Geyserville 2023

Le vignoble Geyserville se situe sur la lisière ouest de l’AVA Alexander Valley, dans le comté de Sonoma, en Californie. Il ne se trouve donc pas dans les Santa Cruz Mountains, région du domaine historique de Ridge. Cette cuvée provient de trois parcelles contiguës installées sur des limons graveleux et des galets issus d’un ancien cours de la Russian River, où les vieilles vignes donnent profondeur et caractère au traditionnel assemblage de complantation.

Les raisins sont vendangés à la main, puis éraflés et foulés. La fermentation en vendange foulée entière, avec chapeau flottant, se déroule grâce aux levures indigènes, suivie d’une fermentation malolactique naturelle et de remontages quotidiens. Le vin est ensuite élevé seize mois en fûts de chêne américain séché à l’air, dont 15 % de bois neuf.

Ce vin dévoile des notes de cerise noire, framboise, mûre, prune, olive noire, poivre noir, réglisse, sauge, tabac et garrigue. Des nuances de cèdre et d’épices douces prolongent ce bouquet complexe. La bouche, ample et énergique, associe une matière dense à une acidité ferme et juteuse ; les tanins, souples mais bien dessinés, encadrent une finale longue, savoureuse et légèrement minérale.

In the United States, 90% of the wine produced comes from California. It was the influx of gold prospectors into California that boosted the Californian wine industry in the mid-19th century, particularly in Sonoma and Napa. At the start of the 20th century there were 800 wineries. From 1919 to 1933, Prohibition destroyed the vast majority of the Californian wine industry, so much so that by 1933 only 140 wineries were still producing wine. It was not until 1960 that the wine industry began to recover from Prohibition, and California was then known mainly for fortified wines (in the style of Port). It was also in the 1960s that some of the most famous wineries were founded (Mondavi, Heitz Wine Cellars, Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, etc.). In 1976 a landmark event took place: the legendary tasting competition better known as the "Judgement of Paris". It pitted the greatest French wines against the American newcomers. On 24 May, an unexpected result shook the wine world when, to everyone's surprise, the United States came out on top. Yet the competition remains fairly unknown to the general public. Today there is no doubt that the United States produces great wines. Although California largely monopolises the reputation of American wines with its excellent Zinfandels, the state of Oregon produces some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and Washington State offers excellent Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.