Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.
Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.
Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.
Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.
Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.
Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category. — 10 months ago
Dry, nice acidity, very light (only 12% alcohol), goes great with oysters and fish. And not overly sweet, so good to drink on its own without feeling like you are drinking a desert wine. — 3 years ago
Opened up a little funny with some top of bottle sediment, but with air got a lot better. A pretty rich almost funky pinot — 6 years ago
Very nice Anthill farm. — 8 years ago
Graduation dinner :)))) — 9 years ago
One of my favorites from Turley... Smooth, with beautiful structure... Love the black pepper notes.. — 9 years ago
Full flavor. Not too jammy. — 10 years ago
A bit oaky on day 1, better on day 2 and even better on day 3. — 11 years ago
Smooth night for a cab. More like a merlot. — 13 years ago
Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. — a year ago
Deepest of Ruby color. Amazing nose with a hint of cinnamon. I’m a big fan of Malbec but the petit Verdot really balances this wine out. Great legs and deep color make a visually appealing drink. Tons of fruit and mild tannins to balance the fruit out. Drinking this wine on Christmas Eve and I feel a little guilty like I opened a present early. Trefethen never disappoints. — 2 years ago
So youthful at a quarter century! — 5 years ago
This is it. Almost perfect pinot noir. Light, but with a leather and vanilla. Fresh with red fruits: a cherry, a raspberry. And something else. But keep it a secret. — 6 years ago
Jason brought for boys golf week. Spainish. 10 yr great. — 7 years ago
Rich, thick, smooth, just yummy!!! A smoky essence that was surprising. Had it with grilled chicken and tomatillo salsa. Divine. would be awesome with a steak or lamb. 8/10/18 — 8 years ago
Wow. This is young, and the nose is a bit of dark red berry suffusing a sea of resolving American Oak. The American oak is so pronounced that, had I tasted this blind, I might have taken it for Ridge... :) This has decades ahead, even if -only- a Riserva. Like La Rioja Alta 904, a fantastic value in old school Rioja... — 9 years ago
@Mike Smith knocks this one out of the park for@the price — 10 years ago
One of the better Pinots I've had — 12 years ago
12/20/25 - Steak dinner with spinach nookie & bread roll. — 9 months ago

Juicy and with a touch of sweetness. This was very pleasant and paired well with cheese. — 9 months ago
Bedrock wines don’t disappoint. Pagani Ranch Heritage is a classic Bedrock. — 2 years ago
One of the best as of late. Eggplant parm, pared perfectly. — 3 years ago

yes, this is a photo of a computer image. tasted as part of a Mourvèdre wine group tasting via zoom, wines portioned into woozies. 2018v. super aromatic, raspberry/cranberry juice, fresh leather, violet. palate texture is silky, light but complex and flavorful, acid medium +, long tannins- just a bit of grip. fantastic — 6 years ago
The consensus among Biblical scholars is that Jesus turned water into pinot noir for his first miracle. This bottle confirms that, even though it doesn’t quite reach the quality served at Cana that fateful day. — 7 years ago
Top year 904 @ £75 that was drank in Zalto burg glass as its like an aged burgundy
🐽 Paired w/ Iberian Ham 😍
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick
👃 Smoked burnt oak, soggy earthy leaves, leather, dark cherry & figs w/ balsamic & damson
👄 Med body of creamy stewed cherry w/ earthy balsamic & slight mocha
🎯 Med finish of above w/ earthy balsamic linger
Reaching peak but I preferred the 95 904 over this but the 890 94 was better than the 95! — 9 years ago


Delicious in its youth — 9 years ago
Tastes like a glorious oak tree, surprisingly tannins — 11 years ago
emeritus NYC 12/5/2013 — 13 years ago
Jan de Weerd
We have been drinking this wine for 10 years now. As the fruit drops out it becomes more stringent with strong oak tannins, losing some of its depth and ease of drinking. — 8 months ago