very simple no decant but drank this over 2+ hours
clearly a zin with enough umph to go with food but perhaps the least joyous least satisfying Ridge I have had in some time.
___ wrote this and later looked at others comments below: definitely not smoke taint nor any true flaw. There is fruit and acidity in balance and it is drinkable but in a rather uninteresting way.
Tough to evaluate given the specter of the fires and how Ridge has handled the Monte Bello. This fruit comes from that same place. They didn't put the pick date in the description but this did spend 14 months in barrel before being bottle in '22. Much more expressive on night one but also some funkiness towards the finish(which is how the MB showed when I had it). Balanced fruit to acid with low tannin. The second night it was more sullen which is how some of my other Ridges have shown from 2020. Overall without taking the possibility of smoke taint into account I'd have to say this is not a longer term Jimsomare but that it will also need some time to relax a bit. Crossing my fingers for something better in 2-3 years.
May be my fave Ridge Zin. 13.5 ABV, like an old school Bordeaux. This allows the cool climate Monte Bello fruit to shine, and paired with perfect, bracing acidity, the full package is a stunner. Putting the other five to sleep for a few years. Better things to come, but a solid 94 for my palate. Poured into Riedel Bordeaux glasses for a 90 minute decant. Delicious Zinfandel.
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I haven't drunk any Zins for years. I received this one and a few other Ridge Zins in an error shipment and elected to keep them. By golly I don't think I've had one as good as this. Most in my past experience were rather juicy/jammy and alcoholic. This however, was much lighter weight, almost like a modern delicate Rioja or even a Burgundy. Red fruits, balanced, a long finish. Paired well with a Charcuterie plate.
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By god this is delicious! Far too young and oaky at the moment, but certainly approachable. I would easily mistake this for very modern Rioja - the American Oak is big and full of vanilla edging into coconut cream, but with air it shows more of a sweet tobacco and herbaceousness. The fruit is juicy, high toned, and full of energy - think strawberries and cranberries. Definitely needs time to show at its best, but impressed with the potential here.
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Wine gift. 100 Percent Zinfandel from their Jimsomare Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. Notes of raspberry and plum/prune. Spice and vanilla. A touch or red apple too on the finish. Enjoyed this wine as the favor profile is so different than Russian River Valley fruit. Finish is bright and mouth-watering. Alcohol 13.5%.
PS: I liked this wine a bit more the second night.
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Clean, fresh Zin, with textbook dark bramble fruit, Ridge/SCM acidity, and well-seasoned American oak. Much lower alcohol and generally tastes earlier picked than other recent vintages of Ridge Jimso; I think this is the better ripeness level and suspect its closer to what the great Jimsos of the 80s/90s were picked at, based on some bottles over the past few years. Nice wine!
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3/16/2024 - VoteferPedro wrote: 85 Points
very simple
no decant but drank this over 2+ hours
clearly a zin with enough umph to go with food but perhaps the least joyous least satisfying Ridge I have had in some time.
___
wrote this and later looked at others comments below: definitely not smoke taint nor any true flaw. There is fruit and acidity in balance and it is drinkable but in a rather uninteresting way.
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3/8/2024 - WetRock wrote:
Tough to evaluate given the specter of the fires and how Ridge has handled the Monte Bello. This fruit comes from that same place. They didn't put the pick date in the description but this did spend 14 months in barrel before being bottle in '22. Much more expressive on night one but also some funkiness towards the finish(which is how the MB showed when I had it). Balanced fruit to acid with low tannin. The second night it was more sullen which is how some of my other Ridges have shown from 2020. Overall without taking the possibility of smoke taint into account I'd have to say this is not a longer term Jimsomare but that it will also need some time to relax a bit. Crossing my fingers for something better in 2-3 years.
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2/17/2024 - markydecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
May be my fave Ridge Zin. 13.5 ABV, like an old school Bordeaux. This allows the cool climate Monte Bello fruit to shine, and paired with perfect, bracing acidity, the full package is a stunner. Putting the other five to sleep for a few years. Better things to come, but a solid 94 for my palate. Poured into Riedel Bordeaux glasses for a 90 minute decant. Delicious Zinfandel.
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12/5/2023 - mvande21 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I haven't drunk any Zins for years. I received this one and a few other Ridge Zins in an error shipment and elected to keep them. By golly I don't think I've had one as good as this. Most in my past experience were rather juicy/jammy and alcoholic. This however, was much lighter weight, almost like a modern delicate Rioja or even a Burgundy. Red fruits, balanced, a long finish. Paired well with a Charcuterie plate.
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10/30/2023 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
By god this is delicious! Far too young and oaky at the moment, but certainly approachable. I would easily mistake this for very modern Rioja - the American Oak is big and full of vanilla edging into coconut cream, but with air it shows more of a sweet tobacco and herbaceousness. The fruit is juicy, high toned, and full of energy - think strawberries and cranberries. Definitely needs time to show at its best, but impressed with the potential here.
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10/8/2023 - cmmatthews Likes this wine: 90 Points
Quite a good vintage. Less syrupy/hot, more oaky than prior vintages.
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7/30/2023 - John Dunlap Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wine gift. 100 Percent Zinfandel from their Jimsomare Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains. Notes of raspberry and plum/prune. Spice and vanilla. A touch or red apple too on the finish. Enjoyed this wine as the favor profile is so different than Russian River Valley fruit. Finish is bright and mouth-watering. Alcohol 13.5%.
PS: I liked this wine a bit more the second night.
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6/6/2023 - blank blank wrote: 90 Points
Clean, fresh Zin, with textbook dark bramble fruit, Ridge/SCM acidity, and well-seasoned American oak. Much lower alcohol and generally tastes earlier picked than other recent vintages of Ridge Jimso; I think this is the better ripeness level and suspect its closer to what the great Jimsos of the 80s/90s were picked at, based on some bottles over the past few years. Nice wine!
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