2003 Dusi Ranch Zinfandel

Warm, fair weather in late February and March gave the vines an early start. Spring rains cut yields by thirty percent; the small crop meant the grapes became incredibly ripe in the heat of early September. Natural yeasts carried out the fermentation, and slow, controlled extraction yielded gentle tannins. The wine was pressed at eight days; all press wine was included with the free run. A slow, natural malolactic followed. This opulent Advance Tasting Program selection is made from the last-picked grapes in a particularly stressed section of the vineyard. Aged in new, one-, and two-year-old air-dried american oak, it is approachable now, and will develop over the next three or four years.

The Advance Tasting Program is a logical extension of Ridge’s long-standing dedication to single-vineyard winemaking. Our interest in distinctive sites, regardless of size, has led us to produce some wines in quantities ranging from five to fifty-five barrels. These are available only through the winery.

Average Rating: 89.6

No. of Tasting Notes: 19

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