Ridge Vineyards : Geyserville Zinfandel 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Ridge Vineyards' Geyserville Zinfandel 2024

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This wine reveals a particularly intense and deep purple hue.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet proves wonderfully complex, blending notes of black cherry and violet with indulgent hints of chocolate. Nuances of spice, licorice, and damp earth round out this olfactory ensemble.

Palate
The attack is lively, offering superb tension that evolves into a beautifully refined mid-palate. The wine unfolds flavors of raspberry and black olive, supported by wonderfully supple tannins and pronounced acidity. The finish lingers with remarkable persistence.

Food and Wine Pairing
This cuvée pairs wonderfully with flavorful meats. It is ideally suited to charcoal-grilled rack of lamb, a delicious duck confit, or pulled pork.

Serving and Aging
To fully enjoy the Geyserville Zinfandel 2024, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. With excellent aging potential, this wine can be cellared and enjoyed until approximately 2034.

A Great Red Wine from California, a Historic Expression of Alexander Valley by Ridge Vineyards

The Estate
Officially founded in 1962 by a group of engineers, Ridge Vineyards is a true icon in California. Although its winemaking origins date back to 1885, it is the estate's artisanal, pre-industrial approach that has forged its worldwide reputation. Now led by John Olney, the property has belonged since the 1980s to the Japanese group Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The estate stands out for its environmental commitment, with a vineyard that is entirely certified organic, and its dedication to producing terroir-driven wines of exceptional quality, true to California's historic traditions.

The Vineyard
Located in the renowned Alexander Valley appellation in Sonoma County, this historic terroir sits on an ancient riverbed. The vines thrive at an altitude of 65 meters on particularly well-drained gravelly soils. This vineyard benefits from warm daytime temperatures, ideally cooled by fog rolling in from the Pacific Ocean. It is characterized by very old, interplanted vines, cultivated with the utmost respect for the environment thanks to full organic certification.

The Vintage
The year was marked by a particularly rainy winter, followed by a mild spring. The summer season then proved to be warm, which accelerated the ripening process of the berries. These weather conditions led to an early harvest, beginning as early as late August and concluding in mid-September.

Winemaking and Aging
Following hand-harvesting, the grapes destined for the Geyserville Zinfandel 2024 are destemmed and then crushed. Alcoholic fermentation begins naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts, as does malolactic fermentation. This American wine then undergoes careful aging for sixteen months in American oak barrels, 15% of which are new, refining its structure while preserving the brightness of the fruit.

Grape Varieties
This blend is composed of 71% Zinfandel, 19% Carignan, 8% Petite Sirah, and 2% Alicante Bouschet.