Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel 2004
-
Connoisseurs'
Guide
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
"16% Alicante Bouschet; 4% Petite Sirah; 4% Other. This wine often reaches exaggerated levels of ripeness and dried grape concentration, but, in the current vintage, it has displays admirable depth and far-ranging fruit without resort to excess. To be sure, it is wholly concentrated and shows an emphasis on blackberry fruit but in no way does it approach the 2003 which, despite earning 90 points, was described as "out in front of the pack when it comes to sheer volume and unbridled ripeness". Indeed, there is even a touch of latter palate restraint and tightness to be found in this rendition. This is stunning stuff built along the lines of table wine Zinfandel. Bravo."
-Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
Professional Ratings
- Connoisseurs' Guide
Other Vintages
2021-
Wilfred
Wong
- Vinous
-
Wine
Spectator
-
Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
-
Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Spectator -
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Wine
Enthusiast -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker -
Connoisseurs'
Guide -
Wilfred
Wong
-
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
James
Suckling -
Wilfred
Wong
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator
-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator
-
Wilfred
Wong -
Wine
Spectator
-
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Wine
Spectator
-
Wine
Spectator
-
Wine
Spectator
-
Connoisseurs'
Guide
-
Connoisseurs'
Guide -
Wine &
Spirits
-
Robert
Parker
-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
Ridge's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the Ridge production facility.
Though Ridge began as a Cabernet winery, by the mid-60s, it had produced several Zinfandels including the Geyserville. In 1972, Lytton Springs joined the line-up and the two came to represent an important part of Ridge production. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also made limited amounts of Chardonnay since 1962.
The Ridge approach is straightforward: find the most intense and flavorful grapes, guide the natural process, draw all the fruit's richness into the wine. Decisions on when to pick, when to press, when to rack, what varietals and what parcels to include and when to bottle, are based on taste. To retain the nuances that increase complexity, Ridge winemakers handle the grapes and wine as gently as possible. There are no recipes, only attention and sensitivity.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.