Ridge Vineyards 2019 Three Valleys Zinfandel Blend, Sonoma County

Ridge Vineyards is an historic winery located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Known for their Monte Bello Cabernet which placed 5th in the famous Judgment in Paris tasting, they're celebrated for their incredible Zinfandels which are sourced from many single vineyard locations around California.

Proprietor and Winemaker Paul Draper focuses on expressing the individual terroir for these wines, but with so many fans out there of Ridge Zin, Draper realized that he needed a wine that was more available both in quantity and price. This Sonoma County Three Valleys is that wine.

First released in 2001, the wine contains grapes from five vineyards; one in Dry Creek Valley, 3 in Alexander Valley and one in Russian River Valley. 20% of the vines are eighty to one hundred years old, 50% are thirty-five to forty-five years old, and the remaining 30% are seven to fourteen years old.

The final blend for this 2019 is 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane, 3% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet aged 11 months in air-dried American oak barrels.

The Wine Spectator scored this 93 points saying "An engaging blend, well-knit and distinctive for its savory raspberry and cherry flavors that draw in bay leaf, Asian spice and smoked pepper notes. Tannins are ripe and briary. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane and Mataro. Drink now through 2029."

Jeb Dunnuck scored this 92 points saying "Checking in as a blend of 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignan, and the rest Mataro and Alicante Bouschet, the 2019 Three Valleys has a juicy blackberry, mulberry, orange blossom, violet, and flowery incense-driven bouquet. This gives way to a medium-bodied wine with a soft, elegant texture, sweet tannins, and just an undeniably delicious, gulpable, balanced style that's impossible to resist. It's well worth seeking out and ideal for enjoying over the coming 5-7 years."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 90 points saying "Although quite firm with tannin's, this full bodied blend of traditional California grape varieties fills out its structure nicely with ripe blackberry and black-pepper flavors. Based on Zinfandel, it’s a robust wine that will make a great pairing with grilled meats and the like. Best from 2023."