2022 Geyserville

Deep ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, dark plum, sarsaparilla, baking spices, toasted oak, and lavender. A fresh entry with bold red cherry and raspberry flavors. Subtle tannins and natural acidity lead to a long and pleasant finish. TG (10/23)

Low rainfall limited yields. A warm summer proceeded to ripen the grapes evenly. However, on Labor Day, a record-breaking heat wave threatened the zinfandel with rapid overripening. We picked day and night to bring the grapes in ideally ripe. Fourteen months in barrel has fully integrated the fruit and tannin of this fine wine. Approachable now, it will continue to develop for twelve to fifteen years. TG (11/23)

First produced in 1966, this is our longest continuous zinfandel production. The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards on a single soil type, deposited by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried river stone and gravel. It is approximately one-and-a-quarter miles long and a half-mile wide.

Rainfall: 25 inches (below average)
Bloom: Mid May
Weather: 2022 was the third year of drought. Thankfully, we received spring rains that helped the vines. These same rains caused shatter in our zinfandel, reducing their crop. Two heat spells pushed the vines to another early harvest.

Harvest Dates: 22 August – 13 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.5˚
TA: 6.73 g/L
pH: 3.50
Fermentation: Full crush, 100% floating cap. Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; daily pump-overs.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels: 65% Appalachian, 20% Kentucky, and 12% Ozark (28% new, 24% one year old, 25% two years old, and 23% three plus years old).
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested organic 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, 139 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.

Zinfandel Chronicles: 97 Points “Breathtaking nose of red and black fruits, licorice and pepper. Medium to full body with perfect acidity. There is a concentration and structure here not often seen in field blends. Blackberry, raspberry compote, tobacco and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish with prominent silky tannins. The best Geyserville in recent memory. Drink over the next decade.” -Tom Lee (March 2024)

JebDunnuck.com: 95 Points “A normal Zinfandel-dominated blend of 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignan, 10% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mataro, the 2022 Geyserville sports a healthy ruby/plum hue (it’s semi-opaque) as well as a rocking nose of ripe plums, blackberries, roasted herbs, pepper, and violets. It’s beautifully textured on the palate and has medium to full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mid-palate, and perfectly ripe tannins. It’s a beauty, as well as one of the standouts in the lineup in 2022. Don’t miss it.” -Jeb Dunnuck (August 2024)

Wine Spectator: 94 Points “Deeply structured and bright with acidity, this combines power with grace. Black cherry and dark plum flavors take on licorice, green peppercorn and Asian five-spice accents as this builds toward broad-shouldered tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Mataro. Drink now through 2035. —T.F.” (May 2024)

JamesSuckling.com: 94 Points “This zinfandel-dominant field blend is ripe, delicious and lush, with light, spicy oak accents over plump blackberries, blueberries and vanilla bean. Saturated and opulent but not fat, as moderate tannins and some raspberry-like acidity balance the full body. 67% zinfandel, 20% carignan, 10% petite sirah and 3%mataro. Drink or hold.” -Jim Gordon (May 2024)

The Wine Advocate: 94 Points “The 2022 Geyserville is a blend of 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 3% Mataro. It has kaleidoscopic aromas of boysenberry jam, grilled beef, dried lavender, iron, violet and peach. The medium-bodied palate features generous, floral flavors. It has a silky texture, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a long, spicy finish. The 2022 is notably polished, and its 20% new American oak is very well integrated.” -Erin Brooks (September 2024)

Decanter: 94 Points “Ridge has been making the Geyserville since 1966, a true Zinfandel icon with a readiness to drink now and classic Ridge ageability. This wine is made as a field blend, spending 16 months in American oak, and only 28% is new. Rich fruit aromas, with pungent spices, ripe red and black plums, Christmas spices and notes of smoked cinnamon. The palate offers a fresh acidity which buoys the ripe blackberries and spicy black plums. There’s plenty of structure for this wine to go the distance, typical of the house style (at least a decade).”
-Clive Pursehouse (September 2024)

Vinous Media: 94 Points “A blend of 67% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah and 3% Mourvèdre, the 2022 Geyserville is packed to the gills with purple fruit and a ridiculous amount of spice—exotic spice, brown spice, baking spice, you name it. Blueberry, black plum, new leather, menthol and tobacco explode from the glass, all wrapped up in forceful, imposing tannins. A kick of mocha/espresso-scented toasty oak rounds out the finish. This is a take-no-prisoners rendition of Geyserville that will definitely benefit from some sideways time in the cellar.”
-Billy Norris (October 2024)

Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points “Dark and intense on the nose, this wine displays aromas of crushed black cherry, black plum and crème de cassis. The palate brings flavors of macerated cherries and blackberries, spiced fig compote, cedar and a decadent plush texture. Precision-balanced acidity runs through the finish.”
-Tom Capo (November 2024 Issue)

Average Rating: 92.1

No. of Tasting Notes: 17

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