Jimsomare Vertical at The White House

The White House, Anaheim, CA
Tasted Saturday, June 5, 2010 by WetRock with 930 views

Introduction

A long discussed event was finally pulled together by Andy Velebil where we spent an evening tasting the wines from one of the Ridge estate vineyards. The Jimsomare Ranch just below the Ridge property contains some Cabernet, Zinfandel, Merlot and Chardonnay vines with the Bordeaux varieties most often making it into the Monte Bello blend. Most of the Zinfandel vines on the property date back to 1884. Ridge also bottles wines for its ATP program from the Jimsomare fruit. Since they are made by Paul Draper these can age very well and last a long time as many of the other wines of the estate do.

We managed to pull together a large lineup of the Zinfandels and a few of the Cabs along with some other special treats to make for an adventurous evening that has probably never been done before. A similar dinner of Geyserville wines a few years back has been referenced by the Ridge people for checking in on the aging curves of the wines. We had a great time checking in on this parcel and saw wines all over the map from done to younger than expected. I have been able to try a few of these in the past and some good experiences with the 82 Cab and 93 Zin made me look forward to this night. Favs on the night for me were the 81 MB Zin, 82 Jimsomare Zin, 91 Jimsomare Zin, 85 & 94 Cabs and the 85 Phelps Scheurebe.

Flight 1 - Flight #1 (2 Notes)

  • 2008 Ridge Chardonnay Jimsomare Ranch

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    The nose shows big marks of malo ferments in the way of butter. Rich palate with more creamy butter and some lemon. There is enough acid to make a finish that doesn't allow the fatness to be too much but this will never be in the mode of a lean minerally Chardonnay. Good for the style and best in a couple of years.

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  • 1961 Hanzell Chardonnay

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    Nose shows lots of madeirization with a touch of cream. Clean with strong acidity and notes of apples. This didn't show the oxidation on the palate as badly as the nose did but the fruit has faded behind the acids. Seen better days but a treat to try.

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Flight 2 - Flight #2 (3 Notes)

  • 1968 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    A birth year wine for me and a Ridge that predates Draper's influence. Show shows its age pretty heavily but also brings some cranberry. Clean yet tired and a bit empty to me. The dark fruits are barely there on the palate. Past its prime and not quite down for the count. As others noted, this showed like old Pinot/Burgundy which I have noted sometimes on other very old Zinfandels.

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  • 1970 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    From a magnum. Smells a bit old but there is strong a maple syrup aroma and notes of dark red fruits. The fruit seemed a bit reserved but it also seemed to go up and down changing as I tried it over 15 minutes changing with air. There was a nice tart acidity and overall I liked this. Probably passed its prime but still in a good spot.

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  • 1970 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    From a 750. Nose was musty and old. Clean dark fruit with a tart finish and a touch of heat. This got more expressive with air but was not quite as good as the same from the magnum showing more advanced, especially on the nose.

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Flight 3 - Flight #3 (2 Notes)

  • 1979 Ridge Zinfandel Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    I believe, Caleb informed us that there was no 'Jimsomare' bottling in '79 and instead they made a MB bottling using Jimsomare and another vineyard on the hill called 'Piccheti'. 60/40 - Piccheti/Jimsomare
    A tired nose showing some maple. This was on the tired side with some mouth coating tartness. The finish seems bright and clean but overall a faded wine.

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  • 1981 Ridge Zinfandel Monte Bello

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Another year where they made a Monte Bell instead of a straight Jimsomare. This time with 73/27 - Jimsomare/Piccheti split.
    Very expressive nose showing baked red fruits and some eucalyptus. Juicy with round fruit but a tart clean crunchy acidic finish. This was the first wine I really liked on the night.

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Flight 4 - Flight #4 (3 Notes)

Flight 5 - Flight #5 (4 Notes)

  • 1991 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Ever changing nose of meaty goodness that smelled like a Southern Rhone. Expressive and complex the palate also seemed to be in constant motion being a bit different with every taste. Terrific balance of fruit and acid. Probably my WOTN.

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  • 1992 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Wood filled nose showing signs of oxidation. Juicy and tart but a bit tired overall though the finish lingers for quite some time. Oak prominent on the palate as well.

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  • 1993 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    This was like night and day to my previous experience with this wine. Wood and maple on the nose. Soft and round. Clipped finish and showing some spice and tannin on the finish. Where did that clean, balanced almost minerally wine go?

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  • 1994 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Big sweetly fruited nose. Long but a bit hollow the fruit actually seemed a bit closed on this one. Good acids and rich fruit but subdued as noted.

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Flight 6 - Flight #6 (3 Notes)

  • 2000 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Big nose showing baked fruits, ripeness and wet paint like I notice on very young wines occasionally. Rich and chunky, plenty of acid and tannin. Juicy but clearly in need of time. I think this has good potential. Would recommend leaving to sleep or a good decant.

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  • 2002 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Dark heavy ripe fruit showing notes of wet paint and prunes. Big chunky zinberry palate that is dense and tannic but clipped. This seemed from a bigger mold not showing the acidity prevalent in most of the other wines. Not sure who this will age.

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  • 2003 Ridge Zinfandel Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Soft nose showing bright berries and wood. Juicy with mouth coating tart acidity. Good balance but seeming to lack the fruit concentration of some of the others. Drinks well today and probably not one for extended aging.

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Flight 7 - Flight #7 (4 Notes)

  • 1985 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Leafy nose showing lots of 'green' type notes as well as some pencil lead/graphite. Nicely balanced but a bit straight forward. Could have used more depth and complexity but the fruit was rich. I like this style but I'm sure it would be called flawed by many today. Very good.

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  • 1993 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Rich yet seeming disjointed the nose showed some green herbals. Rich chocolaty palate that lacked some acid and showed some heat.

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  • 1994 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Nose seems a bit tight at first but becomes rich and shows notes of pepper, meat, mint and chocolate. Clean and balanced with good concentration. Classic Cab palate showing some tannin and spice. The best of the Cabs easily.

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  • 1995 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Very leafy nose also showing some notes of meat and graphite. Smells of Cab fruit but kinda tight and with some heat. The palate seems inexpressive with weak concentration. Linear with juicy acids. Seems not to be their best year.

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Flight 8 - Flight #8 (2 Notes)

Flight 9 - Flight #9 (5 Notes)

Flight 10 - Flight #10 (3 Notes)

  • 1985 Joseph Phelps Scheurebe Special Select Late Harvest

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Label says picked at 31% brix. Dark coppery color. Nose shows spiced cider with a touch of menthol. Sticky yet clean with a big finish and showing a lot of nectarine like stone fruits. This was terrific. No clue there was Scheurebe in California back then and the Phelps crew did such good work with it. A rare treat and an excellent wine.

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  • 2004 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Carte d'Or

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

    Nose of wet wool. Clean sweet tart, the fruit seems tight and a bit inexpressive. This could be closed or in the need of more air.

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  • 1998 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Nose of candied pineapple. Thick fat sugary candy. I liked the way it smelled and tasted but it seemed to lack some acidity to prettify it the way you want a good Sauternes to. Still tasty if not complete.

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