2002 Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel (14.9% alcohol)
100% Zinfandel, from a vineyard I’ve never tried before… Spicy, candied nose, filled with Christmas spices, black cherry and blueberry compote, lavender, cloves, anise, creosote, amarone and young vintage port. The palate is quite sweet, cherry-medicinal with a spicy new oak element that Zinfandel embraces effortlessly (in a way that cab or merlot might not), but with plenty of juiciness and drinkability. There’s a rustic, wild note that reminds me of Ridge’s Geyserville, is Dusi Ranch an old-vine vineyard? Crystal clear with a smooth, polished texture without being slick, and a pitch-perfect weight despite all of the sweetness and alcohol. I don’t know how Ridge does this, year after year, bottling after bottling, but there is something so fun in their zin-based wines that never comes at the expense of seriousness. I suppose some might find this too sweet, too spicy, but I love it. Still has years ahead of it, but drinking great now. 92 pts.
Dusi vineyard is old and has been planted with Zinfandel a long time, it turns out. So this probably does have a lot of old vine fruit in it.
really great note, Pat. Not sure I could have enjoyed the wine as much as you did, but the note was excellent.
More on the Benito Dusi Vineyard here http://www.dev.historicvineyardsociety.org/registry/category.jsp?catid=154
Note there is also Dante Dusi Vineyard in Paso Robles.