Ridge Three Valleys (Sonoma County) 2011

[Draggingtree]

09/19/2013

Ridge Three Valleys (Sonoma County) 2011

 

This blend of 65% zinfandel, 20% petite sirah, 9% carignane, 3% mataró (mourvèdre), 2% alicante bouschet, and 1% grenache (what, no kitchen sink?) is Ridge's blend of wines from their three main Sonoma vineyards.

 

It's essentially a second wine, which you can usually find for about $10 bucks less than the vineyard-designated wines, but is an excellent choice for drinking young while waiting for your Geyserville and Lytton Springs wines to age.

 

The 2011 is a delicious wine that is drinking very well right now and will probably continue to do so for another three or four years. It's not a vin de garde, so if--like me--you've got half a case sitting in your cellar be sure to drink it up sooner rather than later.

 

Unlike some Ridge zinfandels of a few years ago, the 2011 Three Valleys is a (relatively) low alcohol wine (13.8%) that is very food friendly.

 

Blackberry, raspberry, mocha java, black pepper, anise, soy sauce, and just the right amount of oak.

 

Grade: B+ (with extra credit for being great value)

 

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