Wine Article
2017 Ridge Zinfandel Buchignani Ranch
Last edited on 5/14/2022 by AndrewSGHall
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History
This wine comes from a small planting of old-vine zinfandel on the Buchignani Ranch on Dutcher Creek Road in the hills north of Dry Creek Valley (carignane planted on the rest of the ranch provides a separate ATP selection). The zinfandel block, approximately five acres in size, was planted in the 1940s and ’50s on a rocky knoll overlooking the family home.
Vintage Notes
Late summer heat created stress and limited yields for these dry-farmed vines. By mid- August sugars were rising quickly so we picked non-stop for three days to get all the grapes in before they became over-ripe. An extra adjacent block of carignane was included to bring ripe fruit and acidity into balance. This old vine zinfandel can be enjoyed upon release and over the next five to six years. JO (1/19)
Growing Season
Rainfall: 61.5 inches (above normal)
Bloom: May
Weather: Cool weather in April affected set. Several heat spikes in late June, July, and August saw temperatures over 105 degrees.
This wine comes from a small planting of old-vine zinfandel on the Buchignani Ranch on Dutcher Creek Road in the hills north of Dry Creek Valley (carignane planted on the rest of the ranch provides a separate ATP selection). The zinfandel block, approximately five acres in size, was planted in the 1940s and ’50s on a rocky knoll overlooking the family home.
Vintage Notes
Late summer heat created stress and limited yields for these dry-farmed vines. By mid- August sugars were rising quickly so we picked non-stop for three days to get all the grapes in before they became over-ripe. An extra adjacent block of carignane was included to bring ripe fruit and acidity into balance. This old vine zinfandel can be enjoyed upon release and over the next five to six years. JO (1/19)
Growing Season
Rainfall: 61.5 inches (above normal)
Bloom: May
Weather: Cool weather in April affected set. Several heat spikes in late June, July, and August saw temperatures over 105 degrees.