Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category. — 12 days ago

Kelley Raymond

9.3

His amazing, and gets better with age — 8 days ago

Suzanne Spadafora

9.2

Delightful! — a month ago

Ray Roman

9.0

Really enjoyed this wine. Smooth and as others have said, fruit forward. — 6 hours ago

Tholyer Sartoni

9.1

Yummy light pinot noir. Taste of dark, ripe berries — a day ago

JC Muehlenberg

9.0

Light, very universal. — 2 days ago

Rob N

9.4

This wine from Saxum is a great value — smooth, even fruit; great balance overall. 79% syrah, 7% petite sirah, 7% grenache, 5% mourvédre. 97 points from Robert Parker and $129 when I bought it from K&L although market looks more like $160 now. — 2 days ago

Cynthia Langstaff

9.1

Good covered fruity nose. On tongue plum and astringent tannins, not particularly complex, with slight bitter tannin at the finish. Probably needs a bit more time, but good enough at the moment. 2021 in November 2025 — 25 days ago

with Todd and David

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Very enjoyable and it aged well. — 19 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2002 vintage. Decanted and tasted 15 minutes and 1 hour after decanting. Slight amount of sediment. Cedar, cinnamon and traces of bacon fat in the nose along with a splash of VA. The VA blew off and wasn’t there after 1 hour but was hanging out at the onset. Medium heavy body with another 5-7 years likely dropping this to medium body. Smoked meats, bigg dark plum and roasted nuts still part and parcel during. No rush to crush. 10.28.25. — a month ago