Description
Ridge’s Geyserville was first produced in 1966, and is a blend of grapes from three adjoining vineyards on dry stony soils in the Alexander Valley. This 2023 is a delight, with powerful and seemingly endless flavour balanced by freshness from the natural acidity that Zinfandel (the majority grape) achieves here. It is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petit Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet. In 2023 it is a wine with dark fruit and supple tannins, balanced by beautiful acidity from the moderate conditions of the vintage.
TASTING NOTE: In 2023 the Geyserville vineyard has a lovely freshness, and lifted black fruit and floral aroma. Compared to its stablemate, Lytton Springs, the Geyserville is a slightly warmer site, and the resulting wine is always a touch richer (and tiny bit higher in alcohol, in this case 14.6% compared to 14.4% for the Lytton Springs 2023!). It’s deep in colour, concentrated in flavour, with delightful blueberry, wild herb, spice and mocha notes. And it has a compact, powerful palate with ample tannins, capable of ageing for a decade with ease. It’s very fine indeed.
FOOD PAIRING, STORING AND SERVICE: Ridge Vineyards suggest matching their lovely Geyserville wine with spiced turkey, duck confit, pulled pork or a squash, caramalized onion and thyme pizza, which sound great to us! If enjoying now, decant for an hour or so before serving. Otherwise, it will store and age well for ten years, up to 2033 at least.
ABOUT: Ridge Vineyards are based in the Santa Cruz mountains (South of San Francisco) and were established in 1962. Paul Draper took up the role of winemaker in 1969 and is still making wines at the winery to this day. Ridge, like other California estates, received almost instant praise in the world of wine after California performed so well in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting – beating some of France’s most revered wines.
