Ridge Three Valleys Red 2020 – 750ml Southern Wine & Spirits

93pts Wine Enthusiast 

This focused, firm and tannic wine exudes black pepper and wood-smoke aromas followed by rather tight espresso, blueberry and cacao flavors. Made from 74% Zinfandel and other California heritage-grape varieties, it has the bones of a cool-climate wine and should improve through at least 2028.

92pts Wilfred Wong

This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of earth, dust, and red berries. Enjoy it with a grilled hamburger topped with aged Gruyere cheese.

Winemaker Notes

Hand-harvested grapes, destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts followed by a full malolactic on the natural-occurring bacteria; tartaric acid; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35ppm at crush, 104 ppm over the course of aging); membrane sterile filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Winter rains began early in Sonoma County but ended abruptly leading to the first of two drought years. The vines responded with lower yields and smaller berries. Inclusion of five percent alicante adds color and depth. Enjoyable now as a young wine it will develop fully over the next five years.

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet in color with rich raspberry, fig, exotic clove spice, and notes of fresh mint. Layered berry fruit on the palate with cocoa and a slight crushed granite mineralty. Supple tannins and a long, lingering finish.

Blend: 74% Zinfandel, 12% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane, 5% Alicante Bouschet