Located on the western edge of Sonoma’s Alexander Valley, Geyserville vineyard was Ridge’s first source of red wine grapes, aside from Monte Bello. The combination of Geyserville’s climate, gravelly soils, and varietal mix (Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Alicante, Mataro, etc.) imparts elegance and definition not usually associated with Zinfandel.
Does a “typical” Geyserville exist? Each vintage is unique, distinct, extraordinary. Common elements include the blackest of blackberry fruit, peppery spice, tar, and cedar. The term “layered” was invented for Geyserville. The wines evolve, re-inventing themselves in bottle, developing more nuance and complexity as years pass. The ’73 still shines. Go taste a Geyserville. Any vintage will do.
“A wine that always delivers, the 2018 Geyserville from Ridge comes all from a single vineyard in the Alexander Valley and checks in as 68% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, and the rest Alicante Bouschet. It has a big, cedary bouquet of red and black plums, sandalwood, potpourri, and Asian spices that develops and fills out nicely with time in the glass. This carries to a more medium-bodied Zinfandel that has wonderful purity of fruit, present yet ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. This structured yet ethereal example of this cuvée ranks with the finest vintages to date. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years. 2020-2035.”
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck, May 2020
“The 2018 Geyserville is an infant. That much is obvious, especially in this lineup of otherwise more settled 2018s. Ripe Zinfandel flavors drive the overall profile. A blast of wild cherry, leather, tobacco, smoke, licorice, menthol and spice hit the palate first, followed by swaths of tannin and a touch of new oak that suggest the wine still needs time to come together. Readers should be in no rush. I am not sure the 2018 will ever be truly refined, as it is quite burly today. Aeration helps to some degree. The fermentations at Geyserville were slow to start and slow to finish. That longer time of extraction comes through in potent tannins that will likely always mark the wine.”
94+ points, Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, Sept 2020
