A bold, comforting red: deep, spicy and generous, perfect for winter dinners or cosy evenings by the fire. Geyserville 2021 delivers that classic Californian Zinfandel-blend warmth, with a rich, layered fruit profile and a broad, satisfying structure.
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Producer
Ridge Vineyards stands among California’s most respected names, with a legacy dating back to 1885 and its modern international acclaim anchored by its Monte Bello and Sonoma wines. The winery champions sustainable viticulture, careful vine selection and what it calls “pre-industrial” winemaking: minimal intervention, native yeasts, and a hands-off philosophy aimed at preserving terroir and grape integrity. The Geyserville bottling reflects this spirit, combining tradition, terroir and dedication to craft in a wine designed to age gracefully and drink beautifully from release.
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Terroir & Winemaking
The 2021 Geyserville comes from the eponymous vineyard on the western edge of the Alexander Valley in Sonoma, a site with gravelly-loam soils ideal for drainage and vine stress, which concentrates flavour. Many vines here are old, adding complexity and depth.
Grapes are 76% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet (and sometimes a touch of Mataro), creating a classic field blend.
The winemaking follows Ridge’s traditional low-intervention approach:
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Hand-harvesting and gentle destemming/ crushing
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Native-yeast fermentation with regular pump-overs for flavour extraction
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Full malolactic fermentation to soften acidity and add texture
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Ageing for 16 months in air-dried American oak barrels (a mix of new and older barrels) to integrate spice, roundness and complexity without overpowering fruit.
The result is a wine that captures both the exuberance of youth and the structure for many years of ageing.
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Tasting Notes
The Geyserville 2021 pours a deep ruby-garnet. On the nose, expect ripe blackberry, black cherry, dark plum, touches of cedar, baking spice, cola-like richness and a hint of damp earth or gravel.
The palate is full-bodied, layered and generous: blackberry jam, plum compote, black pepper, cocoa, vanilla, and a spicy clove-like warmth. Despite the richness, there’s lively acidity and fine-grained, well-integrated tannins that give balance. The finish is long, complex and slightly savoury, a great example of a California field blend doing everything right.
Did you know? The vineyard behind Geyserville has been producing this wine since 1966, making it one of the longest continuously made Zinfandel-based blends in California.
Food pairinig suggestion: BBQ Short Ribs with Smoky Tomato & Herb Sauce. Dark fruit and spice from the wine echo the smokiness and sweetness of the ribs, while the acidity cuts through the richness beautifully.
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