Freddy R. Troya

9.7

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. — 14 hours ago

Chris MacLean

9.1

Another good bottle of this $25 favorite — 2 months ago

with Sarah

Karl Heinmiller

9.3

Honey on the front end. almonds on the finish — 3 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.2

Brock thompson jordan john s kevin b — a month ago

Ming L

9.0

From a Syrah specialist in Central Coast, this shows a profile of ripe blueberries and blackberries, accented by violets, dark roast coffee, and a hint of dried herbs. On the palate, it's full-bodied and powerful, though it comes across as slightly over-extracted, with firm, grippy tannins that need time to settle.

A solid wine, but I think there are better options in its price range. — a month ago

cam cab sav lvr

9.0

pop pop popping poppying! very nice flavor profile with a smooth finish. the only reason this isn’t a 10 is because it’s slightly sweeter. I wish it was like a smidge dryer. pairs nicely with the love island reunion. overall a great wine would enjoy again! — 3 months ago

with Erin-Bearin

Chris MacLean

9.0

Solid value but not a ton of energy — a month ago

with Sarah

John Pavlovich

9.3

This vintage showed so well the other night. Went so well with Greek food. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Ruby color with aromas of red fruit, herb spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of raspberry and cherry with dried herb notes, vanilla and toasty oak. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fresh fruit, spice and earthy tones. — 3 months ago

Chris Zitzman

9.4

While clearly a labor of love from a family who cares to express it, the 2021 Santa Barbara County Syrah needs time to breathe and allow to open itself up. While a little pour right from the rip is never a bad idea, this particular Piedra Sassi benefits and blossoms from a thorough decant and a smidge of patience. It must be said : I’m getting not only getting good gobs of both wholehearted and heartfelt tones of ‘home’, but deeper notes of some brilliant wine-making going on. This one’s going to be tough to beat for the $. — 3 months ago

with Beth