Community Tasting Notes 14

• jimoak Likes this wine: 93 points

  August 20, 2023 - This wine has been in my cellar since its release, and I've kept it as a curiosity since I assumed it was long over-the-hill. Well surprise! Out of boredom I opened it last weekend and it was a revelation. Probably not as bright as it was 10-20 years ago, but still outstanding. Dense nectarine/cherry flavors, full body and no oxidation. The cork was also in great shape. Many a classified Bordeaux has faired less well after 36 years - go figure!

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• jvphoto Likes this wine: 87 points

  August 10, 2018 - Worried when I saw the cork but ended up being fine. Nose opened very sickly sweet. After about 30 min that blew off and showed poached berries, brandy apples and a little dirty leather. Compared to the nose the palate still had some vibrancy. Sweet strawberry, dusty cherry, pomegranate that still had some acidity and tannins. Enjoyable to drink as a novelty with a friend born in ‘87. Honestly better than the red wine served on domestic first class flights.

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• walkerjfw wrote: 92 points

  June 1, 2017 - Alfresco dinner w old wines and young - Princeton Wine Crew and special guest Jamie Leahy of Marston Vineyards (Chez Walker - Princeton, NJ): First in a lineup of nicely aged reds from my cellar. From a magnum purchased at the winery 5 years ago, only 4 left at the time...given the provenance I had to have it! Drank the first mag in 2012, this one in my cellar since. Cork came out clean, decanted for about 1 hour prior to drinking, fair amount of sediment but easily fined out through my strainer.
  
  Medium garnet/brick color...faded a bit with separation at the edges. Nose was showing cherry, cedar, earth. Later in the tasting started to pick up caramel. Palate showed dusted fruits - cherry, currant, pomegranate, earth. Medium weight and finish. nice flavor through the mid palate.
  
  While it probably peaked a few years ago it was really fun to drink a rare wine like this. Still vibrant and expressive. Longevity and quality here a tribute to Ridge and Paul Draper

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• andtheodor wrote: flawed

  June 22, 2016 - Somewhat caramelly and oxidized, though the signature dried strawberry and tea elements still poke out. Not a great bottle.

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• blanquito wrote: 86 points

  June 17, 2016 - Perfect fill, this Zinfandel blend is tired and was no doubt better 5-10 years ago. Showing some black tea tannins, pleasant dried strawberry and it has just a kiss of the signature American oak. Not bad, but this adds to my feeling that Lytton Springs doesn't age like Geyserville (of which the wines from the late 80's are still terrific).

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Pro Reviews 2

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1987
• Type Red
• Producer Ridge
• Varietal Zinfandel Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Lytton Springs
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Sonoma County
• Appellation Dry Creek Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 29 (53%)
• Consumed 26 (47%)

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