Did not decant. Turns out I did not need to decant! Big open black fruit all the way through. Good Core. At its top and maybe a slight downward turn. Nice finish. Drink up!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank as the sixth bottle of the night after all of the “wines of Monte Bello”. Palate was shot, but this still held up. Drinking beautifully right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No way I would have ever picked this for a 17 yr old wine. The cork was in perfect shape, the nose was still absolutely fresh and vibrant. I’ve recently had the 2015 Syrah from ridge which I rated a 95, and this none follows suit. Still at least 5 years left on this one. Incredibly balanced wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic. Violets, pepper, purple fruits, and a slight hint of meat. Beautiful , full bodied minus fruit but plenty of acidity to keep it fresh. Prime time enjoyment right now and perfect with classic Thanksgiving food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is singing in feb 2013. Decanted 30 mins. Rich, balanced, integrated tannins. Cooked black fruit and balanced acidity. Delicious. Acid is less than when first tasted in 2009.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine but still young. It is a little raw, hot and alcoholic. Nice bold black fruits and big/medium big tannins (not overpowering). Still very racy in 2012--I wonder if it will every mellow. Definitely needs decanting--much more approachable two hours later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
W bratwurst, kale and potatoes. Very yummy. Great dark color with plenty of fruit and spice. Real good syrah in real rhone fashion. On palate initially a bit dry but then really came around into a yummy wine. A good sausage requires syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lush and full after taking 30-60 minutes to come into its own. Tannins are resolved, but theres still plenty there to like about this wine. Drink up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted pretty good immediately upon opening but it seemed to fade pretty quickly. Pretty delicious stuff and just how I remembered it. I think it's time to drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Was better than than the last time I had this in 12/10 as the tar/extraction I got then was much less prevalent now. Medium to full body very dark fruit of mostly blackberry flavors, but had a fairly light texture on the palate, not often found in New World syrah. Matched well with an excellent strip steak (again).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is an absurdly beautiful wine. Rich, mouth-filling, smoothly integrated tannin, dark cocoa, pumpernickel baking in a Swiss meadow (just across the way from the Bündnerfleisch drying shed), all with stony minerality to boot. Sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Has the same heavy extract feel as the 05, with some tar notes and mostly blackberry fruit. Full bodied with a 35 sec finish and almost medium acidity which kept it fresh and unflabby. Good match with NY Strip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose - sweetish/almost porty, deep berry with brown sugar and marachino, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove. Sweet, dusty dark berry, redwood, a bit simple, very pure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just beautiful stuff, funny Ridge is mostly know for their Zin's, but I think this is my favorite. Smooth and seemless no edges, smoke, dark fruit, bacon fat, spices, pepper all the flavor is there in a nice neat elegant package. This is fantasic. Needs a few hours for the magic to happen. Maybe 93 points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark. Impressive concentration without being too heavy - I think it gets a nice lift from the viognier here. Good balance. This has lots of good years ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Phenomenal Syrah! Huge, dark, deep, rich. The 9% Viognier really adds a fascinating complexity and texture to this wine. It is important to note that it took a good 2hrs+ of decanting for it to come alive (it was bitter and not nearly as enjoyable prior to that). Once there, it had scents of concentrated dark berry, cedarwood and cigar box, on a really intriguing nose. The flavors were complex and amazing, the longer I held this wine in my mouth the more it came alive and blew me away! Loads of blueberry and blackberry, wonderful earthyness and spice to it, and such a big and bold mouthfeel. As I found myself literally chewing this wine it was throwing dark chocolate everywhere on the finish. Awesome stuff!! I'll be buying this again for sure, the best Syrah I've had to date. (EDIT: Drank four more enjoyable times... I love this wine!)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Violet color w/ straight rim. Nose of strawberries, black raspberries; really bridges red- and black-fruit gap. Loads of glycerin. Really unctuous full-mouth feel. Heavy, with good acid to balance. Bit of nutmeg and clove. Makes me want to have some aged gouda and almonds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/13/09: Dense dark purple. The aromas are blueberry, blackberry, spices, pepper and floral perfumes thanks to the viognier. The flavors are nicely layered with blueberry, some darker fruits, smoke, pepper, earth, spice and floral notes. Very full bodied and fleshy, lush, with good tannin, balance with just the right amount of acidity and lots fo structure. Long pleasant finish of fruit and flowers
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The bottle we had was all blueberry fruit on the palate, with a touch of smoke and black fruits on the nose. Great balance indicates a long life ahead. Sorry it is my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened the bottle and let it stand for an hour our so. First glass is still tight. So wait another hour .. Currant and raspberry on the nose with a slight hint of blueberry. Silky start of dark fruit and cocoa that explodes on the palette revealing tannin and significant structure, finishing with a dry dark plum. The mouth feel is immediately gratifying but after a few seconds becomes overly drying.. ok so this wine is still a bit young, but is so fun to drink. A Rhone oriented offering and a refreshing break from the predominant Cali Syrah styles (which I like as well). This is Cali Rhone elegance. The addition of viognier softens it a bit. I'd give this a few more years. Its really amazing that Paul Draper has been able to consistently craft great wines for decades, I particularly enjoy his varietals: Mataro, Carignane, Petite Syrah and Grenache blends (mostly ATP wines) for which he certainly deserves more accolades, but then again, it can be our secret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like the Dry Creek based Ridge Zins, this wine offers a lot of fruit and pleasure for the price, performing on par with some more expensive mailing list wines. This is a winning style of CA Syrah, featuring ripe, warm, dark red fruit without being overextracted or overmade. Drinking perfect right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Valentine's Day at Cesare's: This wine was my WOTN, as it stood on its own. It also paired very well with the beef course. An elegantly styled syrah, and perfectly weighted for my tastes....not to thin, nor is it full throttle in an OZ way. Full and lush on the palate, finishes long. I had a second glass of this in lieu of dessert! I think this ranks as one of the bargains on Cesare's list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Picked this up at local wine shop at half price. What a steal. I don't have formal tasting notes, as this is 2 weeks later. However, I do distinctly remember stating that this was the best Cali Syrah I've had. Will buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dense, concentrated black fruit, spice, herb (sage, juniper), and cedar. Very dark purple color. Highly concentrated wine with a rather astringent finish. L. sensed honeysuckle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very rich and thick Syrah from Ridge. Nose of dense blackberries, sage and spice. Palate is that of 1% milk. Velvety and in your face. No hiding behind this concentrated and potent Ridge Syrah. Decent balance with lots of acidity and structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark purple/black, opaque. Muted black fruit with juniper and oak. Inky, concentrated black fruit, fresh and tannic. Concentrated, thick wine with acidic tannin. Needs time to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ridge wines at the Lytton Springs winery: 14.8% Syrah, blended with 9% viognier. This has a really meaty feel on the nose, but with quite an odd astringent note, alongside the sweet, gamey black fruit and a floral note. There’s very dark fruit on the palate, and it’s quite concentrated with a nice spicy meaty feel. Very good finish, with quite a chocolatey feel. Very Good Indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Syrah Night (Byfield, MA): Purple opaque. Nose of blackberry, raspberry, currants. Palate of same with some licorice, spice, white pepper. Smooth soft tannins. Very balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My experience with Ridge up until this point had only been with their Zin. Based on that, this Syrah is unmistakably Ridge. Well rounded fruit and oak, this is drinkable now but I feel will be better after some time in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/21/2023 - rhyman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Did not decant. Turns out I did not need to decant! Big open black fruit all the way through. Good Core. At its top and maybe a slight downward turn. Nice finish. Drink up!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2022 - catowne1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still solid. Unfortunately I am not out of the wine. Bummed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2021 - catowne1 wrote:
Corked... hopefully I can get a replacement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2020 - catowne1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank as the sixth bottle of the night after all of the “wines of Monte Bello”. Palate was shot, but this still held up. Drinking beautifully right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2020 - catowne1 Likes this wine: 95 Points
No way I would have ever picked this for a 17 yr old wine. The cork was in perfect shape, the nose was still absolutely fresh and vibrant. I’ve recently had the 2015 Syrah from ridge which I rated a 95, and this none follows suit. Still at least 5 years left on this one. Incredibly balanced wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2020 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well. Cassis, plum, violets, beef blood and a very strong (but enjoyable) taste of iron. Very well made. Fruit is very rich
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2019 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic. Violets, pepper, purple fruits, and a slight hint of meat. Beautiful , full bodied minus fruit but plenty of acidity to keep it fresh. Prime time enjoyment right now and perfect with classic Thanksgiving food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2016 - Silveradoup wrote: 95 Points
This is holding up so well! Awesome to taste this wine, thankfully I have more!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2015 - tbone wrote:
Good - ready to go. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2015 - JumpAroundOnGrapes Likes this wine: 95 Points
Thick, awesome, full black fruits. Still had some grip. Drank beautifully but could have waited even a couple more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2013 - davesdream Likes this wine:
Still plenty of fruit and rich after ten years, but probably better earlier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2013 - vinorsk wrote: 96 Points
This wine is singing in feb 2013. Decanted 30 mins. Rich, balanced, integrated tannins. Cooked black fruit and balanced acidity. Delicious. Acid is less than when first tasted in 2009.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2012 - vinorsk wrote: 90 Points
Good wine but still young. It is a little raw, hot and alcoholic. Nice bold black fruits and big/medium big tannins (not overpowering). Still very racy in 2012--I wonder if it will every mellow. Definitely needs decanting--much more approachable two hours later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
W bratwurst, kale and potatoes. Very yummy. Great dark color with plenty of fruit and spice. Real good syrah in real rhone fashion. On palate initially a bit dry but then really came around into a yummy wine. A good sausage requires syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2011 - BradboBaggins Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lush and full after taking 30-60 minutes to come into its own. Tannins are resolved, but theres still plenty there to like about this wine. Drink up soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2011 - Martin Redmond wrote: 91 Points
Fall 2011 Ridge Wine Blogger Tasting - Lytton Springs Estate Rhones (Ridge Lytton Estate - Healdsburg, CA): Deep garnet color with dark cherry, pepper, smoke and floral aromas. On the palate approaching full-bodied, with good balance, and vivid fruit with blackberry, pepper and vanilla flavors. Medium long finish. Co-fermented with 9% Viognier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2011 - Max Power wrote: 87 Points
Tasted pretty good immediately upon opening but it seemed to fade pretty quickly. Pretty delicious stuff and just how I remembered it. I think it's time to drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2011 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Was better than than the last time I had this in 12/10 as the tar/extraction I got then was much less prevalent now. Medium to full body very dark fruit of mostly blackberry flavors, but had a fairly light texture on the palate, not often found in New World syrah. Matched well with an excellent strip steak (again).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2010 - fullpour wrote:
This is an absurdly beautiful wine. Rich, mouth-filling, smoothly integrated tannin, dark cocoa, pumpernickel baking in a Swiss meadow (just across the way from the Bündnerfleisch drying shed), all with stony minerality to boot. Sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - vinole Likes this wine: 90 Points
Has the same heavy extract feel as the 05, with some tar notes and mostly blackberry fruit. Full bodied with a 35 sec finish and almost medium acidity which kept it fresh and unflabby. Good match with NY Strip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2010 - CabIsKing wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruits, oak and spice on the nose. Lush and smooth tannins in the mouth with a long finish. Pretty impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2010 - yhn wrote: 88 Points
Nose - sweetish/almost porty, deep berry with brown sugar and marachino, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove.
Sweet, dusty dark berry, redwood, a bit simple, very pure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2010 - robertgoulet wrote: 92 Points
Just beautiful stuff, funny Ridge is mostly know for their Zin's, but I think this is my favorite. Smooth and seemless no edges, smoke, dark fruit, bacon fat, spices, pepper all the flavor is there in a nice neat elegant package. This is fantasic. Needs a few hours for the magic to happen. Maybe 93 points
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2009 - joraesque wrote: 90 Points
Very nice, with good acidity and great aromatics. Could use another year perhaps?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2009 - joraesque wrote: flawed
Corked. Grrr! I hear this happens quite often with the Ridge bottlings.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2009 - elamasters wrote: 89 Points
Very dark. Impressive concentration without being too heavy - I think it gets a nice lift from the viognier here. Good balance. This has lots of good years ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2009 - OTTnMIA wrote: 92 Points
Phenomenal Syrah! Huge, dark, deep, rich. The 9% Viognier really adds a fascinating complexity and texture to this wine. It is important to note that it took a good 2hrs+ of decanting for it to come alive (it was bitter and not nearly as enjoyable prior to that). Once there, it had scents of concentrated dark berry, cedarwood and cigar box, on a really intriguing nose. The flavors were complex and amazing, the longer I held this wine in my mouth the more it came alive and blew me away! Loads of blueberry and blackberry, wonderful earthyness and spice to it, and such a big and bold mouthfeel. As I found myself literally chewing this wine it was throwing dark chocolate everywhere on the finish. Awesome stuff!! I'll be buying this again for sure, the best Syrah I've had to date. (EDIT: Drank four more enjoyable times... I love this wine!)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2009 - Colia wrote: 93 Points
Violet color w/ straight rim. Nose of strawberries, black raspberries; really bridges red- and black-fruit gap. Loads of glycerin. Really unctuous full-mouth feel. Heavy, with good acid to balance. Bit of nutmeg and clove. Makes me want to have some aged gouda and almonds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2009 - enosnob wrote: 92 Points
2/13/09: Dense dark purple. The aromas are blueberry, blackberry, spices, pepper and floral perfumes thanks to the viognier. The flavors are nicely layered with blueberry, some darker fruits, smoke, pepper, earth, spice and floral notes. Very full bodied and fleshy, lush, with good tannin, balance with just the right amount of acidity and lots fo structure. Long pleasant finish of fruit and flowers
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2008 - tyvoodoo wrote: 90 Points
Good bottle of wine. Not overly complex, good fruit and meatiness on the nose. Held up over time and was very nice!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
The bottle we had was all blueberry fruit on the palate, with a touch of smoke and black fruits on the nose. Great balance indicates a long life ahead. Sorry it is my last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2008 - 8trigram wrote: 92 Points
Opened the bottle and let it stand for an hour our so. First glass is still tight. So wait another hour .. Currant and raspberry on the nose with a slight hint of blueberry. Silky start of dark fruit and cocoa that explodes on the palette revealing tannin and significant structure, finishing with a dry dark plum. The mouth feel is immediately gratifying but after a few seconds becomes overly drying.. ok so this wine is still a bit young, but is so fun to drink. A Rhone oriented offering and a refreshing break from the predominant Cali Syrah styles (which I like as well). This is Cali Rhone elegance. The addition of viognier softens it a bit. I'd give this a few more years. Its really amazing that Paul Draper has been able to consistently craft great wines for decades, I particularly enjoy his varietals: Mataro, Carignane, Petite Syrah and Grenache blends (mostly ATP wines) for which he certainly deserves more accolades, but then again, it can be our secret.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2008 - silton wrote: 91 Points
Like the Dry Creek based Ridge Zins, this wine offers a lot of fruit and pleasure for the price, performing on par with some more expensive mailing list wines. This is a winning style of CA Syrah, featuring ripe, warm, dark red fruit without being overextracted or overmade. Drinking perfect right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
Valentine's Day at Cesare's: This wine was my WOTN, as it stood on its own. It also paired very well with the beef course. An elegantly styled syrah, and perfectly weighted for my tastes....not to thin, nor is it full throttle in an OZ way. Full and lush on the palate, finishes long. I had a second glass of this in lieu of dessert! I think this ranks as one of the bargains on Cesare's list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2008 - Combee1 wrote: 90 Points
Ditto.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2007 - Combee1 wrote: 90 Points
Ditto on the first note. This wine is big and jammy with just enough acidity and tannin structure to match. A very pleasing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2007 - Combee1 wrote: 90 Points
Picked this up at local wine shop at half price. What a steal. I don't have formal tasting notes, as this is 2 weeks later. However, I do distinctly remember stating that this was the best Cali Syrah I've had. Will buy again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2007 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Very dense, concentrated black fruit, spice, herb (sage, juniper), and cedar. Very dark purple color. Highly concentrated wine with a rather astringent finish. L. sensed honeysuckle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2007 - beezer6 wrote: 89 Points
Very rich and thick Syrah from Ridge.
Nose of dense blackberries, sage and spice.
Palate is that of 1% milk. Velvety and in your face.
No hiding behind this concentrated and potent Ridge Syrah.
Decent balance with lots of acidity and structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2007 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote:
Very dark purple/black, opaque. Muted black fruit with juniper and oak. Inky, concentrated black fruit, fresh and tannic. Concentrated, thick wine with acidic tannin. Needs time to open.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2007 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 91 Points
Ridge wines at the Lytton Springs winery: 14.8%
Syrah, blended with 9% viognier. This has a really meaty feel on the nose, but with quite an odd astringent note, alongside the sweet, gamey black fruit and a floral note. There’s very dark fruit on the palate, and it’s quite concentrated with a nice spicy meaty feel. Very good finish, with quite a chocolatey feel. Very Good Indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2007 - cgrimes wrote: 89 Points
Syrah Night (Byfield, MA): Purple opaque. Nose of blackberry, raspberry, currants. Palate of same with some licorice, spice, white pepper. Smooth soft tannins. Very balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2007 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Tamarine Brian and gang--GREAT! Big and ripe, oozing with richness but not cloying. Paired with the shaking beef--ummmmmmm....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2006 - BlakeWarnerWine wrote: 90 Points
A little too heavy for what I was looking for...probably should have decanted it for an hour or so
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2006 - binford wrote: 88 Points
My experience with Ridge up until this point had only been with their Zin. Based on that, this Syrah is unmistakably Ridge. Well rounded fruit and oak, this is drinkable now but I feel will be better after some time in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment