Benito Dusi Ranch is the only Ridge vineyard source south of the San Francisco Bay area. Located between the Santa Lucia Range and the Chalone Hills, it is situated just south of the town of Paso Robles, near Highway 101 and 46W. Part of the Paso Robles AVA, this location consistently experiences very large diurnal temperature shifts – hot days fading to cool nights. This phenomenon allows the head-trained (no trellis) vines rooted in the vineyard’s rocky, gravelly soils to produce fruit that showcases zinfandel’s bramble fruit and velvet tannins. What is unique about this bottling is that it’s the only bottling that showcases 100% Zinfandel. The reasoning is simple, the Dusi Family only have Zinfandel planted on the home ranch. The original blocks date back to 1923 and they haven’t missed a beat. This is California Zinfandel at its best with the ability to stay up to iconic Ridge bottlings of Geyserville and Lytton Springs Zin blends. The wine is opulent and generous from start to finish. Dark red cherries and blackberries are adorned with crushed alpine flowers, Asian spices, cocoa nibs, and gravelly earth. Bold but approachable and seasoned with American oak, not French oak. Extremely approachable now with a 30-minute decant, but don’t hesitate a few bottles down for three to four years. Ridge and Dusi, a legacy partnership through and through!