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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Ridge Three Valleystext
90POINTS
16½/20

Ridge Three Valleys 2020

Sonoma County, California, United StatesRidge is a Sonoma County pioneer dating to the 1960s. They also advocate sustainable viticulture, minimal-intervention winemaking and, most importantly, the best zinfandel in America. The history of Ridge Three Valleys began in 2001, sourcing fruit from vineyards in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Valley, and Russian River Valley. Three Valleys is pitched as an entry level Zinfandel blend, but it is hardly an introductory wine. Instead, it is a skillful blend of zinfandel from selected Sonoma vineyards mixed with old vine carignane, spicy petite sirah, and grenache for its juicy, briary fruit. It is hand harvested, crushed, then eased through primary and malolactic fermentation by native yeast at Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. The wine spends ten months in American oak (only 5% new) before blending. The palate is all briary black cherries and plums, dusted in cocoa. The style is slightly lighter for early accessibility, but it will serve you well for years ahead in an adequately stored bottle. A benchmark for entry level zinfandel.Tasted: 14 October 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$56.99750mlselect private retailers
CDN$55.00750ml 
Producer: Ridge VineyardsDistributors: Vintage West Wine Marketing
Blend: Zinfandel - Petite Sirah - Carignane - Grenache - MourvèdreCSPC: 250985UPC: 744442081004