2015 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch

Moving to the reds, the 2015 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch (83% Zinfandel, 10% Alicante Bouschet, and 7% Petite Sirah) is a downright slutty wine that's just loaded with sweet fruit and texture. Spiced plums, licorice, baking spices and brambly notes emerge from this ripe, full-bodied, plush Zinfandel that's already impossible to resist. It's not for those craving austerity or tart flavors. Ridge continues to produce a stacked lineup from their estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains, as well as numerous sites in Sonoma County. These reviews focus mostly on their 2015s, which was the earliest harvest on record for Ridge. Nevertheless, the wines show terrific purity and elegance, and it’s a rock-solid vintage for the estate. The Bordeaux blends are from the 2014 vintage, which was another hot, dry year. These are big, ripe, sexy releases that have the fruit and depth to drink nicely today, yet are going to age beautifully.

A dense, powerful wine, the 2015 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch exudes concentration in all of its dimensions. Red cherry jam, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice meld together in a plush, voluptuous Zinfandel loaded with personality. There is so much to like. The Pagani is the ripest and most overt of the three Zinfandel-based 2015s I tasted. A generous dollop of Alicante contributes to the wine's feel.