RIDGE Zinfandel 'Three Valleys' - Sonoma County 2023 Bottle

Description

Ridge's Three Valleys Zinfandel, first released in 2001, blends grapes from multiple Sonoma vineyards. The 2023 vintage includes ten vineyards, with Zinfandel as the dominant variety, complemented by old-vine Carignane, Petite Sirah, Mataro, and Alicante Bouschet. The wine is hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts and malolactic bacteria at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs wineries, and aged for twelve months in air-dried American oak barrels. This blend offers a harmonious integration of fruit, structure, and terroir-driven complexity.

The 2023 vintage reflects a uniquely cool growing season, leading to a prolonged harvest from mid-August to late September. Sourced from vineyards across Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Russian River Valley, the vines flourish in diverse gravelly loam and clay soils and range from ten to over a hundred years old. Aged for twelve months in air-dried American oak barrels, this wine maintains purity and depth while benefiting from minimal intervention. With a balanced acidity (TA 5.69 g/L, pH 3.82), it showcases a harmonious integration of fruit, structure, and terroir-driven complexity.

Rich and expressive, this wine opens with layers of dark berries, black cherry, and plum, accented by hints of baking spice and cedar from its American oak aging. The palate is structured yet supple, with fine-grained tannins supporting its depth and complexity. A lingering finish of cocoa, tobacco, and a touch of minerality showcases its balance and ageing potential.

14.4%abv

71% Zinfandel
16% Carignane
9% Petite Sirah
2% Mataro
2% Alicante Bouschet