2020 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel

Jammy fruit forward nose, toasty oak, rich and full on the palate with layered red fruit, black pepper and bright acidity. JO (1/22)

In 1967 Ridge first bought zinfandel from this vineyard, then farmed by Benito Dusi. Today, his nephew, Mike Dusi, continues to tend the old, dry-farmed vines. Picked at ideal ripeness, the 2020 is exceptionally well balanced in fruit, tannin and acid. It is enjoyable as a young wine for its exuberant fruit and will continue to evolve over seven to eight years. JO (11/21)

Winter rains were light this year. The vines yield was average, with good ripeness.

Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation; 100% submerged cap.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% new, 25% one year-old, 20% two years-old, 20% three years-old, and 15% five 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, 136 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.