I hardly have any Zinfandels in my cellar (2 bottles to be precise). Having read about the incredible ageing potential of Ridge Zinfandels on the Underground Wine Letter, I was intrigued to try it. The somm confirmed the good shape of the bottle and we went for it. What a great treat this was. A perfect bottle. Nicely mature but with so much power and tension, great complexity and a soft Pinot-like structure (the head somm tasted it blind at guessed it to be a high-end Vosnee Romanee (“probably a Richebourg”) of 25+ years). A testament of what heights Ridge Zins can reach. 97+ points.
TN: Very intense cigar box, fresh and melted tobacco, a bit of ash, lots of green olives, lots of herbs, fresh earth and with time mushrooms and black truffles, all gravitating around a nice, intense sweet fruit core with melted strawberries. Highly complex, ever-changing and with a remarkable precision. This intensity is embedded in a very fine structural frame, so much tension, so elegant, Pinot-like, fresh with very fine tannins. Very good length and amazing balance.
Decanting: No decant necessary. Kept well in the glass for several hours. No signs of decline whatsoever.
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Blind Tasting 1968-79 Ridge Geyservilles (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Nice light red fruited nose with a bit of mint. Light to medium bodied with low to medium acidity. Red cherry fruit with a bit of black tea. Love the mouthfeel: silky, elegant and balanced. (my 2nd, group's 9th)
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17 vintages of Ridge Zinfandel, '67 & '78 Stony Hill & Dessert Wines (Campanile in Los Angeles, CA.): We began our flights with the '72 and what a wine it would turn out to be. The wine seemed to appeal across the board to all at the table. I must admit that I did have a very optimistic impression prior to sampling this wine. It started out with some funk and rustic earthiness. This evolved into a glorious perfum of asian spices, brown sugar and allspice. The aromas continued to evolve, shift and change in the style of mature burgundy. The palate was soft, delicate and velvety smooth. Absloutely and utterly sexy in a refined way. The wine stayed alive for the 2+ hours it was in my glass, and while it peaked within an hour, it seemed to very slowly evolve and settle down with a slight tartiness towards the last sip. What a magnificent wine. This was the only wine we were uncertain of the cepages. The '72 is the perfect posterchild for aged zinfandel. This was a real treat and, for me, a special wine I will not soon forget.
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4/20/2020 - coremill wrote: flawed
From a bottle with a mid-shoulder fill and a lot of seepage, this was shot.
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7/10/2019 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
I hardly have any Zinfandels in my cellar (2 bottles to be precise). Having read about the incredible ageing potential of Ridge Zinfandels on the Underground Wine Letter, I was intrigued to try it. The somm confirmed the good shape of the bottle and we went for it. What a great treat this was. A perfect bottle. Nicely mature but with so much power and tension, great complexity and a soft Pinot-like structure (the head somm tasted it blind at guessed it to be a high-end Vosnee Romanee (“probably a Richebourg”) of 25+ years). A testament of what heights Ridge Zins can reach. 97+ points.
TN: Very intense cigar box, fresh and melted tobacco, a bit of ash, lots of green olives, lots of herbs, fresh earth and with time mushrooms and black truffles, all gravitating around a nice, intense sweet fruit core with melted strawberries. Highly complex, ever-changing and with a remarkable precision. This intensity is embedded in a very fine structural frame, so much tension, so elegant, Pinot-like, fresh with very fine tannins. Very good length and amazing balance.
Decanting: No decant necessary. Kept well in the glass for several hours. No signs of decline whatsoever.
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2/16/2012 - zscheiner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blind Tasting 1968-79 Ridge Geyservilles (Tom's House, Palo Alto, CA): Nice light red fruited nose with a bit of mint. Light to medium bodied with low to medium acidity. Red cherry fruit with a bit of black tea. Love the mouthfeel: silky, elegant and balanced. (my 2nd, group's 9th)
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2/16/2012 - yhn wrote: 92 Points
Nose - cherry wood, toasty baguette, redwood, haw fruit.
Cherry, haw, toasty baguette, clean, hint of tobacco.
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11/9/2006 - gregg g wrote:
17 vintages of Ridge Zinfandel, '67 & '78 Stony Hill & Dessert Wines (Campanile in Los Angeles, CA.): We began our flights with the '72 and what a wine it would turn out to be. The wine seemed to appeal across the board to all at the table. I must admit that I did have a very optimistic impression prior to sampling this wine. It started out with some funk and rustic earthiness. This evolved into a glorious perfum of asian spices, brown sugar and allspice. The aromas continued to evolve, shift and change in the style of mature burgundy. The palate was soft, delicate and velvety smooth. Absloutely and utterly sexy in a refined way. The wine stayed alive for the 2+ hours it was in my glass, and while it peaked within an hour, it seemed to very slowly evolve and settle down with a slight tartiness towards the last sip. What a magnificent wine. This was the only wine we were uncertain of the cepages. The '72 is the perfect posterchild for aged zinfandel. This was a real treat and, for me, a special wine I will not soon forget.
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