2021 Evangelho

Ruby red in color with aromatics of Bing cherry, dusty strawberries, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and brown spices. A medium-light body leads to flavors of red plum, rhubarb, and cranberries. Herbal and earthy undertones and rustic tannins coat the entire palate, creating a long and satisfying finish. TG (1/23)

This one-hundred-thirty-year-old vineyard is planted to zinfandel, carignane, and mataro. Each was fermented separately, assembled by taste, and then barreled down for fifteen months. A dry chilly winter, sandy soils, and the windy conditions typical of the Evangelho Vineyard contribute to the dense fruit and vibrant acidity of this elegant wine. Enjoyable now, it will continue to develop over the next eight years. TG (1/23)

Ridge produced its first wine from the Evangelho vineyard in 1990 and went on to produce small bottlings of mataro and zinfandel from this distinctive 1890s-era vineyard for the next three years. The vineyard is located 50 miles east of San Francisco in Contra Costa County and is planted on an ancient alluvial sand bar at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The cooling influence of the nearby San Francisco Bay along with the vineyard’s deep, sandy soils produce elegant wines with excellent natural acidity.

Rainfall: 5 inches (below normal)
Bloom: Early May
Weather: A dry winter and spring stressed the vines, limiting yields and concentrating flavors.

Harvest Dates: 10 & 23 August
Grapes: Average Brix 24.7˚
TA: 7.00 g/L
pH: 3.43
Fermentation: 100% natural primary and secondary fermentation; 100% floating cap.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels (20% one year old, 18% two years old, and 62% three years old).
Aging: Eighteen months in barrel

Evangelho Vineyard grapes, hand-harvested; de-stemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur (35 ppm at crush, 141 ppm during aging). Pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

OwenBargreen.com: 95 Points “One of the truly unique wines in California, the 2021 ‘Evangelho’ is a knockout blend of 58% Carignane with 22% Zinfandel and the remainder Mataro all coming from the Contra Costa County. Stored in only 20% new American oak barrels, this offers beautiful verve and weight on the palate. Creme de violette, tar, crushed mint, and suggestions of coffee grounds all combine on the palate. Loaded with mouth-watering acidity and showing an exceedingly long finish, this beauty will cellar well for another fifteen plus years to come. Try to resist this incredible wine for at least another year. Drink 2024-2038.” -Owen Bargreen (October 2023)

Vinous: 94 Points “The 2021 Evangelho is a gorgeous wine that beautifully captures the personality of this Contra Costa County site. A burst of sweet red fruit makes a strong first impression, followed by sweet floral and spice notes that lend complexity. The 2021 is 58% Carignane, 22% Zinfandel and 20% Mataro, with the Carignane very much front and center. Deceptive in its mid-weight frame, the 2021 possesses tons of depth and persistence. Give it a few years to soften.” -Antonio Galloni (October 2023)

Wine & Spirits: 91 Points “A blend of carignane, zinfandel and mataro planted in the 1890s on alluvial sand, this wine’s Bing cherry, olive and horehound flavors are surrounded by American-oak scents of cinnamon. The palate is attractively lean, its gutsy fresh fruit marked by a mild astringency that may need some time to tuck in.” -P.J.C. (March 2024)

The Wine Advocate: 90 Points “The 2021 Evangelho is composed of 58% Carignane, 22% Zinfandel and 20% Mataro from a vineyard planted in the 1890s. Matured for 16 months, it has an alluring perfume of red cherries, boysenberries, mint chocolate and wild thyme. The palate is medium-bodied and refreshing, balancing perfumed fruit with clay-textured tannins, and it has a long, nuanced finish.” -Erin Brooks (September 2024)

Average Rating: 92

No. of Tasting Notes: 8

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