2019 Ponzo Zinfandel

Inviting raspberry, floral, and tropical notes on the nose. Medium body with refreshing acidity. Black cherry, pomegranate, and cinnamon on the palate. Elegant tannins and well-balanced with a racy finish. MB (7/21)

The growing season at our only zinfandel vineyard in the Russian River Valley appellation was delayed by cool spring weather and late rains. We dropped crop in the Young Vine block at veraison to concentrate flavor and harvested at the end of September. After thirteen months of barrel aging, the elegant fruit and lively acid typical of this vineyard have fully integrated. Enjoyable now, this excellent zinfandel will develop over the next five to six years.

Bob Ponzo has farmed these vines in the Russian River Valley for over 40 years. The vineyard, planted on deep gravelly loam soils, is four and a half miles south of Lytton Springs. Here, the Russian River Valley’s cooler microclimate ripens the grapes later than at Lytton Springs and Geyserville. Small amounts of petite sirah are interplanted with zinfandel in the oldest block.

Rainfall: 61.2 inches (above normal)
Bloom: May
Weather: Total rainfall for the season was almost double our usual amounts. The vines responded with bountiful yields of great quality.

Harvest Date: 27 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.8˚
TA: 6.24 g/L
pH: 3.52
Fermentation: Grapes destemmed and crushed, pumped over a floating cap and pressed at twelve days.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (15% new, 15% one year-old, 25% two years-old, 25% four years-old, and 20% five years-old).
Aging: Thirteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested, Bob Ponzo vineyard grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 46 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Wine Spectator: 91 Points “Rustic and slightly earthy, with deeply structured black raspberry, grilled anise and green peppercorn flavors that finish with grippy tannins. Best from 2023 through 2030” -Tim Fish (March 2022)

Vinous: 91 Points “The 2019 Zinfandel Ponzo is another stand out in this range from Ridge. Forward and supple, the 2019 is packed with red and purplish fruit. Sweet spice and floral nuances lend brightness, but the Ponzo is a wine to enjoy for its supple, open-knit personality.” -Antonio Galloni (May 2022)

Average Rating: 89.3

No. of Tasting Notes: 19

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