think it will easily evolve for 10-12 years, if not longer.” -Jeb Dunnuck (October 2023)

Vinous Media: 95 Points “Ridge’s 2021 Mancini Ranch, 73% Carignane and 27% Zinfandel, is a heady, explosive wine. Super-ripe red cherry fruit, rose petal, cedar and a kick of sweet American oak all race across the palate. This juicy Russian River field blend hits all the right notes.” -Antonio Galloni (April 2023)

OwenBargreen.com: 95 Points “A blend of mostly Carignane (73%) with the remainder Zinfandel, the 2021 ‘Mancini Ranch’ was sourced from this site in the Russian River Valley which boasts 80 year old vines. The old-vine Carignane is really singing now. Ripe cranberry fruit combines with blood orange zest, cardamom, espresso grounds and copious minerals on the palate. Really refined and seamless throughout the drinking experience, this beauty will easily live on for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038.” -Owen Bargreen (April 2023)

Wine & Spirits: 90 Points “This has the high-toned red fruit of carignane (73 percent) blended with zin, coming together with the race of spring river water under the peppery green and red notes of zinnias. It’s an austere red, light and soft.” -J.G. (April 2023)

Average Rating: 88.8

No. of Tasting Notes: 10

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