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Three Valleys 2009, Ridge, Sonoma County, Californie

Appellation : Sonoma County

Year : 2009

Country : USA

Region : California

Sub-region : Sonoma County

Grape Variety : Carignan / Mataro / Petite Syrah / Zinfandel

Category : Red

Availability : Restaurant

In-Restaurant price : 50 $

Description :
bottled December 2009
74% zinfandel, 11% petite sirah, 5% carignane, 4% mataro, 3% syrah, 3% grenache
14.2% alcohol

History

The history of the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards this year, seven. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards winemaking at its finest. Zinfandel fruit determines the wine's varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes its own bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah and syrah add peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins; grenache brings briar fruit and lively tannins.

Vintage

Harvest Dates: 26 August - 13 October


Grapes: Average Brix 24.8 degrees


Fermentation: No inoculation; natural primary and secondary. Grapes fully crushed and fermented in small stainless steel tanks; fermenting juice circulated over the cap twice daily for extraction of color, tannin, and flavor. Full, natural malolactic to soften acidity. Pressed at eight days on average.


Aging: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (33% new and one year old, 20% two years old, and 47% five to six years old).


Time in Barrel: Nine months

Growing Season

Rainfall: Thirty inches (below normal)

Bloom: Budbreak and bloom were a bit early (March & May)


Weather: Dry spring and typical warm, dry summer, with no sustained heat spells

Winemaker Tasting Notes

Medium garnet. Fresh raspberry, cherry. Scorched clay/earth minerals, white pepper. Ripe briary fruit entry, elegant tannins, integrated oak spice, great length. EB (3/10)