Ridge Wineries Spring Release Tasting this Friday!

If you don't know much about Ridge wines, it's a great idea to check them out here. As a collection of vineyards and wineries across California that's been growing since 1885, Ridge works toward ever-increasing sustainability and responsible land stewardship -- while cranking out amazing wines.

We're dedicating our usual TGIF Wine Tasting to three Ridge spring releases. Cost is $35 for three 4-ounce pours. Please note: Reservations ARE required this week. Call 785.841.0990 to save your spot!

And now, ladies and gentlemen... the wine tasting notes from the folks at Ridge.


RIDGE │ 2008 ‘PONZO VINEYARD’ ZINFANDEL, RUSSIAN RIVER, CA
98 percent Zinfandel and 2 percent Petite Sirah.

Bob Ponzo's vineyard lies just south of the town of Healdsburg in the Russian River Valley. Cool spring weather—typical of this region—delayed budbreak, but flowering and fruit set were complete by early June, and a warm summer ripened the grapes fully by early September. The grapes fermented on their natural yeasts for twelve days, on average. After natural malolactic, we racked the new wine to American oak barrels, fifteen percent of which were new. Rich and full-bodied, the 2008 Ponzo is nonetheless elegant.

Tasting Notes - Raspberry, guava, & pepper nose. Rich red fruit, medium-to-full bodied. Integrated oak, mineral notes. Some stone-fruit flavors. Firm acid on the finish.




RIDGE │ 2008 ‘EAST BENCH’ ZINFANDEL, DRY CREEK VALLEY, CA
100 percent Zinfandel

East Bench sits atop the ridge that separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. Its red clay & loam soils are ideal for growing zinfandel. In 2008, the set was complete by late May; in July, after veraison, we dropped twenty percent of the crop to ensure optimum flavor and intensity. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented on their native yeasts. Juice was pumped over the skins twice daily for nine days to achieve balanced tannin, color, and fruit. After natural malolactic, the parcels were combined and racked to air-dried American oak barrels to age for twelve months. The 2008 East Bench is quintessential Dry Creek Valley, exhibiting the red fruit, pepper spice, and mineral flavors that have made the region famous.

Tasting Notes - Blackberry, pepper, & vanilla nose. Big, dark zinfandel with flavors of briary fruit, minerals, cocoa. Well-incorporated tannins, ample acidity, long finish.



RIDGE │ 2008 ‘GEYSERVILLE’, SONOMA, CA
72 percent Zinfandel, 20 percent Carignane, 6 percent Petite Sirah, 2 percent Mataro (Mourvedre)

Two consecutive years of limited rainfall challenged the growing season, but the vines escaped serious water stress. Sampling began in mid-August, showing ripeness on track for a month-long September harvest. In tank, color and tannin extraction was unusually rapid, as were uninoculated primary fermentations. We reduced pump-overs and pressed early, avoiding harsher tannins. Zinfandel and carignane showed exceptional quality, and form the core of the blend. (Wines from the petite sirah parcels were too tannic; the six percent included comes from a field-blend.) Natural secondary fermentation finished quickly, and we could rack to barrel a month ahead of schedule. Twenty percent new oak adds exotic spice. Superb concentration and firm acid will allow this fine zinfandel to develop over the next ten to fifteen years.

Tasting Notes - Intense purple & blue. Ripe black cherry, blueberry, plum sauce. Gravel & mineral, mint & menthol, oak spice. Full body. Dark bramble fruit, firm acid, plush tannins. Great depth and complexity.