Ridge, California, Pagani Ranch, Sonoma Valley, Zinfandel, 2006 There’s a wealth of liquer-like fruit in the nose – very pretty with floral tones as well. The fruit carries through in the mouth with moderate structure like last year.
Notes on the ’05: This wine shines with ripe berry fruit. It tastes like eating raspberry candy with an acidic frame and some complementary tannin. Solid wine, no flab here!
This was one of the first Zins I fell for in big way. It has been a standard for richness from one of California’s most famous vineyards, the Pagani Ranch in the lower part of Sonoma Valley. The wine was aged in US oak and has the added benefit of 7% Alicante Bouschet 3% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. P&B in Cupertino 14.8% $29.99 at Bottle Barn Ridge