Longtime readers know I am a fan of Ridge Vineyards wine sort of the way some people are Taylor Swift fans. But lately I've been drinking even more Ridge than usual. Herewith some recent notes:
Buchignani Ranch Carignane (Alexander Valley) 2022
100% Carignane. This is a varietal that doesn't get a ton of credit, but which I think can be a very versatile food wine. We had it with a roast chicken, for which it made a very enjoyable match. Blackberry, raspberry, black cherry. Less rustic than most Carignane-dominated wines. Very enjoable now. Probably not a wine to lay down for more than 3-5 years. Grade:91
Syrah Grenache Mataro (Dry Creek Valley) 2021
74% Syrah, 17% Grenache, 9% Mataro. Sourced from the Lytton Springs Vineyard. This was a really interesting wine what we had with a simple meal of grilled steaks, baked potato, and sald, for which it was a great match. Very drinkable now, although I think it would improve with a couple more years cellar age. Rich nose suggesting cassis, black pepper, mocha java, and violets. The palate followed, but also suggested plums. Grade: 90
Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel (Alexander Valley) 2019
75% Zinfandel, 25% Carignane. Relatively low alcohol compared to a lot of Zinfandels (13.9%). Good nose of blackberry, raspberry, plums, and pepper. The palate offered much the same associations. Not a vin de garde, but a nice casual dining wine for the short term. Grade: 89
