2nd of 2 bottles (1st I rated 91) This was really good, but a little tight despite all afternoon breathing Not sure why this bottle was not quite as good Perhaps having a superb St Emilion Gran Cru the night before jaded my taste buds Will continue to purchase now and then as this has always been Ridge’s superior version of a Sonoma field blend, which we appreciate
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A lovely wine for the price. A subtle hint of pepper on the nose with a balanced blend of cherries, plum, and a smidge of earthy/leather on the palate.
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A marvelous Zinfandel-based Sonoma field blend. The berry-infused (not a fruit or alcohol bomb, but fruit-forward) Zinfandel is the star, but the other varietals make the whole wine taste a bit like the Italian red you’re longing for. This would pair with grilled meat, pizza or Italian fare nicely. Very well-done blend. Just now coming into drinking window, let it breathe or decant
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Somewhat earthy to wood notes on the nose. Some fruit up front most notably red plum and pomegranate. Smooth and even texture with mellow tannins. The finish falls a little flat. Pairing with a smoked tri tip and potatoes.
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90-91. Blackberry and red cherry followed by red plum. Spicy finish with dill flavors. Somewhat light compared to other zinfandels from this producer. Don’t expect Geyserville or Lytton’s spring concentration !
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Typically well done zin blend from Ridge. Dark berry and red plum fruit, balanced alcohol and acidity. Great texture and good depth of flavor. Excellent value. Terrific with homemade from scratch pizza.
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Spicy and zesty, yet retains a definite sense of elegance. This one was better than the bottle first tried a year ago. Showed more depth and persistence to its juicy plum and tart cherry fruit this time. Well-crafted and always a good value, it paired very nicely with the braised lamb shanks that Kerry's Mom made for us. 50+5+12+16+7=90
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Clear ruby gradually condensing into a dark core. Smelled dill, yogurt, and black currant; tasted more red cherry, red plum, and a hint of strawberry syrup with a nice vanilla background. Fairly big and dense but not overpoweringly concentrated, the balance leans a little tannic. An hour's decant was maybe a touch too long for this bottle.
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A bit disappointing, perhaps due to the smoked brisket it was paired with. Seemed to lack the layers and complexity I enjoyed in the last bottle of the 2018 I had.
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This opaque crimson wine was Vinturi-decanted and consumed over a three-hour period. A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane and 4% Mataro (Mourvèdre) that was aged for 10 months in American oak (12% new), it delivers an intense package of dark bramble fruits, Bing cherries, black pepper, licorice and eucalyptus. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%), it wraps its flavors with sweet oak and medium-weight, fine-grained tannins. Dense on the mid-palate and medium-to-long on the back end, this is a quality red that should show well throughout the decade. Give it at least an hour in decanter. Drink now-2030.
Placing an ounce of this juice into the glass and putting a light source behind it reveals what the palate delivers - a light bodied Zin that drinks more like an Oregon Pinot Noir. Pop n pour reveals aromas of red fruit, including red raspberries and cherries, along with baking spices (heavy cinnamon) and some nice Tarragon. There's a richness on the nose that is not matched by what I got on the palate. On the palate it was medium bodied, feminine with red fruit, mid-palate spice, cocoa and some hints of anise - all subdued. Tannins are mild and acidity is medium minus. As suggested by others this wine would go nicely with BBQ. IMO there's not enough structure to this wine to really impact long term aging. Could it use a couple of years? Perhaps, but I doubt it will change much.
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First time for us with 3 Valleys. We were expecting significantly more zin characteristics. Reading the other reviews will let the remaining bottles sit for a while
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A hedonistic pleasure for just north of $20, which is very rare. Ripe and opulent, with notes of black raspberry and bramble leading the way, flanked by hints of smoke and mixed herbs. There's also great structure here, suggesting it will be drinking great for 5+ years down the road. This is the best vintage of Three Valleys I can recall.
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Still quite tight and definitely in need of more time in the cellar, but several hours after popping the cork this Zin/Petite blend really began to show well. Look forward to trying again in 12-24 months.
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Young. Needs two to three more years. Decanted 3 hours. Silky tannins. A good wine. Lean in the European style. Good acid. Needed time to start to open up. Pine tar, blackberry nice. Smooth tight tannins. Terrific with brisket. Would want to try again about 2023.
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Full garnet color with clarity. Aromas of smoked black cherry & plum, licorice, medicinal herb, hints of clove and purple florals. Crunchy, succulent dark fruit on the palate, with nice depth and complexity. Mineral notes and spices at its core. Medium acid, round-grainy tannins, savory depth.
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Decanted as soon as I opened it. Dark purple color with a beautiful nose. Would probably wait to pop my other bottles for another year or two but can be drunk now if given time to decant.
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Fruity, tannins fairly subtle. Blend containing two grapes I’d never heard of, 70% Zin, also w/ Petit Sirah. Had w/ italian sausage lasagna - thinking pork loin would be a better pairing.
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Tangy raspberry aromas. Vibrant acid, full and juicy with raspberries and saucy plums. Pepper, tar, tobacco, mesquite tones. Lively but complex, really enjoying this stuff with some chorizo chili.
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2hr decant (see pnp) n: rich blackberry and spicy. dill? p: much smoother than pnp but still slightly closed, could use another hour maybe. Fruit fwd yet dry - blueberry foremost A common theme among young Ridge - air it out!
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Admittedly not my most favorite of the Ridge Zin blends, but that’s a relative thing and still a very nice wine. Tons of dark fruit with lots of acidity.
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Just the kind of accessible Ridge Zin I've come to expect from this fabulous vintner! Pepper is present along with dried black cherries and cigar box. Wonderful finish, mild tannins.
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I have to agree with MMacht—this is thoroughly average Zin. Dark berries on the nose and fruit-forward palate. As it opens up it becomes more briary. Good but not great.
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Thoroughly average. Better off paying up for Ridge's better stuff or just dropping down to a lower price point - this isn't much better than the best from some of the second tier producers.
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Totally lovely, a great example of a zinfandel (or at least zin-heavy blend) that not only avoids "jammy" qualities but shows really fresh, pure fruit and beautiful energy without sacrificing ripeness.
Pretty blueberry and red plum wafting from the glass, airy and even a little floral. Excellent oak too, gentle milky vanilla, never getting in the way of the nice fruit. Palate a little brighter than nose, more of a tart cherry/red plum acidity- not the most elegant acidity, a little puckery, but still appreciate the energy. Plenty of grippy tannin but enough sweetness to balance that out too. Feels lower than the ABV for sure. Could age a bit with fruit, acid and tannin all powerful, but it's possible that cool 'fresh' fruit magic will speak best when pretty young- I certainly didn't feel like it /needed/ aging.
I liked this a TOUCH better than the entry-level Bedrock Zin (2017), which I think showed more interesting savory complexity but also a little more of that jammy quality I avoid. This Ridge felt simpler but more harmonious. Need to try more vintages of each though- comparing to the Bedrock 2018 soon. (EDIT: still a bit better than the 2018 Bedrock too, with the Ridge simply more balanced and harmonious. Both nice wines though.)
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Decanted for 45 minutes. Nose of fresh blueberry preserves with a healthy dose of peppery oak notes with vanilla. Grippy tannins and pepper are followed by dark red cherries and blackberries. As the sip progresses the tannins soften and release. Finishes off with a pepper and ceder.
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Very tasty with a 2 hour decent. I nice mix of blueberry and dark fruit, with some pepper and spice notes. It smelled a bit heavy on the oak when first poured in the decanter, but it blow off with time. This is a decent QPR wine and the entry of the Ridge lineup. Nice Turkey option.
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When first opened and for night 1 I get a ton of oak on the nose and palate which overwhelms any fruit. Accidentally left it out all night with no cork and thought it would be oxidized, but that second night it was very nicely balanced with integrated oak. Next time, need to give it some time in the decanter to let that oakiness blow off.
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Color: medium purple Nose: ripe strawberries and whipped cream. Blueberry jam. Caramelized sugar and toasted hazelnuts Palate: medium acidity, low tannins. Powerful aromatics on a medium body. Texture is thin, kind of a surprise. Aromatics are blue and blackberry, strawberry jam, creme brulee with toasted hazelnut. That said the wine is not sweet and in balance Finish: medium
The entry level from ridge really does showcase their american oak, rich zin style. I am very impressed with how balanced it is, and how much i enjoyed it even though the aromatics linger in the world of desserts which are not exactly my cup of tea. Always so impressed with Ridge. Recommend 45 minutes decant in a broad decanter. Really best after 2 hours of air
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Big weekday Zinfandel. Needs food and a good 30+ minutes of air to show it's stuff. Not as impressive or structured as Geyserville but priced accordingly. I would drink this in the near term.
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On the nose- Big dark fruits, dark cherries, blackberries, dark blueberries, boysenberries, plums, cassis, red raspberries, violets, red flowers, black olives, fresh coffee, fresh cocao, a bit of black pepper, graphite, baking spice, fresh vanilla, toasted oak
On the palate- Big dark fruits and dark cherries, blackberries and dark blueberries, boysenberries and plums, cassis and red raspberries, violets and red flowers, black olives and fresh coffee, fresh cocao and a hint of black pepper, graphite and a bit of baking spice, fresh vanilla and a bit of toasted oak on the finish, this wine is drinking KILLER even though it is super young, I gave it about 40 minutes of air to really open up and the tannins are firm but polished. I see this wine aging for another 5-7 years if not longer with no problem.
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Good PnP and excellent QPR. Had with New Haven style pizza. Not too anything. More memorable for its QPR than any other outstanding characteristic. Great pinch buy!
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Quite good actually, especially at 23 bucks. Pepper, spices, acid and blueberries. Balanced and enjoyable at this price point. Should hold for a couple of years.
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Ditto jcassi01 notes 7/26. For a sub $20 Zin blend from Ridge it's hard to beat the QPR on this wine. Goes great with any spicy meal from Thai basil chicken to any red sauce dish from pasta to spicy ribs. Yummy. Could probably use a little sideways time as got better after about an hour+ decant.
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Every year this wine is an amazing value. Red berry fruits on the nose and palate, with a silky texture. Nice acidity, this wine is great with food or on its own. It’s medium bodied, more akin to a full bodied Pinot than a jammy Cali Zin.
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For a young Ridge this hits the spot as most of the Three Valley vintages have. Might need to buy a case so that we can let some age a bit more. Great QPR case price @ $18.50 for this entry level Ridge Zin.
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This wine is a 92pt June 2020 Wine Spectator recommendation. Colour is dark ruby with aromas of black fruit/blackberry, dried fruit & soft American oak. On the palate, rich full flavours of black fruit, blackberry/black cherry, dried fruit, carmel, spice/pepper, well integrated American oak, medium acidity, and medium to high somewhat angular tannins. The ABV is 14.5% & it’s a little hot, but overall a pretty well-balanced wine, and a little more subtle than the Lodi zyns.
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A delightful Zin blend with nice PQR. Warm berry pastry on the nose; lots of fresh, ripe cherries and a secondary note of new leather on the palate; and a finish that balances nicely between grippy (tannic) and watery (acidic). Regarding body, right out of the bottle it’s pleasingly pretty and even a bit delicate (light to medium body). It gets a little fuller with some time in the decanter, but thankfully it never comes close to being an obnoxious fruit bomb. Well worth its ~$20 price; tastes more like a $25-28 bottle. Planned repurchase.
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Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; essentially opaque. Full, fragrant, & attractive nose of dark fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of spice notes, briary/bramble, earthy, a hint of cocoa & coffee, minerals, & a slight hint of vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, boysenberries & plums with spices, earthy, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but will develop & benefit from several more years of further aging. A blend of 72% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane & 4% Mataro (Mourvedre).
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Lots of blue fruit on the nose. Black cherry, raspberry on the palate. Tannin-less, tart finish. Simple, but got the job done with pizza on a Friday night.
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Upon open I got blueberry pie. Deep dark fruits with just a bit of spice and good finish. Have had the last few vintages of this wine and for such a young wine really good on Pnp with decant and shows potential. Nice QPR at $18 clearance price. Probably go back for a few more to lay down awhile.
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4/20/2024 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still excellent.
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10/18/2023 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 89 Points
2nd of 2 bottles (1st I rated 91)
This was really good, but a little tight despite all afternoon breathing
Not sure why this bottle was not quite as good
Perhaps having a superb St Emilion Gran Cru the night before jaded my taste buds
Will continue to purchase now and then as this has always been Ridge’s superior version of a Sonoma field blend, which we appreciate
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7/9/2023 - Velobici Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red berry. Grass. Black pepper in a ruby package. Lovely acid/tannin balance. Not hot, likely due to the elevation of the vines. Enjoyable.
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5/7/2023 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 89 Points
Perfect with hamburgers. Drink now.
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4/30/2023 - DSaenz Likes this wine: 91 Points
A lovely wine for the price. A subtle hint of pepper on the nose with a balanced blend of cherries, plum, and a smidge of earthy/leather on the palate.
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4/14/2023 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 91 Points
A marvelous Zinfandel-based Sonoma field blend. The berry-infused (not a fruit or alcohol bomb, but fruit-forward) Zinfandel is the star, but the other varietals make the whole wine taste a bit like the Italian red you’re longing for. This would pair with grilled meat, pizza or Italian fare nicely. Very well-done blend. Just now coming into drinking window, let it breathe or decant
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11/14/2022 - bearbonky Likes this wine: 90 Points
A & I loved it! 70% Zinfandel , 14 % Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane, 4% Mataro
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11/12/2022 - Chill51 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Somewhat earthy to wood notes on the nose. Some fruit up front most notably red plum and pomegranate. Smooth and even texture with mellow tannins. The finish falls a little flat. Pairing with a smoked tri tip and potatoes.
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10/27/2022 - wdlohr wrote: 87 Points
deep red color, expressive aroma, uneven texture with light gaps and heavy syrup, mediocre for the price
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8/9/2022 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium body, fruity, round.
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7/25/2022 - Egatniv Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank with pepper-crusted tuna, sweet potato, zucchini; Hawaiian chicken, blistered green beans, cippolini, corn.
Fabulous with both!
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7/16/2022 - jocelyng Likes this wine: 90 Points
90-91. Blackberry and red cherry followed by red plum. Spicy finish with dill flavors. Somewhat light compared to other zinfandels from this producer. Don’t expect Geyserville or Lytton’s spring concentration !
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6/28/2022 - oldwines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Typically well done zin blend from Ridge. Dark berry and red plum fruit, balanced alcohol and acidity. Great texture and good depth of flavor. Excellent value. Terrific with homemade from scratch pizza.
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6/12/2022 - MIRick wrote: 91 Points
Good to start, but faded fairly quickly
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4/28/2022 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 90 Points
Spicy and zesty, yet retains a definite sense of elegance. This one was better than the bottle first tried a year ago. Showed more depth and persistence to its juicy plum and tart cherry fruit this time. Well-crafted and always a good value, it paired very nicely with the braised lamb shanks that Kerry's Mom made for us.
50+5+12+16+7=90
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4/23/2022 - lazy wrote: 89 Points
Clear ruby gradually condensing into a dark core. Smelled dill, yogurt, and black currant; tasted more red cherry, red plum, and a hint of strawberry syrup with a nice vanilla background. Fairly big and dense but not overpoweringly concentrated, the balance leans a little tannic. An hour's decant was maybe a touch too long for this bottle.
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2/20/2022 - yuhyma@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still very young and could sleep for few more years. Nice tannins structure and flavors. Fruity notes and long lasting.
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1/28/2022 - McMalbec Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fragrant Zinfandel and petite Sirah blend.
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1/12/2022 - kevrob822 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Stop my favorite, but a nice, easy drinking red from Ridge. I’ll never turn down anything from Ridge.
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11/12/2021 - nfurlong Likes this wine: 88 Points
A bit disappointing, perhaps due to the smoked brisket it was paired with. Seemed to lack the layers and complexity I enjoyed in the last bottle of the 2018 I had.
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10/19/2021 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprisingly I find a bit of bottle variation.
I've had 3-4 bottles of this stuff(at 20 bucks a bottle at costco this is a steal)
When it's off it's a decent red wine and when it's on it's jammy zin fruit and integrated oak.
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10/6/2021 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 92 Points
One hour decant. Quite happy with the return on this $22 zin blend, which drank extremely versatile over several nights / dinners. 91-92
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9/22/2021 - jamokebob wrote: 89 Points
Ok. Rough finish. Probably could have been better with a couple hours decanter.
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8/14/2021 - redz wrote: 87 Points
I didn't enjoy as much other people seem to. Muted flavors. Will try again later. This always seems like the forgotten stepchild of the Ridge lineup.
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8/10/2021 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid representation nicely blended with blue black fruits and a pretty firm core of tannins, accessible but a bit on the young side still for me.
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7/19/2021 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
This opaque crimson wine was Vinturi-decanted and consumed over a three-hour period. A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 12% Carignane and 4% Mataro (Mourvèdre) that was aged for 10 months in American oak (12% new), it delivers an intense package of dark bramble fruits, Bing cherries, black pepper, licorice and eucalyptus. Medium-to-full-bodied, freshly acidic and with nicely integrated alcohol (listed as 14.5%), it wraps its flavors with sweet oak and medium-weight, fine-grained tannins. Dense on the mid-palate and medium-to-long on the back end, this is a quality red that should show well throughout the decade. Give it at least an hour in decanter. Drink now-2030.
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6/21/2021 - DawgByte Likes this wine: 89 Points
Placing an ounce of this juice into the glass and putting a light source behind it reveals what the palate delivers - a light bodied Zin that drinks more like an Oregon Pinot Noir. Pop n pour reveals aromas of red fruit, including red raspberries and cherries, along with baking spices (heavy cinnamon) and some nice Tarragon. There's a richness on the nose that is not matched by what I got on the palate. On the palate it was medium bodied, feminine with red fruit, mid-palate spice, cocoa and some hints of anise - all subdued. Tannins are mild and acidity is medium minus. As suggested by others this wine would go nicely with BBQ. IMO there's not enough structure to this wine to really impact long term aging. Could it use a couple of years? Perhaps, but I doubt it will change much.
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6/20/2021 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Great value at 23 bucks. Restrained red fruit, nice weight on the palate with soft tannins. Very polished wine at this price point.
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5/22/2021 - peeno wrote: 91 Points
Nice zin blend. Low alcohol for zin. Dark cherry aroma. Interesting blend.
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5/18/2021 - jmottern Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red medium body wine (14%). After opening red cherry, raspberry and plum fruit with a hint of spice. Great BBQ wine.
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4/27/2021 - MIRick wrote: 87 Points
First time for us with 3 Valleys. We were expecting significantly more zin characteristics. Reading the other reviews will let the remaining bottles sit for a while
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4/3/2021 - ziavino wrote: 93 Points
A hedonistic pleasure for just north of $20, which is very rare. Ripe and opulent, with notes of black raspberry and bramble leading the way, flanked by hints of smoke and mixed herbs. There's also great structure here, suggesting it will be drinking great for 5+ years down the road. This is the best vintage of Three Valleys I can recall.
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4/2/2021 - singerj6 Likes this wine:
Still quite tight and definitely in need of more time in the cellar, but several hours after popping the cork this Zin/Petite blend really began to show well. Look forward to trying again in 12-24 months.
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3/19/2021 - Old Wine Maven wrote:
Young. Needs two to three more years. Decanted 3 hours. Silky tannins. A good wine. Lean in the European style. Good acid. Needed time to start to open up. Pine tar, blackberry nice. Smooth tight tannins. Terrific with brisket. Would want to try again about 2023.
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3/18/2021 - MattMauldin Likes this wine:
Full garnet color with clarity. Aromas of smoked black cherry & plum, licorice, medicinal herb, hints of clove and purple florals. Crunchy, succulent dark fruit on the palate, with nice depth and complexity. Mineral notes and spices at its core. Medium acid, round-grainy tannins, savory depth.
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3/5/2021 - Smithc1214 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted as soon as I opened it. Dark purple color with a beautiful nose. Would probably wait to pop my other bottles for another year or two but can be drunk now if given time to decant.
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2/28/2021 - AaronAngst Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fruity, tannins fairly subtle. Blend containing two grapes I’d never heard of, 70% Zin, also w/ Petit Sirah. Had w/ italian sausage lasagna - thinking pork loin would be a better pairing.
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2/15/2021 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 Points
Tangy raspberry aromas. Vibrant acid, full and juicy with raspberries and saucy plums. Pepper, tar, tobacco, mesquite tones. Lively but complex, really enjoying this stuff with some chorizo chili.
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1/27/2021 - munktun Likes this wine: 89 Points
2hr decant (see pnp)
n: rich blackberry and spicy. dill?
p: much smoother than pnp but still slightly closed, could use another hour maybe. Fruit fwd yet dry - blueberry foremost
A common theme among young Ridge - air it out!
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1/26/2021 - munktun Likes this wine: 87 Points
pnp
pale ruby
n: cherry pie filling without the sweetness, old wood like a cellar
p: med+ body, med-tannin, black cherry. closed up will revisit tmrw
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1/23/2021 - Ruthk603 Likes this wine:
Even, fruity for a zin.
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1/17/2021 - rjk3 wrote: 85 Points
Bold, dark chocolate fruits, typical zin blend. Almost a little “watery?”
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1/8/2021 - boozebythecreek Likes this wine: 90 Points
Admittedly not my most favorite of the Ridge Zin blends, but that’s a relative thing and still a very nice wine. Tons of dark fruit with lots of acidity.
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1/3/2021 - nfurlong Likes this wine: 90 Points
Just the kind of accessible Ridge Zin I've come to expect from this fabulous vintner! Pepper is present along with dried black cherries and cigar box. Wonderful finish, mild tannins.
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12/19/2020 - zbsussman wrote:
Simply put, this is one of the great values in CA wine. You can't ask for more for the money. It's like the Chave "Mon Coeur" of California zinfandel.
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12/17/2020 - Bax62 wrote: 87 Points
I have to agree with MMacht—this is thoroughly average Zin. Dark berries on the nose and fruit-forward palate. As it opens up it becomes more briary. Good but not great.
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12/10/2020 - mats13 wrote: 89 Points
Bright red flavors, high acidity.
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12/1/2020 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 87 Points
Thoroughly average. Better off paying up for Ridge's better stuff or just dropping down to a lower price point - this isn't much better than the best from some of the second tier producers.
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11/29/2020 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Totally lovely, a great example of a zinfandel (or at least zin-heavy blend) that not only avoids "jammy" qualities but shows really fresh, pure fruit and beautiful energy without sacrificing ripeness.
Pretty blueberry and red plum wafting from the glass, airy and even a little floral. Excellent oak too, gentle milky vanilla, never getting in the way of the nice fruit. Palate a little brighter than nose, more of a tart cherry/red plum acidity- not the most elegant acidity, a little puckery, but still appreciate the energy. Plenty of grippy tannin but enough sweetness to balance that out too. Feels lower than the ABV for sure. Could age a bit with fruit, acid and tannin all powerful, but it's possible that cool 'fresh' fruit magic will speak best when pretty young- I certainly didn't feel like it /needed/ aging.
I liked this a TOUCH better than the entry-level Bedrock Zin (2017), which I think showed more interesting savory complexity but also a little more of that jammy quality I avoid. This Ridge felt simpler but more harmonious. Need to try more vintages of each though- comparing to the Bedrock 2018 soon. (EDIT: still a bit better than the 2018 Bedrock too, with the Ridge simply more balanced and harmonious. Both nice wines though.)
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11/24/2020 - ChateauShiny Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 45 minutes. Nose of fresh blueberry preserves with a healthy dose of peppery oak notes with vanilla. Grippy tannins and pepper are followed by dark red cherries and blackberries. As the sip progresses the tannins soften and release. Finishes off with a pepper and ceder.
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11/18/2020 - CCestaro wrote: 92 Points
Very tasty with a 2 hour decent. I nice mix of blueberry and dark fruit, with some pepper and spice notes. It smelled a bit heavy on the oak when first poured in the decanter, but it blow off with time. This is a decent QPR wine and the entry of the Ridge lineup. Nice Turkey option.
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11/6/2020 - dsenni Likes this wine: 89 Points
When first opened and for night 1 I get a ton of oak on the nose and palate which overwhelms any fruit. Accidentally left it out all night with no cork and thought it would be oxidized, but that second night it was very nicely balanced with integrated oak. Next time, need to give it some time in the decanter to let that oakiness blow off.
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11/3/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Ripe with just enough rye and bramble. But still clean across the palate. Works it out at $25 or so.
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10/29/2020 - stet Likes this wine: 88 Points
Color: medium purple
Nose: ripe strawberries and whipped cream. Blueberry jam. Caramelized sugar and toasted hazelnuts
Palate: medium acidity, low tannins. Powerful aromatics on a medium body. Texture is thin, kind of a surprise. Aromatics are blue and blackberry, strawberry jam, creme brulee with toasted hazelnut. That said the wine is not sweet and in balance
Finish: medium
The entry level from ridge really does showcase their american oak, rich zin style. I am very impressed with how balanced it is, and how much i enjoyed it even though the aromatics linger in the world of desserts which are not exactly my cup of tea. Always so impressed with Ridge. Recommend 45 minutes decant in a broad decanter. Really best after 2 hours of air
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10/3/2020 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyable, same notes as last time.
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10/1/2020 - JBLevinson Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big weekday Zinfandel. Needs food and a good 30+ minutes of air to show it's stuff. Not as impressive or structured as Geyserville but priced accordingly. I would drink this in the near term.
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9/29/2020 - WineGeek1989 Likes this wine: 92 Points
On the nose- Big dark fruits, dark cherries, blackberries, dark blueberries, boysenberries, plums, cassis, red raspberries, violets, red flowers, black olives, fresh coffee, fresh cocao, a bit of black pepper, graphite, baking spice, fresh vanilla, toasted oak
On the palate- Big dark fruits and dark cherries, blackberries and dark blueberries, boysenberries and plums, cassis and red raspberries, violets and red flowers, black olives and fresh coffee, fresh cocao and a hint of black pepper, graphite and a bit of baking spice, fresh vanilla and a bit of toasted oak on the finish, this wine is drinking KILLER even though it is super young, I gave it about 40 minutes of air to really open up and the tannins are firm but polished. I see this wine aging for another 5-7 years if not longer with no problem.
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9/28/2020 - ryosuke8414 wrote:
あまり好きではない
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9/28/2020 - davidspieker wrote: 88 Points
Lighter style with nice raspberry flavors. Not much complexity, but good with barbecue chicken.
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9/17/2020 - ChickenNoodle Likes this wine: 87 Points
Very average, thin, lacking in flavor and structure. Not sure how Wine Spectator gave this a 92. Fine for mid week drinking, but not much else.
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9/15/2020 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
With some rich and powerful fruit in there.
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8/29/2020 - TessaJC Likes this wine:
Good PnP and excellent QPR. Had with New Haven style pizza. Not too anything. More memorable for its QPR than any other outstanding characteristic. Great pinch buy!
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8/21/2020 - Cove Haven Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Not the Ridge from days past
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8/20/2020 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Quite good actually, especially at 23 bucks. Pepper, spices, acid and blueberries. Balanced and enjoyable at this price point. Should hold for a couple of years.
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8/18/2020 - Porter2008 Likes this wine:
Not quite as enjoyable as the 2016 but looking forward to seeing how this one ages.
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8/5/2020 - Charlie N wrote:
Fresh nose, blue fruit, some acidity with undercurrents of raspberry
Huge expansion of acid, pepper, spice on the palate. Some tannins on the finish but nothing severe.
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8/3/2020 - redmancge Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ditto jcassi01 notes 7/26. For a sub $20 Zin blend from Ridge it's hard to beat the QPR on this wine. Goes great with any spicy meal from Thai basil chicken to any red sauce dish from pasta to spicy ribs. Yummy. Could probably use a little sideways time as got better after about an hour+ decant.
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7/26/2020 - jcassi01 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Every year this wine is an amazing value. Red berry fruits on the nose and palate, with a silky texture. Nice acidity, this wine is great with food or on its own. It’s medium bodied, more akin to a full bodied Pinot than a jammy Cali Zin.
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7/21/2020 - redmancge Likes this wine: 89 Points
For a young Ridge this hits the spot as most of the Three Valley vintages have. Might need to buy a case so that we can let some age a bit more. Great QPR case price @ $18.50 for this entry level Ridge Zin.
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7/17/2020 - CDT Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine is a 92pt June 2020 Wine Spectator recommendation.
Colour is dark ruby with aromas of black fruit/blackberry, dried fruit & soft American oak. On the palate, rich full flavours of black fruit, blackberry/black cherry, dried fruit, carmel, spice/pepper, well integrated American oak, medium acidity, and medium to high somewhat angular tannins.
The ABV is 14.5% & it’s a little hot, but overall a pretty well-balanced wine, and a little more subtle than the Lodi zyns.
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7/8/2020 - DocBendrix wrote: 86 Points
Rich berries, nice tannins, , berry bouquet
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7/6/2020 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice entry-level Zin blend with notable American oak character. I am a Ridge fan and love the labeling showing any and all inputs/ingredients.
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7/5/2020 - Vino4Dino Likes this wine: 91 Points
A delightful Zin blend with nice PQR. Warm berry pastry on the nose; lots of fresh, ripe cherries and a secondary note of new leather on the palate; and a finish that balances nicely between grippy (tannic) and watery (acidic). Regarding body, right out of the bottle it’s pleasingly pretty and even a bit delicate (light to medium body). It gets a little fuller with some time in the decanter, but thankfully it never comes close to being an obnoxious fruit bomb. Well worth its ~$20 price; tastes more like a $25-28 bottle. Planned repurchase.
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6/15/2020 - Clark W Griswold wrote: 89 Points
Pnp. Tangy red and blue fruits. Herby and peppery. Med bodied. Decent blend. Don’t love it.
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6/7/2020 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple in color; essentially opaque. Full, fragrant, & attractive nose of dark fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & plums with overtones of spice notes, briary/bramble, earthy, a hint of cocoa & coffee, minerals, & a slight hint of vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of cherries, boysenberries & plums with spices, earthy, minerals & a hint of vanilla. Lingering finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & extended airing but will develop & benefit from several more years of further aging. A blend of 72% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane & 4% Mataro (Mourvedre).
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5/15/2020 - vino_per_tutti wrote: 88 Points
Lots of blue fruit on the nose. Black cherry, raspberry on the palate. Tannin-less, tart finish. Simple, but got the job done with pizza on a Friday night.
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5/7/2020 - FoMoCo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Young, but still drinks very well. If I had additional bottles I’d hold off for at least a couple more years.
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4/11/2020 - Jobu wrote: 92 Points
Black cherry, blackberry initially. Blueberry & raspberry in the middle. Earthy spice with a good finish.
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3/25/2020 - redmancge Likes this wine: 88 Points
Upon open I got blueberry pie. Deep dark fruits with just a bit of spice and good finish. Have had the last few vintages of this wine and for such a young wine really good on Pnp with decant and shows potential. Nice QPR at $18 clearance price. Probably go back for a few more to lay down awhile.
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1/28/2018 - ppandian wrote: 88 Points
Almost always a sure bet. Spicy, brambly and well balanced at this price point.
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