2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel

Garnet-red color with aromas of tropical fruits, ripe plum, strawberries, and toasted oak. Saturating cherry and fresh acidity on entry. Medium body, bramble fruit, exotic spices, and underlying dusty gravel notes. The finish shows minerality and is long and gratifying. TG (8/23)

These old zinfandel vines on the Benito Dusi Ranch were planted in the 1920’s. Despite a dry, warm growing season , a healthy crop was at optimal ripeness for a late August harvest, just ahead of the record heat wave. Fifteen months in oak, rich, exotic fruit, fresh acidity, and a long finish make it enjoyable on release. It will develop beautifully over the next seven or eight years. TG (9/23)

Benito Dusi’s Ranch is the only zinfandel vineyard that Ridge sources from within the Central Coast Viticultural Area. The 1967 vintage was our first wine from the Dusi Ranch. It was planted to zinfandel in 1922, which is unusual because Prohibition had started two years earlier. Purchased by Sylvester and Catarina Dusi in 1924, the property has been farmed since the 1940s by their son Benito, the owner. Benito passed away in 2019, leaving the care of the vineyard to his nephew, Mike.

Rainfall: Less than 12 inches (below average)
Bloom: Early May
Weather: Typical hot days and cool nights to this region. The August heat spell accelerated ripening in zinfandel, bringing an early harvest.

Harvest Dates: 22 August – 21 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.8˚
TA: 8.10 g/L
pH: 3.38
Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation.
Barrels: 95% air-dried American oak barrels, 5% French oak barrels (10% new, 10% one year old, 64% two years old, and 16% three years old).
Aging: Twelve months in barrel

Benito Dusi 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 for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 95 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: 96 Points “Brilliant nose of red fruits, licorice and peaches. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Bursting with bright, juicy fruits. Cherry preserves, raspberry liqueur, baking spices and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Incredibly delicious. Fast becoming one of top Zins in the Ridge lineup. Best over the next 3-5 years.” -Tom Lee (March 2024)

Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points “Blackberry, pencil shavings and peppercorn aromas show on the nose of this bottling that includes 5% Petite Sirah. The palate is energized with berry to black-plum flavors, as an underlying cigar-box spice settles into the firm structures.” -Matt Kettmann (June 2024)

Wine Spectator: 93 Points “Brambly and dynamic, with cherry and raspberry flavors highlighted by briar patch, pepper and roasted anise notes. Finishes with zesty tannins. Drink now through 2034.” -T.F. (May 2024)

JebDunnuck.com: 92 Points “Blended with 5% Petite Sirah, the 2022 Zinfandel Paso Robles is one of the sweeter fruited, exotic Zinfandels in the lineup. Candied strawberries, red plums, cigar, herbes de Provence, and sandalwood all define the aromatics, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length. I would drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years.” -Jeb Dunnuck (August 2024)

JamesSuckling.com: 92 Points “This full-blown, full-bodied wine is ripe and rich, oozing blackberries, black cherries and dark plums on moderate tannins. Made from the Benito Dusi Ranch. Includes 5% petite sirah. Drink now.” -Jim Gordon (May 2024)

Vinous Media: 91 Points “The 2022 Zinfandel Paso Robles is very aromatic and expressive, belying any heaviness, overripeness or heat one might expect from this warm region in a warm season. Spiced cherry, blood orange, tobacco, cinnamon and leather layer atop a tense, slightly edgy mineral core that keeps this abundantly fresh. Surprisingly, it is light on its feet, especially considering the inclusion of 5% Petite Sirah in the blend (mainly perceptible in the wine’s purplish hue), and it goes down easily. Drink it any time over the next six to eight years.”
-Billy Norris (October 2024)

JancisRobinson.com: 17.5 Points (out of 20) “Medium verging on deep purple in colour. In Ridge’s 2022 line-up, this is what I would consider to be the most ‘typical’ Zinfandel – intense bramble and spice, rich, jammy black and red plum, with a glycerine texture and weight on the palate and fresh vibrant acid. Creamy black tea to finish. Lovely. Drink 2024 – 2032. -Samantha Cole-Johnson (December 2024)

Average Rating: 92.7

No. of Tasting Notes: 11

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