2023 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

The 2023 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is potent and intense yet exceptionally cool-toned and collected. Bright, chalky blood orange, black pepper, underbrush and blue-toned fruit flow confidently across the palate. The acids drive with real gusto, carrying a salty core of fruit that saturates deeply but remains tightly hemmed in by firm tannins. There’s tremendous tension and shimmering vibrancy here, all channeled into a long, measured finish.

The 2023 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is a blend of 79% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 9% Petite Sirah and 2% Mataro that matured for 14 months in 3% new air-dried American oak. It has kaleidoscopic aromas of wild berry fruit, tobacco, aniseed, sage and lavender. The full-bodied palate is just as generous, flooding the mouth with concentrated, complex flavors. It’s structured by fine, chalky tannins and vibrant acidity and has a long, layered finish.

Full bottle 1,218 g. 79% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, 9% Petite Sirah, 2% Mataro. Grapes destemmed and crushed. Both primary and secondary (malolactic) fermentations are completed by ambient yeasts and bacteria. Aged 14 months in 100% air-dried American oak barrels; 3% new, 10% one-year-old, 20% two-year-old, 50% three-year-old and 17% neutral oak. Minimum effective SO 2 for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 94 ppm over the course of ageing); pad-filtered at bottling.  Deep purple with a fuchsia rim. Warm, spiced plum jam on a cardamom bun. Moderate amounts of smooth, rounded tannin and mouth-watering acidity with a dry finish. Already approachable and very well balanced. (SCJ)