Winemaker Tasting Notes: Medium garnet. Fresh raspberry, cherry. Scorched clay/earth minerals, white pepper. Ripe briary fruit entry, elegant tannins, integrated oak spice, great length.

Varietal Information: bottled December 2009 74% zinfandel, 11% petite sirah, 5% carignane, 4% mataro, 3% syrah, 3% grenache 14.2% alcohol

History: The history of the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards this year, seven. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards winemaking at its finest. Zinfandel fruit determines the wine's varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes its own bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah and syrah add peppery spice, depth of color, and firm tannins; grenache brings briar fruit and lively tannins.

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The history of Ridge’s Sonoma County Three Valleys began with last year’s release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes History Three Valleys is a Ridge proprietary name, referring to three of Sonoma County’s finest appellations. Roughly half the grapes in this bottling came from six vineyards in Dry Creek Valley, one-third from six vineyards in Alexander Valley, and the balance from two vineyards in the Russian River Valley; included are grapes from recent plantings on our Lytton Springs and Geyserville vineyards. The wines fermented on their natural yeasts, were pressed at eight days, and completed a natural (uninoculated) malolactic fermentation five weeks later. Aged in air-dried american oak barrels (twenty percent new, the rest two to six years old), this full, well-balanced zinfandel is enjoyable now. Its rich fruit will show to best advantage over the next four or so years.