96pts Zinfandel Chronicles

Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 90% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah and 5% Alicante Bouschet. Brilliant nose of red fruits, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Lush upfront fruits on a wine with notable power and concentration. Cherry, raspberry compote, strawberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Another in a long line of breathtaking Zins from the iconic Pagani Ranch. Best over the next 5-7 years. $50 at the winery and retail.

95pts Vinous

Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 90% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah and 5% Alicante Bouschet. Brilliant nose of red fruits, baking spices and pepper. Medium body with exquisite acidity. Lush upfront fruits on a wine with notable power and concentration. Cherry, raspberry compote, strawberry and white pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Another in a long line of breathtaking Zins from the iconic Pagani Ranch. Best over the next 5-7 years. $50 at the winery and retail.

95pts Owen Bargreen

Nearly all Zinfandel (90%), this has 5% both Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah blended in. The nose is absolutely rocking right now. Heady red fruit aromas combine with shades of black olives and a dusting of white pepper on the nose. The palate is bright and very concentrated, loaded with red cherry and tobacco leaf flavors, alongside wet gravel and citrus zest, making this exceedingly complex and delicious. This is even better than the 2020 version.Showing fantastic structure and weight, this beauty will easily go from another fifteen years. If enjoying in its youth, this needs about an hour in the decanter to be fully aroused. Drink 2023-2038

94pts Wine Enthusiast

Vivid, focused raspberries and red currants light up the aroma of this well-balanced, elegant wine before cooked strawberries and red plums fill the palate. Light toasty, oaky accents of vanilla and chocolate lend a bit of extra interest. Best through 2033.

94pts Wilfred Wong

The 2021 Ridge Pagani Ranch offers an outstanding mix of alluring elements. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of red and blackberries, hints of boysenberries, and dried earth. Pair it with lightly seasoned grilled lamb chops.

Winemaker Notes

Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel offers rich plum and pipe tobacco on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate with boysenberry, ripe black cherry, and pepper. Well-balanced with lively acidity and a long, layered finish.

Blend: 90% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah, 5% Alicante Bouschet

Winery Notes

Ridge's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the Ridge production facility.

Though Ridge began as a Cabernet winery, by the mid-60s, it had produced several Zinfandels including the Geyserville. In 1972, Lytton Springs joined the line-up and the two came to represent an important part of Ridge production. Known primarily for its red wines, Ridge has also made limited amounts of Chardonnay since 1962.

The Ridge approach is straightforward: find the most intense and flavorful grapes, guide the natural process, draw all the fruit's richness into the wine. Decisions on when to pick, when to press, when to rack, what varietals and what parcels to include and when to bottle, are based on taste. To retain the nuances that increase complexity, Ridge winemakers handle the grapes and wine as gently as possible. There are no recipes, only attention and sensitivity.