Name: Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch 2023 750ml
Brand: Ridge
SKU: 1024068
Price: 58.44 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.2 (6 reviews)

Winery

Ridge

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Varietal

Zinfandel

The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.

Country

United States

Of all the New World wine countries, perhaps the one which has demonstrated the most flair for producing high quality wines - using a combination of traditional and forward-thinking contemporary methods - has been the United States of America. For the past couple of centuries, the United States has set about transforming much of its suitable land into vast vineyards, capable of supporting a wide variety of world-class grape varietals which thrive on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coastlines. Of course, we immediately think of sun-drenched California in regards to American wines, with its enormous vineyards responsible for the New World's finest examples of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but many other states have taken to viticulture in a big way, with impressive results. Oregon, Washington State and New York have all developed sophisticated and technologically advanced wine cultures of their own, and the output of U.S wineries is increasing each year as more and more people are converted to their produce.

Region

California

California as a wine producing region has grown in size and importance considerably over the past couple of centuries, and today is the proud producer of more than ninety percent of the United States' wines. Indeed, if California was a country, it would be the fourth largest producer of wine in the world, with a vast range of vineyards covering almost half a million acres. The secret to California's success as a wine region has a lot to do with the high quality of its soils, and the fact that it has an extensive Pacific coastline which perfectly tempers the blazing sunshine it experiences all year round. The winds coming off the ocean cool the vines, and the natural valleys and mountainsides which make up most of the state's wine regions make for ideal areas in which to cultivate a variety of high quality grapes.

Appellation

Sonoma Valley

California's beautiful and remarkably fertile Sonoma Valley has grown over the decades to become one of the United States' most respected and profitable wine regions, with wineries within the region benefiting from the superb Californian sunshine, low rainfall and wonderfully rich soils. Because of this vital combination of excellent conditions, the region is able to grow a wide range of grape varietals for use in the production of an impressive array of wines, with many different red and white wine grapes flourishing each year and producing excellent and characterful results. The soils have been enriched by volcanic activity, and the presence of geothermal springs, which make this region a unique one, and very much the beating heart of California's ever growing wine industry.

JD 98pts

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2023 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is from a simply gorgeous and truly historic site, made in an elegant, medium-bodied style and blending 79% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 9% Petite Sirah and 2% Mataro, fermented separately until the final blend. Citrus, orange peel, and honeycomb highlight a complex framework of Old World dustiness and savory delight. Juicy red fruit, light spice, and a gorgeously silky texture continue the theme. This is one to age another 10-15 years.

DC 96pts

Decanter

The 2023 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel reflects the cooler vintage with striking energy. The fruit comes from a unique block in the historic site that naturally traps morning fog and receives limited sun exposure in any given year. In 2023 that effect of slow ripening was even greater and really pushed to a vibrant, bright fruit profile wine. In 2023, it was the last fruit harvested in Sonoma for Ridge - picked between late October and early November. The oak regimen adds a great deal of nuance: just 3% new barrels, with the majority aged in varying degrees of older wood - 10% one-year-old, 20% two-year-old, 50% three-year-old, and 17% neutral. Expect lifted red and blue fruit, high-toned spices, and dried citrus peel. The palate is softly textured, with a touch of nuttiness and a light sweetness from ripe berries and dried apricots, but nothing overwhelming. The acidity is a real standout, suggesting excellent aging potential.

WS 95pts

Wine Spectator

A dynamic Zin that's both potent and polished. Flavors of blackberry, dark chocolate, licorice and fruitcake spices build richness and tension toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2035.

VM 95pts

Vinous Media

The 2023 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is potent and intense yet exceptionally cool-toned and collected. Bright, chalky blood orange, black pepper, underbrush and blue-toned fruit flow confidently across the palate. The acids drive with real gusto, carrying a salty core of fruit that saturates deeply but remains tightly hemmed in by firm tannins. There’s tremendous tension and shimmering vibrancy here, all channeled into a long, measured finish.

WA 94pts

Wine Advocate

The 2023 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a blend of 79% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 9% Petite Sirah and 2% Mataro that matured for 14 months in 3% new air-dried American oak. It has kaleidoscopic aromas of wild berry fruit, tobacco, aniseed, sage and lavender. The full-bodied palate is just as generous, flooding the mouth with concentrated, complex flavors. It’s structured by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish.

JS 93pts

James Suckling

Cranberry jam, raspberry coulis, violets, stewed red plums and baking spices on the nose. A full-bodied palate with a rich and textural mouthfeel, moderate tannins and a bright acidity that finishes slightly sharp. Will benefit from time in bottle. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.

Winery Notes

Nose: Ripe blackberry, boysenberry; touch of rhubarb pie. Oldvine black pepper; barrel tones of butterscotch and vanilla. Distinctive field blend aromas, some tarthiness. Palate: Powerful flavors of rich boysenberry, raspberry. Firm, integrated acidity. Elegant, chalky tannins and a long, enjoyable finish.

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Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch 2023 750ml

Case of 12

More Vintages:

Winery

Ridge

Varietal

Zinfandel

Country

United States

Region

California

Appellation

Sonoma Valley

Jeb Dunnuck

Decanter

Wine Spectator

Vinous Media

Wine Advocate

James Suckling

Winery Notes

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