Geyserville 2020,1003 (Ridge)

Cellar for up to 25 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. The story of Ridge Vineyards dates back to 1885 when the Italian doctor Osea Perrone purchased 180 acres near the top of the now famed Monte Bello Ridge. The modern winery began to emerge in the 1960s and 1970s when the wine world slowly realised the incredible potential of Californian wines. Thanks to the hard work of three Stanford Research Institute engineers the estate enjoyed considerable success and soon gained a reputation for producing some of California’s finest wines including the legendary Monte Bello Cabernet. The Ridge Geyserville is one of California’s finest Zinfandels thanks to a combination of visionary winemaking and superb quality old vines. The wine has been made every year since 1965 with grapes sourced from three adjoining vineyard plots planted on well-draining gravelly soils. Following vinification the wine is aged in American oak barrels to add complexity and subtle spiced notes to the finished bottling. On the nose there are graceful hints of blackberry, dark plum and dried fruit while the first sip shows off a generous full body, smooth yet firm tannins, and rich dark berry flavours. The bold flavour profile and well-developed structure make this an excellent wine for extended cellar ageing and it will continue to develop over the next decade or so.