We like to think of this as the gateway drug to Bedrock. Beyond this, it is perhaps the most important wine we make. It is widely available, and as such, acts a bit like the winery’s business card—we want it to carry the density, fruit, freshness, and spice that we look for in our single-vineyard wines. It is also an invaluable tool for our work in vineyards and in the winery. Several vineyards we work with are “reclamation” projects of sorts— beautiful old vineyards throughout California that have been disrespected by poor farming and cultural practices. We are now showing them the TLC they deserve, and as they climb the qualitative ladder towards potential vineyard designation, we have a great home in the Old Vine Zinfandel. This year’s cuvee features the first intensely perfumed fruit from Esola Vineyard in Amador County, the vineyard the Ridge “Shenendoah” bottlings were based around for many years. In addition, it is made up of Nervo Ranch in Geyserville, Sodini Ranch on Limerick Lane, Casa Santinamaria Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, Bedrock Vineyards, and a barrel here and there from other favorites (Papera, Teldeschi, Pagani Ranch, etc.). As much as I love the 2012 and 2013, I prefer this slightly more perfumed iteration of the wine. With a healthy decant this should provide good drinking pleasure in the near term, but I am pretty convinced that like the 2011, 2012, and 2013 before it that it will age gracefully for over a decade. It’s a lot of Zinfandel (and mixed black) goodness!

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