I had made a private note to myself that this would peak at about 2022. I was wrong. This still has some legs, another couple of years. For those 1200 bottles that are still out there on CT, you are in luck. This is a very clean, restrained red fruit taste that the former winemaker Eric Baugher nailed on his release tasting notes in Jan 2020: "Dark garnet-red color. Aromas of ripe plum and cherry fruits, sweet oak, and complex gravel earth. Enters with sweet bramble fruit, rich tannins, toasted oak, and complex minerality. Refreshing acidity supports a long finish. EB (1/20)"
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Typical Ridge Zin. Spicy and brambly. A little fruit forward on day one but really good day two. Restrained black and red berries. Fine and balanced tannins.
On a Ridge kick. Paso Robles, Pagani the last few days of and a 2014 York Creek next up.
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A very nice Paso Zin from Ridge. Had along with the Frog's Leap with a traditional tri tip dinner. This had an expressive profile with the warmth of Paso but restrained, showing off the quality of the Benito Dusi vineyard. So enjoyable and easy to drink. Very "clean", too, transparency and vibrancy.
14.8% abv
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Double decant an hour prior. This is a nice balanced zin typical of the Ridge profile. Fairly fruit forward as expected with Paso, but there’s some nice complexity here as well and it’s not overwhelmingly dense or alcoholic. Red fruits, cedar, thyme. Medium-long finish. Worth the roughly $32 paid.
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Delicious, refreshing & solid Zinfandel, 100% fruit from historic vines of Benito Dusi ranch in Paso Robles. From the historic vineyard society:
"Sylvester and Catarina Dusi purchased this homestead in 1924, when the vines were one year old. Their son Benito still lives on the ranch. He was able to keep his vines during the 1950’s and 60’s (when zin prices were very poor) by selling wine made from the grapes (he gave that up by the end of the 60?s) and by selling grapes to home winemakers (which he still does today). This zinfandel selection is preserved as a Heritage Zinfandel Clone."
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Defined by a taut core of lively tannins and acidity, this draws in raspberry, smoky dill and green peppercorn flavors. Paired really well with pecan smoked beef tenderloin.
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Independence Day wines with TWS crew (Crouch End Cellars): I didn't really like this for the first 15 or so minutes, finding that the bright, tart nose was belied by a thick, syrupy palate that lacked energy. Somehow the wine pulled itself together after that, with some really pretty floral notes on the nose and the palate becoming, in effect, a deep, purely flavoured liquid raspberry jam. Would have been better still with a burger rather than charcuterie.
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Nearly the 4th July - North America (Crouch End Cellars): Very herbal on the nose, and good aromas of dark berry fruit. Not excessively tannic at all, a smooth wine that leads to an extremely drinkable glass. Ready now I would say, which surprised me.
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Color - Medium Garnet with some redness in the edges Nose - Raspberry, Blackberries, Red Cherry. Palate - Controlled tannins, Raspberry, hint of spice Cinnamon maybe, Chocolate deep in background. Good middle of the road Zin.
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Had with mushrooms with a little heat in the sauce over puréed beans. This was a great match. Earthy. Handled the heat. Good fruit. Not over the top. Let to a balanced pairing and nice sipping afterwards.
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Spicy nose, concentrated blackberry, cherry, cocoa, black pepper, some vegetal notes, firm tannins, long complex finish. Prime drinking now and great value, comparable to zins regularly going for twice as much.
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Ridge Dinner 29 November - The Young Ones (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Was surprised by this. Super balanced - and apart from the 2010 Geyserville, the readiest to drink. Some discussion at the table as to whether this would have the bones to keep going - I think the consensus was this wouldn't get much better, but I am not sure. Really enjoyed this.
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Lovely aromas from the off - plums, cinnamon, cloves maybe tar and then they just continue on the palate with a rich, but not sweet, enveloping fruit that goes on. Delicious.
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Such a classy wine for this price point (circa $25). Lavender and flowers on the nose. Ripe cherry, raspberry and chocolate-covered cherry flavors leading up to a spicy finish.
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Ridge always delivers, the hallmark of their Zinfandel’s and Zinfandel blends is balance. Never “over the top” nor jammy, I find them to consistently show ripe raspberry, spicy cherry, briary mixed berry, and juicy plum. Structure is present, but either well integrated or lurking below the surface. Pairs well with food, tonight it was grilled jalapeño sausage, grilled peppers and onions and potato salad. Very good.
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Vivid ruby. Intense red and black raspberry and black pepper nose over leather & a menagerie of other jammy berries which all translates to the palate alongside some vanilla and a pronounced cranberry tartness. Medium-high acidity and a medium-full body with bristly tannin. Very juicy but balanced wine, which is a great find, and very tasty - but the QPR is off for me. I would return to this in three years.
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Made with 100% fruit from the Benito Dusi Ranch in San Luis Obispo first planted in 1923, heritage zinfandel clones. Young and vibrant wine, the nose is caramel, the palate raspberries and candy cane. Excellent value. Can't go wrong at that dinner party.
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Opened for 2 hours. Color is medium ruby. On the nose: raspberry, blackberry and some spicy notes. On the palate: Blackberry, raspberry, vanilla extract, a bit of tar and baking spices. This is very good.
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Medium dark ruby. Decanted an hour and gained weight over that period. Nose is earthy and fruity – pine, eucalyptus, forest floor, blackberry, black cherries, bramble, vanilla, and some minerals. Full bodied, balanced acidity, dry finish. For the most part the palate matches the nose – possibly with addition of blueberries. This is way more jammy than I expected. Moderate to heavy chewy tannins. Long fruity, mineral filled, and dusty finish.
Nothing here is out of place here and screams a fruity Ridge Zin. The Ridge quality is here. I like the nose way better than the palate. Feels a bit stereotypical of Paso being this jammy. If you like that big jammy bold Paso fruit flavor, you will like this wine a lot. I much rather save a few bucks and get the Sonoma Three Valleys or pop open one of the ATP zins. While I may sound a bit down about this wine, this is a high-quality wine and worth a try to see if it matches your tastes. It's just not for me.
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Dark fruits with cherries and a hint of Oak. Well balanced with medium tannin that gives this Zin good structure and character. Let breathe for 30 to 45 minutes. Excellent QPR for this introductory Zin from Ridge
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Ridge's 2018 Paso Robles Benito Dusi (100%) Zinfandel is a deep-to-opaque crimson wine that delivers what true lovers of the grape desire...balance. Achieved through bright acidity, well-integrated alcohol (14.8%), judicious oak and medium-weight tannins, it serves up an array of blackberries, licorice, dried herbs, Asian spices and bittersweet chocolate. Full-bodied, impressively dense on the mid-palate and medium-to-long on the back end, this is a quality Zin that represents good value. Drink now-2024.
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Such a clean zin. It packs the punch of the Paso Robles blue and red fruit without being too jammy and over the top. Beautiful acidity and smooth tannins. To me, this is exactly what I would hope a Zinfandel would be. Will be buying more
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Popped and poured. I think most if not all of the fruit is sourced from the Dusi Ranch? Stewed dark brambles and Luxardo cherries with pie crust, Herbs de Provence (the American stuff with the lavender) and freshly cracked black pepper. On the palate, again brandied cherries and dusty dirty country road (riding my bike tells me that). Very good Paso Zin.
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PnP. A nicely balanced Zinfandel, perfect accompaniment to grilled sausages, tri-colored bell peppers, onions and jalapeños. Melange of ripe red fruits offset the heat from the food. Medium acidity supports both the food and the great ending. Iconic producer always comes through.
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Somehow it took us 3 nights to get through this bottle, over which time it only improved. I can't think of much to add to what others have said, other than this has a distinctive smokiness to it that I loved.
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Liking this wine better than 2 months ago. Tannins and acidity will go well with our smoked tacos tonight. Typical zin, briary with raspberry and pepper notes.
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Nice balanced Paso zin. Nothing strikingly exceptional but nothing bad either. Might not be worth quite the $30 per bottle, but will let these age and try again in a year or 2. Improves after 2hrs of air in decanter.
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Drunken (Scary) Cyclist and CHRISCHAP01 describe this really well--kudos. I'd second the Xmas Spice (and possibly blood orange) note(s) and highlight the fact it's memorable for the long finish. Goes on and on...mouth-wateringly delicious. Would go well with Jamaican or bbq. I can get on Ridge every so often as I remember the glory years of the late 80s and early 90s, but this would compete.
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Give it a good hour of air and it is actually quite smooth at this age. Nutty, five spice, blackberry cobbler dominates throughout. And what a lovely ruby-purple color!
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Delicious! Definitely smells and tastes like Paso. Super fresh and ripe, yet elegant and just enough complexity to make it serious. Very fine tannins give it a nice viscous feel, and there is enough acid to bring balance to the amazing fruit.
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Thia wine is young but can drink well with a decent decant. Nice nose of fruit followed by rich tastes of deep berries. Enjoyed it even though it is young.
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Big nose here; lots of flower and blue fruit. Raspberry and plum on the palate. Followed by a little earthiness and wet soil. Much juicer than the East Bench. Very well balanced with the acid and the tannins. Really enjoyable. Excellent Zin. PNP, enjoyed over the next couple of hours.
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Black fruit nose with a hint of graphite. Cool, rich, black fruit on the palate. Finishes with mouth coating, and very drying tannin. There is a little heat on the finish. This is definitely a BBQ/pizza wine.
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Fire up the grill, this is a great BBQ wine. We enjoyed its smoky red and black fruits, fresh acidity, velvet texture, and ripe tannic structure with grilled pork chops, tater salad, and corn on the cob.
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2020 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of black berry, dust, and allspice, on palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, slightly hot and sunny fruit, almost over ripe, suggest you enjoy it over the next 5 years, and a long, lovely finish
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I was pegged to write a post on the legendary vineyards in Paso Robles for the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) website and they sent me this wine from perhaps the most iconic vineyard in Paso: the Benito Dusi Ranch, planted in the mid-1920s. Ridge started buying fruit from the vineyard in the late 1960s and now are the sole winery sourcing fruit from the vineyard (Janell Dusi, of J Dusi wines, gets some fruit though, I am pretty sure she has an in). I guess I have had a fair amount of Zinfandel, but most of it is rather pedestrian, particularly when compared with this. Red and dark fruit, pepper, Christmas spice. Whoa. This is a wine that I could just sniff for hours. The palate is even more compelling: fruity (yet reserved), tart, rich, luscious. Holy cow, this is fantastic. One of the best Zins I have had in recent memory. And Whoa... thedrunkencyclist.com
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3/11/2024 - ptm wrote: 92 Points
I had made a private note to myself that this would peak at about 2022. I was wrong. This still has some legs, another couple of years. For those 1200 bottles that are still out there on CT, you are in luck. This is a very clean, restrained red fruit taste that the former winemaker Eric Baugher nailed on his release tasting notes in Jan 2020: "Dark garnet-red color. Aromas of ripe plum and cherry fruits, sweet oak, and complex gravel earth. Enters with sweet bramble fruit, rich tannins, toasted oak, and complex minerality. Refreshing acidity supports a long finish. EB (1/20)"
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5/16/2023 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
Typical Ridge Zin. Spicy and brambly. A little fruit forward on day one but really good day two. Restrained black and red berries. Fine and balanced tannins.
On a Ridge kick. Paso Robles, Pagani the last few days of and a 2014 York Creek next up.
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5/7/2023 - tward Likes this wine:
A very nice Paso Zin from Ridge. Had along with the Frog's Leap with a traditional tri tip dinner. This had an expressive profile with the warmth of Paso but restrained, showing off the quality of the Benito Dusi vineyard. So enjoyable and easy to drink. Very "clean", too, transparency and vibrancy.
14.8% abv
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3/13/2023 - Veg Likes this wine:
Very tasty. Classic Zin with lots of fruit but also depth.
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2/11/2023 - BaroloBucky Likes this wine: 91 Points
Double decant an hour prior. This is a nice balanced zin typical of the Ridge profile. Fairly fruit forward as expected with Paso, but there’s some nice complexity here as well and it’s not overwhelmingly dense or alcoholic. Red fruits, cedar, thyme. Medium-long finish. Worth the roughly $32 paid.
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9/17/2022 - Carib Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, refreshing & solid Zinfandel, 100% fruit from historic vines of Benito Dusi ranch in Paso Robles. From the historic vineyard society:
"Sylvester and Catarina Dusi purchased this homestead in 1924, when the vines were one year old. Their son Benito still lives on the ranch. He was able to keep his vines during the 1950’s and 60’s (when zin prices were very poor) by selling wine made from the grapes (he gave that up by the end of the 60?s) and by selling grapes to home winemakers (which he still does today). This zinfandel selection is preserved as a Heritage Zinfandel Clone."
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9/3/2022 - ibglowin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Defined by a taut core of lively tannins and acidity, this draws in raspberry, smoky dill and green peppercorn flavors. Paired really well with pecan smoked beef tenderloin.
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7/6/2022 - NickA Likes this wine: 90 Points
Independence Day wines with TWS crew (Crouch End Cellars): I didn't really like this for the first 15 or so minutes, finding that the bright, tart nose was belied by a thick, syrupy palate that lacked energy. Somehow the wine pulled itself together after that, with some really pretty floral notes on the nose and the palate becoming, in effect, a deep, purely flavoured liquid raspberry jam. Would have been better still with a burger rather than charcuterie.
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7/6/2022 - oenanthe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nearly the 4th July - North America (Crouch End Cellars): Very herbal on the nose, and good aromas of dark berry fruit. Not excessively tannic at all, a smooth wine that leads to an extremely drinkable glass. Ready now I would say, which surprised me.
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6/19/2022 - Jamul Wino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Color - Medium Garnet with some redness in the edges
Nose - Raspberry, Blackberries, Red Cherry.
Palate - Controlled tannins, Raspberry, hint of spice Cinnamon maybe, Chocolate deep in background. Good middle of the road Zin.
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5/8/2022 - Eatmypixels Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had with mushrooms with a little heat in the sauce over puréed beans. This was a great match. Earthy. Handled the heat. Good fruit. Not over the top. Let to a balanced pairing and nice sipping afterwards.
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4/19/2022 - drmilkweed Likes this wine:
Spicy nose, concentrated blackberry, cherry, cocoa, black pepper, some vegetal notes, firm tannins, long complex finish. Prime drinking now and great value, comparable to zins regularly going for twice as much.
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3/28/2022 - bwillia wrote: 85 Points
Not my favorite Ridge.
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3/5/2022 - Sluggo312 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pleasant , not heavy. Worthy of company
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2/9/2022 - McMalbec Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyed but no notes taken. Found at Costco in Palm Desert. Sold out quickly.
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1/15/2022 - peolsf wrote: 90 Points
Deep scarlet. Blackcurrant and plum and cinnamon nose, all that and raspberry on the palate. Good tannins and long finish.
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11/30/2021 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Ridge Dinner 29 November - The Young Ones (Hawksmoor Guildhall): Was surprised by this. Super balanced - and apart from the 2010 Geyserville, the readiest to drink. Some discussion at the table as to whether this would have the bones to keep going - I think the consensus was this wouldn't get much better, but I am not sure. Really enjoyed this.
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11/28/2021 - Zazzaman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lovely aromas from the off - plums, cinnamon, cloves maybe tar and then they just continue on the palate with a rich, but not sweet, enveloping fruit that goes on. Delicious.
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10/26/2021 - pgb67 wrote: 92 Points
Such a classy wine for this price point (circa $25). Lavender and flowers on the nose. Ripe cherry, raspberry and chocolate-covered cherry flavors leading up to a spicy finish.
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10/21/2021 - mvande21 wrote: 92 Points
Rich and savory. Blue and black fruits, spice. Full/medium body. Balanced with a medium length finish. Great burger wine.
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9/22/2021 - Emarti07 wrote:
Tasted off compared to previous bottles. Strong astringent flavor that dissipated slightly as it came to room temperature.
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9/5/2021 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Ridge always delivers, the hallmark of their Zinfandel’s and Zinfandel blends is balance. Never “over the top” nor jammy, I find them to consistently show ripe raspberry, spicy cherry, briary mixed berry, and juicy plum. Structure is present, but either well integrated or lurking below the surface. Pairs well with food, tonight it was grilled jalapeño sausage, grilled peppers and onions and potato salad. Very good.
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7/26/2021 - Ramblerguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Did not disappoint. Shared with four friends, buffalo wings and pizza.
Never been disappointed with Rdige Zin's.
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7/21/2021 - danaesomm Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vivid ruby. Intense red and black raspberry and black pepper nose over leather & a menagerie of other jammy berries which all translates to the palate alongside some vanilla and a pronounced cranberry tartness. Medium-high acidity and a medium-full body with bristly tannin. Very juicy but balanced wine, which is a great find, and very tasty - but the QPR is off for me. I would return to this in three years.
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7/12/2021 - mrajangam Likes this wine:
Loved it with spicy Thai food
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6/10/2021 - whitejones Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not sure what to add that hasn't already been covered in most of the tasting notes already here. This is an excellent zin, and a great QPR too.
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6/1/2021 - Robwild Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good consistent zinfandel. Fruit forward with berries and cherries.
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5/21/2021 - Carib Likes this wine: 91 Points
Made with 100% fruit from the Benito Dusi Ranch in San Luis Obispo first planted in 1923, heritage zinfandel clones. Young and vibrant wine, the nose is caramel, the palate raspberries and candy cane. Excellent value. Can't go wrong at that dinner party.
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5/10/2021 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for 2 hours. Color is medium ruby. On the nose: raspberry, blackberry and some spicy notes. On the palate: Blackberry, raspberry, vanilla extract, a bit of tar and baking spices. This is very good.
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4/27/2021 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 88 Points
Drank this too young, 5-7 years is the sweet spot for many of the Ridge Zins, including this one. 100% Zin. Blackberry, plum, and pepper predominate.
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4/24/2021 - ChateauShiny wrote: 90 Points
Medium dark ruby. Decanted an hour and gained weight over that period. Nose is earthy and fruity – pine, eucalyptus, forest floor, blackberry, black cherries, bramble, vanilla, and some minerals. Full bodied, balanced acidity, dry finish. For the most part the palate matches the nose – possibly with addition of blueberries. This is way more jammy than I expected. Moderate to heavy chewy tannins. Long fruity, mineral filled, and dusty finish.
Nothing here is out of place here and screams a fruity Ridge Zin. The Ridge quality is here. I like the nose way better than the palate. Feels a bit stereotypical of Paso being this jammy. If you like that big jammy bold Paso fruit flavor, you will like this wine a lot. I much rather save a few bucks and get the Sonoma Three Valleys or pop open one of the ATP zins. While I may sound a bit down about this wine, this is a high-quality wine and worth a try to see if it matches your tastes. It's just not for me.
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4/15/2021 - Slaz Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Too fruity and into the face, over several nights of tasting. Not among the best Ridge has to offer...
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4/9/2021 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent zin. Wish I had more.
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4/6/2021 - Robwild Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full Bodied. Good structure with balanced Tannin. Dark fruit with raspberries and plums. Very Good QPR.
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3/22/2021 - Robwild Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fruits with cherries and a hint of Oak. Well balanced with medium tannin that gives this Zin good structure and character. Let breathe for 30 to 45 minutes. Excellent QPR for this introductory Zin from Ridge
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3/20/2021 - Salute Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice zin...but had a wierd thing going on. Hmm.
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2/2/2021 - Tsougy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Strong tannin, bramble notes with hints of spice on the finish. Good solid Zin. Might be better in a year.
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1/19/2021 - dreamingtree1855 wrote: 91 Points
Great elegant tannins and acidity. Much more complex and intriguing than the East Bench of the same vintage and producer.
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1/16/2021 - Paradisedave wrote:
Find more of ghis
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12/9/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 88 Points
Nice drink. Dark fruits that are perhaps a touch overblown, but the acidity keeps everything in check.
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12/3/2020 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ridge's 2018 Paso Robles Benito Dusi (100%) Zinfandel is a deep-to-opaque crimson wine that delivers what true lovers of the grape desire...balance. Achieved through bright acidity, well-integrated alcohol (14.8%), judicious oak and medium-weight tannins, it serves up an array of blackberries, licorice, dried herbs, Asian spices and bittersweet chocolate. Full-bodied, impressively dense on the mid-palate and medium-to-long on the back end, this is a quality Zin that represents good value. Drink now-2024.
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11/10/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 88 Points
Tasty but not in the upper tier of Ridge Zins.
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10/15/2020 - Blasing wrote:
From Neil & Stacey
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8/26/2020 - Bgropp4 wrote: 92 Points
Such a clean zin. It packs the punch of the Paso Robles blue and red fruit without being too jammy and over the top. Beautiful acidity and smooth tannins. To me, this is exactly what I would hope a Zinfandel would be. Will be buying more
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7/23/2020 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. I think most if not all of the fruit is sourced from the Dusi Ranch? Stewed dark brambles and Luxardo cherries with pie crust, Herbs de Provence (the American stuff with the lavender) and freshly cracked black pepper. On the palate, again brandied cherries and dusty dirty country road (riding my bike tells me that). Very good Paso Zin.
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7/20/2020 - jh773 wrote: 90 Points
Smooth luscious dark fruit, five spice.
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6/28/2020 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
PnP. A nicely balanced Zinfandel, perfect accompaniment to grilled sausages, tri-colored bell peppers, onions and jalapeños. Melange of ripe red fruits offset the heat from the food. Medium acidity supports both the food and the great ending. Iconic producer always comes through.
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6/26/2020 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 88 Points
Raspberry, fig, notes of vanilla on the nose, confirmed on the palate along with plum and black olives. Will likely improve some with more age.
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6/21/2020 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Somehow it took us 3 nights to get through this bottle, over which time it only improved. I can't think of much to add to what others have said, other than this has a distinctive smokiness to it that I loved.
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6/18/2020 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Liking this wine better than 2 months ago. Tannins and acidity will go well with our smoked tacos tonight. Typical zin, briary with raspberry and pepper notes.
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6/1/2020 - ptconner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark and velvety, very smooth. Definitely needs at least an hour decant at this point. As others have pointed out, would go great with BBQ meats.
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5/6/2020 - Wine Lover 1964 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice balanced Paso zin. Nothing strikingly exceptional but nothing bad either. Might not be worth quite the $30 per bottle, but will let these age and try again in a year or 2. Improves after 2hrs of air in decanter.
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5/5/2020 - Omadobs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drunken (Scary) Cyclist and CHRISCHAP01 describe this really well--kudos. I'd second the Xmas Spice (and possibly blood orange) note(s) and highlight the fact it's memorable for the long finish. Goes on and on...mouth-wateringly delicious. Would go well with Jamaican or bbq. I can get on Ridge every so often as I remember the glory years of the late 80s and early 90s, but this would compete.
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4/25/2020 - FLI Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wears its high ABV quite well, so careful on the refills!
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4/24/2020 - jh773 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Give it a good hour of air and it is actually quite smooth at this age. Nutty, five spice, blackberry cobbler dominates throughout. And what a lovely ruby-purple color!
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4/20/2020 - chrischap01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious! Definitely smells and tastes like Paso. Super fresh and ripe, yet elegant and just enough complexity to make it serious. Very fine tannins give it a nice viscous feel, and there is enough acid to bring balance to the amazing fruit.
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4/20/2020 - MCrawford wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful Zin!!! Bright, youthful, plenty of fruit. Excellent pair with grilled chicken.
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4/18/2020 - srkool wrote: 91 Points
Thia wine is young but can drink well with a decent decant. Nice nose of fruit followed by rich tastes of deep berries. Enjoyed it even though it is young.
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4/9/2020 - BrendanMcS wrote: 93 Points
Big nose here; lots of flower and blue fruit. Raspberry and plum on the palate. Followed by a little earthiness and wet soil. Much juicer than the East Bench. Very well balanced with the acid and the tannins. Really enjoyable. Excellent Zin. PNP, enjoyed over the next couple of hours.
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3/28/2020 - jcassi01 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black fruit nose with a hint of graphite. Cool, rich, black fruit on the palate. Finishes with mouth coating, and very drying tannin. There is a little heat on the finish. This is definitely a BBQ/pizza wine.
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3/24/2020 - poppacork Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fire up the grill, this is a great BBQ wine. We enjoyed its smoky red and black fruits, fresh acidity, velvet texture, and ripe tannic structure with grilled pork chops, tater salad, and corn on the cob.
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1/30/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
2020 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of black berry, dust, and allspice, on palate, big body, tasty, mouth filling fruit, slightly hot and sunny fruit, almost over ripe, suggest you enjoy it over the next 5 years, and a long, lovely finish
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1/17/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 94 Points
I was pegged to write a post on the legendary vineyards in Paso Robles for the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) website and they sent me this wine from perhaps the most iconic vineyard in Paso: the Benito Dusi Ranch, planted in the mid-1920s. Ridge started buying fruit from the vineyard in the late 1960s and now are the sole winery sourcing fruit from the vineyard (Janell Dusi, of J Dusi wines, gets some fruit though, I am pretty sure she has an in). I guess I have had a fair amount of Zinfandel, but most of it is rather pedestrian, particularly when compared with this. Red and dark fruit, pepper, Christmas spice. Whoa. This is a wine that I could just sniff for hours. The palate is even more compelling: fruity (yet reserved), tart, rich, luscious. Holy cow, this is fantastic. One of the best Zins I have had in recent memory. And Whoa... thedrunkencyclist.com
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