Ledge Dusi Vineyard Soul Zinfandel 2017
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The aptly named Ledge Vineyards sits atop a flat panoramic ledge of sandstone, sand and clay amongst the rolling hills of the Willow Creek District in Paso Robles. Winemaker, Mark Adams, grew up on the land he and wife, Ciera, now continue to farm. In 2005 they propagated cuttings and own-root planted the first 5 acres of their vineyard. Now 20 years later, their 20 acre vineyard continues to grow and is planted to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut, Counoise, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche and Roussanne.
Mark's journey in winemaking began in the cellar and vineyards with childhood friend, Justin Smith, at Saxum. This led to sourcing fruit from many esteemed vineyards in the area, such as James Berry Vineyard and Bien Nacido, while the Ledge estate vines continued to mature. By 2009 and 2010 Mark was making wines with Syrah and Grenache from the ledge, laying the foundation for Ledge wines' distinctive character. Together with Ciera they now offer a wine club and lineup of limited-production wines that are described by critics as rare, multi-dimensional, and seamless. Mark's pure winemaking style showcases their site’s unique location and terroir — capturing that remarkable westside Paso Robles magic.
Despite accolades and a growing reputation for their elegant, sought-after wines, Mark and Ciera remain genuinely approachable, crafting niche wines with a humble spirit that mirrors how Ledge began.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.