Ridge Vineyards, Ponzo Zinfandel 2012, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

Tasting Note: A zinfandel with a distinctive nose and fruity character.

Deep-intensity ruby in color, this wine has a nose of over-ripe black fruit, raisin and cassis with vanilla baking spice.

On the palate the dry zinfandel echoes flavors suggested on the nose along with flavors of passionfruit, orange citrus and fig.

The wine is medium in tannin and acidity.

Bottle Note: 92% Zinfandel, 8% Petite Sirah. This is our tenth vintage from Bob Ponzo’s vineyard in the cool Russian River Valley. There despite a warm summer, the vines ripened slowly and evenly. We harvested the three blocks on October 7 and 18 and fermented them separately. After malolactic, we combined Old Vines and Front blocks, then racked to barrel for twelve months’ aging. Abundant fruit, spice, and floral aspects have integrated to produce a savory wine with soft, round texture. This rich, full zinfandel will be at its best over the next six to seven years. Bottled 12/13. Ingredients: Hand harvested grapes, indigenous yeasts, naturally occurring malolactic bacteria, tartaric acid, oak from barrel aging, minimum SO2.