Ridge Vineyards "Geyserville" Zinfandel 2023
(Sonoma County, California) - [VM 95+] [DM 95] [WS 94] [JS 94] [WA 93+]

About this Wine:
First produced in 1966, we have made this zinfandel every year for fifty-six years. Consistency of quality and vineyard character are its hallmarks. A dry winter with a moderate spring and summer ripened the grapes evenly. Showing plentiful fruit, elegant tannins and bright acidity, this fine wine will develop fully over the next fourteen years.

Tasting Notes:
Deep ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, dark plum, sarsaparilla, baking spices, toasted oak, and lavender. A fresh entry with bold red cherry and raspberry flavors. Subtle tannins and natural acidity lead to a long and pleasant finish. TG (10/23)

Technical Data

Vineyard: Geyserville
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Alcohol By Volume: 14.6%
Varietal Composition: 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
Organically Grown
Grapes: Average Brix 24.7˚
TA: 6.84 g/L
pH: 3.55
Fermentation: Full Crush, 100% floating cap. Natural primary and natural secondary (malolactic) fermentations; daily pump-overs.
Barrels: 100% air-dried American oak barrels; 68% Appalachian, 20% Kentucky, and 12% Ozark (30% new, 22% one year old, 25% two years old, and 23% three years old and older).
Aging: Sixteen months in barrel

Hand-harvested grapes; destemmed and crushed; fermented on the native yeasts, followed by full malolactic on the naturally-occurring bacteria; oak from barrel aging; minimum effective sulfur for this wine (35 ppm at crush, 141 ppm over the course of aging); pad filtered at bottling. In keeping with our philosophy of minimal intervention, this is the sum of our actions.

Ratings & Reviews

95+ Points - Vinous Media:
"A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet, the 2023 Geyserville is dark and brooding. Virile and intense, this is a monster wine that's only at the very beginning of its evolution. So impressively articulated, the 2023 somberly marches from the glass with dark shadings of tobacco, inky black fruit, cracked pepper, sage, turned earth and pine, building powerful minerality with aeration. The 2023 will need several years to come around. It's a sleeping giant today." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2025)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Just a mile from the winery in Lytton Springs, the Geyserville vineyard sits in an overall warmer pocket of Sonoma, but even here, 2023 was unusually cool and slow to start. The winemaking team states that this was the latest Geyserville harvest on record, since the first vintage in 1966. The crew was picking grapes up to November 1st. This classic old-vine field blend is always anchored by Zinfandel, with Carignane, Petite Sirah, and a few other varieties playing supporting roles in varying proportions, depending on the vintage. In 2023, with 70% of Zinfandel, the blend feels expressive and aromatic, with black and blue fruit leading the way, lifted by fresh herbs, a touch of mint, and a layer of baking spices. The oak is still settling in, but the structure is already in place, thanks in part to the 18% Carignane, which adds depth and acidity. It’s a young wine with plenty of promise, already showing well, with slightly chalky tannins, but it will really hit its stride with a few years in bottle." - Ana Carolina Quintela (Apr 2025)

94 Points – Wine Spectator:
"Robust and simmering with intensity, this red serves up dark blackberry and cherry flavors laced with black pepper, licorice, cardamom and other dark spices. The finish is firm yet integrated. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet. Best from 2026 through 2035. 8,000 cases made." - Tim Fish (Aug 2025)

94 Points - James Suckling:
"Bright and moderate aromas of red cherries, blackberry compote, coffee beans and spices. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and a focused acidity that leads into a rounded and pure finish. A blend of 70% zinfandel with touches of carignan, petite sirah and alicante bouschet, which benefited from a cooler vintage. Drink or hold." (May 2025)

93+ Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2023 Geyserville is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet that matured for 16 months in 15% new air-dried American oak. It has youthfully dense aromas of blackcurrant, tar, violet, mint, turned earth and squid ink. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with highly concentrated, mineral-driven flavors. It’s framed by muscular, grippy tannins and juicy acidity and has a long, latent finish. It should be long lived in the cellar." - Erin Brooks (Sep 2025)