Ridge, Paso Robles Zinfandel, San Luis Obispo County

Retail $40. Responsible Bottle (579g; 203.oz). Under cork. As I mentioned in my previous note, I was sent a bottle of this wine for an article I wrote for Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP), which is perhaps *the* vineyard in Paso for Zinfandel. The story is compelling and no history of Paso Robles could be told without including the Dusi family and the Home Ranch (which is now called the Benito Dusi Vineyard). I *loved* that first bottle (94 Points), …

2018 vintage

Agree with Tundra: a little oaky on the open, along with expected flavors of plum, brambly purple fruit and spice. Warm and mouth filling across the palate. Ridge the only Zin producer we drin’ anymore.

2021 vintage

Medium deep ruby - quite oaky upon opening, some plum, sour cherry, bramble, milk chocolate. On the palate, pure and delicious, great fruit though a little hot, good freshness. Finish is medium long in length, reminiscent of chocolate covered cherries. Enjoyment: 37/40 Balance: 13/15 Intensity: 13.5/15 Length: 14/15 Complexity: 13.5/15

2021 vintage

A little bit of an underachiever, however this could benefit from being decanted. PNP at a dinner party and served with BBQ. Flavors were concentrated, but the tannins had a slight edge. Notes of dark plums on the verge of being overripe, dark chocolate, bramble, pitch, and tanned leather. May go on for a little bit more in the cellar, but not too long. Would have scored higher if it was a little smoother and tannins better integrated.

2021 vintage

An absolute treat. Intoxicating nose, full bodied. Opens up beautifully after 15-30 min on the glass, which is when it’s best. Long finish with dark chocolate and plum notes, but noticed that the wine loses power after +2hrs on the glass. Had this over two days with food and also alone, but an overall great experience. It also receive some compliments.

2021 vintage

I really enjoyed this Ridge Zinfandel. It was light on its feet for a Zinfandel. It is unlike most Paso Robles wines that are overdone, overripe, over extracted. It is balanced. I wonder how much of the balance came from the 4.7% addition of water? Why not just pick earlier? I would like less physiological ripeness.

2018 vintage

Structured but drinking well now. Ripe fruit and a hint of spice. Fragrant. Nothing overdone. Just Ridge refinement.

2018 vintage

Pretty good

2018 vintage

In the Ridge style, a bit lean and acidic, in a positive way. No fruit bomb here. Not your typical Zin, this is restrained and age worthy. A bit simple. Food friendly wine. The nose is really intriguing.

2018 vintage

Best after a 2 hour decant, a bit tart on the finish. Fruit forward zin.

2018 vintage

Excellent smoky, silky, smooth & round wine that pairs nicely with braised meats and rich proteins.

2021 vintage

Peaking now, don't hesitate to pop open a bottle.

2018 vintage

after dinner drink. this can use food because it is good and has solid fruit and flavors and is med to heavy weight. solid zin and makes me think to hold the PRs until 5 + yrs from vintage - which is good Ridge advise no matter what.

2018 vintage

Delicious wine. Decanted one hour before dinner, it evolved during the evening. Lovely spicy Zin aromas, fairly big fruit profile, firm acid, mild tannins, a bit of wood. It's a big wine, but the 14.8% alcohol did not dominate, and it is reasonably balanced.

2018 vintage

A light fragrance with baking spice, raspberry, and rhubarb. Medium tannins and acidity, well-integrated, with notes of cherry pie and dust. Smooth, oaky, long finish.

2021 vintage

Absolutely delicious zin. Dark chocolate, mint, orange blossom, cassis, caramel, mango (!) Completely drinkable

2021 vintage

Lovely stuff. Much better than the East Bench.

2018 vintage

Drinking beautifully

2018 vintage

All of the fruit of a California Zin, but none of the bite. Really smooth tannins. Drink it with or without food. No decant necessary.

2021 vintage

Another great Ridge Zin and improved since the last bottle. 100% Zinfandel. Smooth and delightful. blackberry jam, chocolate, vanilla.

2021 vintage

This was noticeably more oaky than a 2021 East Bench from the same producer had recently, but still there was some nice, pure red raspberry fruit behind all the burning cannabis-scented American oak. This was a crowd pleaser with BBQ ribs and will likely improve with a couple more years time for the oak to integrate.

2021 vintage

Black fruits, plum and pepper. Medium bodied, smooth with soft tannins. Paired well with hamburgers.

2021 vintage

Brambly, floral, coconut caramel oak, fine powdery tannin, med acid, long Best zin I've had

2018 vintage

Great mineraly profile with the zest needed (bits of blackberry and white pepper). Not overly tanniny, bit light acid . Rich purple color. Had with fajitas!

2021 vintage

I had made a private note to myself that this would peak at about 2022. I was wrong. This still has some legs, another couple of years. For those 1200 bottles that are still out there on CT, you are in luck. This is a very clean, restrained red fruit taste that the former winemaker Eric Baugher nailed on his release tasting notes in Jan 2020: "Dark garnet-red color. Aromas of ripe plum and cherry fruits, sweet oak, and complex …

2018 vintage

Ridge and my first Paso Robles from the 2021 vintage. This seems more jammy and brambly than previous vintages. May settle down with some more age. blackberry, vanilla, raspberry, jam, licorice baking spice, bramble

2021 vintage

Very nice.

2021 vintage

Decadent yet structured, with notes of ripe black cherry and blackberry, dill, bramble, and allspice leading the way. A tar note weaves in late, with plentiful tannins lingering on the medium-long finish.

2021 vintage

Eye: Black-purple to a watery cherry red. Nose: Cooking spices, loads of tobacco, dark fruit, kinda feels like Las Vegas. Palate: Curry spice, blood, black fruit, red fruit. A touch of greenness. Finish: Long, dark fruit, soy sauce. Prunes and raisins

2021 vintage

This wine is nice, but is too rich for me. 14.8 Percent alcohol, but it isn't hot. Maybe the profile of this wine reflects regional differences in this varietal as I am more familiar with Russian River Zinfandels. Lots of dense raspberries and some iron, but I prefer a bit more brightness.

2021 vintage

Very dark with black cherry, charred oak, savory meat. A bit clunky and hot. Bright citrus, orange acid. Ok but not my favorite.

2021 vintage

Deep dark garnet in color; almost opaque. Full, forward, & attractive nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blackberries & black currants with overtones of briary & earthy notes, spices, herbs, pepper, cocoa, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla in the background. Full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced, & smooth textured, somewhat jammy, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, blackberries & boysenberries with spices, herbs, minerals & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering finish. Drinks quite well …

2021 vintage

Not only is this the best Paso bottling I can recall from Ridge, I think it's one of the finest 100% zinfandels they have produced (among Jimsomare, East Bench, et. Al.). Lytton, Geyserville and Pagani will always have more complexity and greater longevity on account of the other varieties in the mix, but this is pretty special. I will be reloading as soon as it is safe to ship.

2021 vintage

Typical Ridge Zin. Spicy and brambly. A little fruit forward on day one but really good day two. Restrained black and red berries. Fine and balanced tannins. On a Ridge kick. Paso Robles, Pagani the last few days of and a 2014 York Creek next up.

2018 vintage

Joyously well balanced .

2021 vintage

A very nice Paso Zin from Ridge. Had along with the Frog's Leap with a traditional tri tip dinner. This had an expressive profile with the warmth of Paso but restrained, showing off the quality of the Benito Dusi vineyard. So enjoyable and easy to drink. Very "clean", too, transparency and vibrancy. 14.8% abv

2018 vintage

Aromas of elevated intensity, exotic spices and herbs. Dry, but sweetly fruited, with moderate acidity and moderate tannins–a bit smoother than the East Bench. Fruit a bit sweeter too. Full-bodied, 14.9% abv. Enough concentration to comfortably carry the alcohol.

2021 vintage

Wow! The best Ridge Paso bottling I think I've ever had. Never been much of a fan of Paso Zins, but this....this really hits the spot. This is what Paso Zin should be all about. Really well-balanced. Has that rambunctious, wild fruit characteristic that is so Paso Robles, but without going over the top with the fruit and without burning your throat with 15%++ alcohol levels. Well done. Had with bbg ribs and burgers and it was perfect.

2021 vintage

Tasted at winery. 100% zinfandel from the Benito Dusi Ranch in Paso Robles. Fruity and smooth with a medium-full body. I agree with the drinking window of 2023-2030 currently shown. People who enjoy jammy zins could certainly drink it now, but it might evolve with cellaring.

2021 vintage

Ready to drink while still young. Great with enchiladas .

2021 vintage

Very tasty. Classic Zin with lots of fruit but also depth.

2018 vintage

Double decant an hour prior. This is a nice balanced zin typical of the Ridge profile. Fairly fruit forward as expected with Paso, but there’s some nice complexity here as well and it’s not overwhelmingly dense or alcoholic. Red fruits, cedar, thyme. Medium-long finish. Worth the roughly $32 paid.

2018 vintage

Delicious, refreshing & solid Zinfandel, 100% fruit from historic vines of Benito Dusi ranch in Paso Robles. From the historic vineyard society: "Sylvester and Catarina Dusi purchased this homestead in 1924, when the vines were one year old. Their son Benito still lives on the ranch. He was able to keep his vines during the 1950’s and 60’s (when zin prices were very poor) by selling wine made from the grapes (he gave that up by the end of the …

2018 vintage

Defined by a taut core of lively tannins and acidity, this draws in raspberry, smoky dill and green peppercorn flavors. Paired really well with pecan smoked beef tenderloin.

2018 vintage

Independence Day wines with TWS crew (Crouch End Cellars) : I didn't really like this for the first 15 or so minutes, finding that the bright, tart nose was belied by a thick, syrupy palate that lacked energy. Somehow the wine pulled itself together after that, with some really pretty floral notes on the nose and the palate becoming, in effect, a deep, purely flavoured liquid raspberry jam. Would have been better still with a burger rather than charcuterie.

2018 vintage

Nearly the 4th July - North America (Crouch End Cellars) : Very herbal on the nose, and good aromas of dark berry fruit. Not excessively tannic at all, a smooth wine that leads to an extremely drinkable glass. Ready now I would say, which surprised me.

2018 vintage

Color - Medium Garnet with some redness in the edges Nose - Raspberry, Blackberries, Red Cherry. Palate - Controlled tannins, Raspberry, hint of spice Cinnamon maybe, Chocolate deep in background. Good middle of the road Zin.

2018 vintage

Had with mushrooms with a little heat in the sauce over puréed beans. This was a great match. Earthy. Handled the heat. Good fruit. Not over the top. Let to a balanced pairing and nice sipping afterwards.

2018 vintage

Spicy nose, concentrated blackberry, cherry, cocoa, black pepper, some vegetal notes, firm tannins, long complex finish. Prime drinking now and great value, comparable to zins regularly going for twice as much.

2018 vintage

Not my favorite Ridge.

2018 vintage

Are you sure?

Ridge, Paso Robles Zinfandel, San Luis Obispo County

Vintages

No vintages

Community Reviews