Dinner st home with friends featuring all wines from the 1997 vintage. Served to accompany coq au vin. Opened, decanted and poured immediately as not sure how long would last in the decanter/glass. This Ridge was the star wine of the dinner. Showing little evidence of its 25 years, still very fresh. Medium plum. Plenty of ripe fruit on the nose. Beautiful palate, smooth, rich and full with dark berry flavours. Excellent and a great demonstration of how well Ridge can keep when stored well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It is a good example how Zinfandel changes as it gets older. well-aged and balanced. Its concentration was also nice. nice QPR $50. dried red fruits, prune, blueberry, clove.... I want to drink wine like this every day as a daily wine. I drank this wine with lamb. It was nice pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfectly stored with a base neck fill. The overall wine has softened, but the ripeness and sweetness is still all there. Not a fan of this. Don’t see the hype of aged Zin. Drink moar aged Cab and Burg.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Return to The Medlar (The Medlar, London): Mid ruby. Brighter and more vibrant than the LS alongside. Brighter and richer red fruit. Again, a briary element with autumnal overtones, but a core of sweeter and redder fruit. Some fruit compote intensity too. A little more energy here. ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Even at 22 years old this is a lovely wine. Notes of black cherries on the nose. The palate has soft fruit, cranberries and framboise with a bit of black pepper. Smooth, fully resolved tannins, nice acidity, good balance. A bit of a bite at the back of the palate. Long lingering finish of bright red fruits and spice. Probably better a few years ago, but still an elegant wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still quite youthful, rich and primary. Better on night two as the oak was more integrated and the fruit was less primary/rich and more secondary notes emerged. Easy to drink and enjoy with good complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The '97 Geyserville was showing a beautifully mature bouquet with crushed cherries, hints of cinnamon, smoke, mint and exotic florals. On the palate, I found a juicy expression with vibrant acids adding a fresh drink-me personality to it's dried cherry and blueberry fruits with a hint of sweet minty herbs. It finished fresh, displaying tart cherry throughout its medium-length--so lovely in its maturity. I can't imagine this improving, but it's so enjoyable right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Coravin. No one was more excited than me to find (and win) a magnum of Ridge Geyserville at auction recently but, I'll warrant, no one was more disappointed to find that it had been imported, and less than carefully stored, muppets at West Cost Wine Cellars...I approached this bottle with a considerable amount of trepidation. On the nose it's rich with vanilla, cream, leather and sweet cherry & plums. Also a slight mushroom and soy note here as well. In the mouth it has sweet berry fruit, touches of tomato leaf and cream. It's almost like a lightweight fortified if that makes any sense. No tannins whatsoever remain. It's plain odd. I should have it with the corton rognet from a couple of weeks ago...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP it smells just heavenly. Raisins, prunes, and baking spices. Into the decanter. It didn't evolve much over the next 2 hours, although the finish remained excellent the entire time. Ridge knows how to make them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crumbly cork (again...), but the wine was perfect. Raspberry, chocolate, herbs, full and ripe but also well balanced. Better than the bottle opened last month and if only one could trust the corks with a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is in a really good place. It's still plenty ripe and forward, with a blueberry/plum profile, tasty vanilla oak flavors, and some of the peppery character I often get from this grape. But it's just mature enough to have softened, lost a bit of weight and picked up a suave texture. Doesn't cost much more than the current release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ridge Zinfandel 1994-2010 (Brussels): Almost brick colour. Typical Zin nose, fur, dark berries. Not as concentrated as the 1995's although with a jammy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ridge Zinfandels vertical: bad cork that crumbled on both bottles. the wine was very good, with typical geyserville fruit but also secondary aromas of tobacco. my WOTN?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hardy, dense and earthy, with cherry, wild berry, raspberry, cigar box and spice, finishing long. From my last magnum bottle and paired with beef stroganoff. Wow, one of my best zins this year!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
opened a magnum for a little dinner party. Decanted for a couple hours. Had held up amazingly well for a zin. I had feared the worst; violating my own rule about holding zins for more than 5-7 years. Brick red, a little tawny on the rim. Great body, mellow but full fruit. A little chocolate and coffee and a hint of leather, but the leather faded with time replaced by toasted oak. Some hollowness near the finish, but if that's my only criticism of a 16 year old zin, then it's good. Held the remainder under vacuvin for a couple days, and it was even better after blowing off the last little bit of leather and funk. I may try holding some of my Geyserville's and Lytton Springs for a little longer than planned, if this is how they'll do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still alive with some dominant earthy characteristics. It had a nose reminiscent of aged Rioja. Still retained some fruit and acidity but I would drink sooner than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 30 minutes. N: Smokey, oaky. glycerin levels, sticking to my plastic cup (don't ask...). Dark ruby color, very clear with no visible debris. P: High tannins showing strongly, oaky, smoke, some nutmeg. Very dry, very minimal sugar is left. No sugar is visible with white bread. some cherry on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love it. In a great drinking window right now. Decanted about 30-45 min before starting to drink it. Tight berry flavours, earth, and bottle funk. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This had to be off, probably slightly corked. At first there's plenty of black and blue fruit but over time the fruit fades and the wine has a roasted, sawdusty quality. Obv not correct.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red, slight water rim. Nose: very fruity, jam, plum but also spicy slightly overshadowed by alcohol. Palate: full, good depth and complexity. Like the nose “jamy” berries, in the middle on top spice and tannins. For a 16 year old Zin impressive round, integrated with a nice length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
a real surprise for me that a zinfandel based wine could make it this long. jammy fruits, amarone like in flavors and textures. enough tannins to help make it interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork was damp but came out cleanly. This is one of my benchmark CA wines and did not disappoint. Beautifully developed bouquet dominated by dark fruits. Nicely balanced with a long finish. Still has time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hearing MichielV on the cork comment - this was a sponge, broke in two and we had to cheese cloth out the juice. Worth the effort though, a beautiful showing. Zin can't age? Silky smooth with depth. I had a ribeye and the fat in the cut really brought this one into focus. The petite in the blend was very present, tasted those petite chalky tannins in the background, and expressive dark berry fruit. Great balance too. Drink 'em now I'd say.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Domestics 10 Years Old and Older (Pittsburgh Blue, Edina, MN): Dark red/purple color. Nose shows blackberry liqueur, black cherry, spicy, some flowers. The palate is rich and deep, has blackberry liqueur, kirsch, dark berries that are slightly stewed, spice, and minerals Tannins are still noticeable, but round and integrated. This is still drinking well, it would have been an interesting contrast to see where this fruit was 5 years ago. 91+pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
what is with these corks? the umpteenth bottle of 10+ yr Geyerville. all corks are breaking. mu 15+ yr bordeaux crsk are all very good so it must have been the ridge corks. anyway. had this with some veggie pie. fantastic meal and good fit. however the fruit was gone on this baby so it was a bit hot and not that interesting. tells me to drink the geyserville's at 7 max 10 yrs from vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich dark fruits and chocolate nose. Very full, rich palate. Sweet and jammy, redcurrant yet the fruit still shines through. Long. Zin will never be subtle, but this is very enjoyable. Careful about matching this with food, though: bbq is probably your safest bet... WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zin tasting with friends - Brief notes: Last bottle of this and it was a beautiful bottle. The wine was elegant right from the begining. The nose and flavors were fresh and in perfect balance. IMHO this wine still has years ahead of it. Concentrated fruit but not at all jammy. Tied with '07 Carlisle Montafi for WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still quite a depth of rich Zin colour, although showing a greater thinning towards the the edge now than when I last drank this wine 2 years ago. The nose full of exotic, warm spice, smoky tabacco leaf and aged leather - wonderful and fully open. The palate immediately full of depth and complex sweet, chewy forest fruits and nuts such as brambles, blueberries, walnuts and roasted chesnuts, coating and filling the mouth with a myriad of flavours. Lovely lingering finish too. The usual reliable and, in my view, much underrated Geyserville. A very good wine. Drink and enjoy now or for another 5+ years. So glad I bought this case 10 years ago, as I've always had a soft spot for Geyserville - sadly only 4 bottles left now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red-garnet color. Nose of rose petal, fresh herbs, banana taffy, red currant, leather, and spicy black cherry. Palate is polished and linear, good concentration, fully integrated tannins. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely less integrated than any of the prior tastings. Similar profile (plum, tar, blackberry) but alcohol and oak too strong. I don't think it will age well with this imbalance-- drink now, and with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the way I like Ridge wine. These single vineyard wines need a good 7-10 years of age for me to really get to where I want them. Since I find that these can be a bit brash in their youthfulness I look for the claret style flavors that these wines can bring with age. This was tasty straight out of the bottle. A nice integration of dried cherry, baking spices, and vanilla with a structure that is still present but not forced. Lively acidity too. I am looking forward to drinking my last bottle soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still youthful. Cherries, bramblefruit, and garrigue. Masterful, seamless oak treatment that accents the wine, not dominant. Just amazing what Draper does with zin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at La Sirene (NYC): Rich, dense with a lot of typical Ridge perfume. Sweet core with broad floral flavors. Warm, broad, round and pretty soft. Lacks a firm backbone and at this point a little mushy in the fruit, but that could be due to the firm CDP it was paired against. While I don't think it's suffering from age, this wine is not going to get any better I would plan to drink up before the next 3-5 years at most. A pretty and friendly wine and quite nice. B+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As before, a great, structured zin based wine. This 97 bottle seemed slightly less robust than the same wine consumed last December. Perhaps time to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Second of 3 Geyserville vintages tasted. By far, 97 was the best. Plum, smoke and tar aromatics. Palate of black cherry, plum, pepper kick, fantastic acidity and length. Balance was exceptional. All tasters loved this wine above the 91 and 02. Drink now or cellar 2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely example of what makes the Ridge Geyserville so special. Plum, smoke and spice, with still enough acid and structure to compliment Indian spices. Drink now if you have some in your cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
n: dusty, dried cherry, zesty, lots of baking spice, earth, dried currants, anise, a little bit of sour dairy/yogurt aroma, a bit of tawny-ness, dried rosemary, bit of dill, aromatic, m: nice sweetness and a silky attack, dried cherries, plums, dates, nice meatiness, earthy, med bodied, fairly bright, really zest, at its peak?, lots of meat, a it smoky, not a ton in the mid palate but really good length
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really great stuff!! Pefectly balanced with lush dark fruit, some subtle spice/pepper, very long finish with some chocolate notes showing up with air. Also was very tasty with food. Sorry this was my one and only bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
17 vintages of Ridge Zinfandel, '67 & '78 Stony Hill & Dessert Wines (Campanile in Los Angeles, CA.): Initially aromas of vanilla,yet after some time the telltale signs of spices came through. The fruit is remarkable lush with chocolate covered cherries. The texture is again rich and palate coating. I liked this wine after it had time to open up. The structure is well balanced with good length to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing expressive nose. Peppery, fruity, leathery, (insert your superlative here). Velvety in the mouth with minimal noticeable tannin and a smooth finish. Drinking great now, and has at least 5 years of life. Actually paired very well with salmon burgers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tried 2 bottles and believed both are over the hill, our guests had different opinion and said that it needed more. However had it next to the 98, great, 99 great but wait and 2000, pretty good. This one stayed behind. 2 left maybe wait for two years, if they are also bad it doesnt really matter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Underwhelmed...had bottle of this zin 4 or 5 years ago and really enjoyed it but this one was disappointing. I traditionally like Geyserville zin and zins with age. Older zins to me take on almost cab like characteristics as the fruit fades but struture and subte flavors emerge. The wine was extremely acid focused with poor mid palate and no real structure or mouthfeel. Fruit had faded as you expect but all that was left was acid. The wine was consumed quickly after opening so some more air time might have helped but not confident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still very big and forward compared to what I was expecting after almost 10 years of age. I will definitely let my other bottle age for a few more years because I think the secondary aromas that develop in Ridge's Zins (especially Geyserville) are well worth the wait. For the moment the wine is very new-worldish and difficult to pair with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious. Bing cherries, a touch of cedar and earth, very smooth, short to moderate finish with sweet tannins. Decanted due to light sediment, but this may have been a mistake as the fruit dissipated somewhat after an hour or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I mean to tell you this wine was singing tonight! What a delightful bottle. Color was a bit brownish with a nose full of fruit. The palate was absolutely wonderful. Black berries and fruit, spice and nice earthy complexity. This is the oldest bottle of zin that I have had and I must say I was favorably impressed. I would say if you own these they are in the sweet spot. pop a cork and enjoy!! Even my Champagne swilling partner was impressed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First day a simple, jammy fruit with a strong VA note on the nose. By day 2, there are more mature aromas of cedar and darker, earthier fruit. A smoother, fuller mouthfeel emerged. I suspect this wine is between an exuberant youth and a more complex, satisfying senior years. Sounds like my life ;-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A trademark Geyserville with all the jammy fruit that you could imagine. Served to accompany a butterflied leg of lamb, this thick, rich bomb of a wine is drinking just perfectly now, and this from a 3.0 liter. The char and smoke of the grill complimented just perfectly the spiciness that lingers below the outrageous berry flavors that frame this wine. Note to self--do not drink 3.0 liter bottles on Sunday evenings, regardless of whether you have eight guests!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red Carpet: Lighter color ruby red with lots of rim change; hi note fumey, plummy notes w/hint of vinegar; vanilla notes, dusty; silky med lite bod, van., a little candy/jammy in mth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, luscious, extracted wine. Lavish oak, which has ample fruit to absorb it. Sweet, peppery fruit lead into a long finish. Excellent, yet young wine. Well structured, and built to age. Wow!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
11/23/2023 - Beth-Ellen Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not showing it’s age, still fresh and fruit forward. Was hoping for more development, but I still enjoyed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2022 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dinner st home with friends featuring all wines from the 1997 vintage. Served to accompany coq au vin. Opened, decanted and poured immediately as not sure how long would last in the decanter/glass. This Ridge was the star wine of the dinner. Showing little evidence of its 25 years, still very fresh. Medium plum. Plenty of ripe fruit on the nose. Beautiful palate, smooth, rich and full with dark berry flavours. Excellent and a great demonstration of how well Ridge can keep when stored well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2021 - navyramp Likes this wine: 92 Points
It is a good example how Zinfandel changes as it gets older. well-aged and balanced. Its concentration was also nice. nice QPR $50.
dried red fruits, prune, blueberry, clove.... I want to drink wine like this every day as a daily wine. I drank this wine with lamb. It was nice pairing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2021 - Satoshi Nakamoto Does not like this wine:
Perfectly stored with a base neck fill. The overall wine has softened, but the ripeness and sweetness is still all there. Not a fan of this. Don’t see the hype of aged Zin. Drink moar aged Cab and Burg.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2021 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Return to The Medlar (The Medlar, London): Mid ruby. Brighter and more vibrant than the LS alongside. Brighter and richer red fruit. Again, a briary element with autumnal overtones, but a core of sweeter and redder fruit. Some fruit compote intensity too. A little more energy here. ****
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2020 - RTaylor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking nicely. Incredible to think it’s 23 yrs old.
One bottle left in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 92 Points
Even at 22 years old this is a lovely wine. Notes of black cherries on the nose. The palate has soft fruit, cranberries and framboise with a bit of black pepper. Smooth, fully resolved tannins, nice acidity, good balance. A bit of a bite at the back of the palate. Long lingering finish of bright red fruits and spice. Probably better a few years ago, but still an elegant wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2018 - pren wrote: 91 Points
塞子完全软了。二十年的酒气味还很有活力。温度稍高一点，气味会变黑夹带一点酒精味。
口中有一点甜，适当酸度，没多少涩度。三天后，变化不大。
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2018 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Still quite youthful, rich and primary. Better on night two as the oak was more integrated and the fruit was less primary/rich and more secondary notes emerged. Easy to drink and enjoy with good complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2017 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The '97 Geyserville was showing a beautifully mature bouquet with crushed cherries, hints of cinnamon, smoke, mint and exotic florals. On the palate, I found a juicy expression with vibrant acids adding a fresh drink-me personality to it's dried cherry and blueberry fruits with a hint of sweet minty herbs. It finished fresh, displaying tart cherry throughout its medium-length--so lovely in its maturity. I can't imagine this improving, but it's so enjoyable right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2017 - chatters wrote:
3rd Annual 7 Deadly Zins - Reprise (about 14 this time) (Wayne's place in Darlinghurst): From Magnum. Leather, sour cherry, white pepper. Sweetly spicy on the palate though with red cherry, leather, black tea. Hmm
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2017 - chatters wrote:
3rd Annual 7 Deadly Zins (well, about 15 this time) (Wayne's place in Darlinghurst): From Magnum tapped by Coravin. Old. Funky, earthy, leathery notes over vanilla, cherry, sweet & savoury spice. More of the same on the palate with gritty tannins and black tea notes. Bit tired but I kind of like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2017 - chatters wrote:
From Coravin. No one was more excited than me to find (and win) a magnum of Ridge Geyserville at auction recently but, I'll warrant, no one was more disappointed to find that it had been imported, and less than carefully stored, muppets at West Cost Wine Cellars...I approached this bottle with a considerable amount of trepidation. On the nose it's rich with vanilla, cream, leather and sweet cherry & plums. Also a slight mushroom and soy note here as well. In the mouth it has sweet berry fruit, touches of tomato leaf and cream. It's almost like a lightweight fortified if that makes any sense. No tannins whatsoever remain. It's plain odd. I should have it with the corton rognet from a couple of weeks ago...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2015 - blgros Likes this wine: 89 Points
still showing well. mature, but don't think it is getting any better
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2014 - klezman wrote:
PnP it smells just heavenly. Raisins, prunes, and baking spices. Into the decanter. It didn't evolve much over the next 2 hours, although the finish remained excellent the entire time. Ridge knows how to make them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2014 - steinbrl12 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excelllent smooth med. body fruit. Still alive!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2014 - elledeca wrote:
Crumbly cork (again...), but the wine was perfect. Raspberry, chocolate, herbs, full and ripe but also well balanced. Better than the bottle opened last month and if only one could trust the corks with a long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2014 - cooberp Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is in a really good place. It's still plenty ripe and forward, with a blueberry/plum profile, tasty vanilla oak flavors, and some of the peppery character I often get from this grape. But it's just mature enough to have softened, lost a bit of weight and picked up a suave texture. Doesn't cost much more than the current release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2014 - Bisty Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ridge Zinfandel 1994-2010 (Brussels): Almost brick colour.
Typical Zin nose, fur, dark berries.
Not as concentrated as the 1995's although with a jammy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2014 - elledeca wrote:
Ridge Zinfandels vertical: bad cork that crumbled on both bottles. the wine was very good, with typical geyserville fruit but also secondary aromas of tobacco. my WOTN?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2014 - juiced Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hardy, dense and earthy, with cherry, wild berry, raspberry, cigar box and spice, finishing long. From my last magnum bottle and paired with beef stroganoff. Wow, one of my best zins this year!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2013 - pkatz wrote: 88 Points
Showing some age but pleasant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2013 - klezman wrote:
Prunes, spices, leather. Similar to last time, but didn't have as much time to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2013 - twoamps Likes this wine: 90 Points
opened a magnum for a little dinner party. Decanted for a couple hours. Had held up amazingly well for a zin. I had feared the worst; violating my own rule about holding zins for more than 5-7 years. Brick red, a little tawny on the rim. Great body, mellow but full fruit. A little chocolate and coffee and a hint of leather, but the leather faded with time replaced by toasted oak. Some hollowness near the finish, but if that's my only criticism of a 16 year old zin, then it's good. Held the remainder under vacuvin for a couple days, and it was even better after blowing off the last little bit of leather and funk. I may try holding some of my Geyserville's and Lytton Springs for a little longer than planned, if this is how they'll do.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2013 - CabRide Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still alive with some dominant earthy characteristics. It had a nose reminiscent of aged Rioja. Still retained some fruit and acidity but I would drink sooner than later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2013 - tolginator Likes this wine:
Decanted for 30 minutes.
N: Smokey, oaky.
glycerin levels, sticking to my plastic cup (don't ask...). Dark ruby color, very clear with no visible debris.
P: High tannins showing strongly, oaky, smoke, some nutmeg. Very dry, very minimal sugar is left. No sugar is visible with white bread. some cherry on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2013 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 93 Points
very fresh and vibrant. Blackberry and dark cherry, solid acidity. Impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2013 - klezman wrote:
Love it. In a great drinking window right now. Decanted about 30-45 min before starting to drink it. Tight berry flavours, earth, and bottle funk. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2013 - coremill wrote: flawed
This had to be off, probably slightly corked. At first there's plenty of black and blue fruit but over time the fruit fades and the wine has a roasted, sawdusty quality. Obv not correct.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - enosophos Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red, slight water rim. Nose: very fruity, jam, plum but also spicy slightly overshadowed by alcohol. Palate: full, good depth and complexity. Like the nose “jamy” berries, in the middle on top spice and tannins. For a 16 year old Zin impressive round, integrated with a nice length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2013 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Dinner at David's (Very brief retroactive notes): After a few hours of air. Quite good, showing some tertiary notes and drinking very nicely, though still plenty of life ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2013 - Rieslingfan Likes this wine:
Drinking very well right now. Still plenty of ripe fruit as well as a leathery edge and a dusty finish. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2012 - sedation (yellowgas) wrote: 91 Points
a real surprise for me that a zinfandel based wine could make it this long. jammy fruits, amarone like in flavors and textures. enough tannins to help make it interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2012 - winecat9 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cork was damp but came out cleanly. This is one of my benchmark CA wines and did not disappoint. Beautifully developed bouquet dominated by dark fruits. Nicely balanced with a long finish. Still has time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2012 - btock wrote: 92 Points
Hearing MichielV on the cork comment - this was a sponge, broke in two and we had to cheese cloth out the juice. Worth the effort though, a beautiful showing. Zin can't age? Silky smooth with depth. I had a ribeye and the fat in the cut really brought this one into focus. The petite in the blend was very present, tasted those petite chalky tannins in the background, and expressive dark berry fruit. Great balance too. Drink 'em now I'd say.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 91 Points
Domestics 10 Years Old and Older (Pittsburgh Blue, Edina, MN): Dark red/purple color. Nose shows blackberry liqueur, black cherry, spicy, some flowers. The palate is rich and deep, has blackberry liqueur, kirsch, dark berries that are slightly stewed, spice, and minerals Tannins are still noticeable, but round and integrated. This is still drinking well, it would have been an interesting contrast to see where this fruit was 5 years ago. 91+pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2011 - MichielV wrote: 85 Points
what is with these corks? the umpteenth bottle of 10+ yr Geyerville. all corks are breaking. mu 15+ yr bordeaux crsk are all very good so it must have been the ridge corks. anyway. had this with some veggie pie. fantastic meal and good fit. however the fruit was gone on this baby so it was a bit hot and not that interesting. tells me to drink the geyserville's at 7 max 10 yrs from vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2011 - don_quichotte wrote: 93 Points
Rich dark fruits and chocolate nose. Very full, rich palate. Sweet and jammy, redcurrant yet the fruit still shines through. Long. Zin will never be subtle, but this is very enjoyable. Careful about matching this with food, though: bbq is probably your safest bet... WOTN
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2011 - dsimmons wrote: 95 Points
Zin tasting with friends - Brief notes: Last bottle of this and it was a beautiful bottle. The wine was elegant right from the begining. The nose and flavors were fresh and in perfect balance. IMHO this wine still has years ahead of it. Concentrated fruit but not at all jammy. Tied with '07 Carlisle Montafi for WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2010 - Tricky99 wrote: 92 Points
Still quite a depth of rich Zin colour, although showing a greater thinning towards the the edge now than when I last drank this wine 2 years ago. The nose full of exotic, warm spice, smoky tabacco leaf and aged leather - wonderful and fully open. The palate immediately full of depth and complex sweet, chewy forest fruits and nuts such as brambles, blueberries, walnuts and roasted chesnuts, coating and filling the mouth with a myriad of flavours. Lovely lingering finish too. The usual reliable and, in my view, much underrated Geyserville. A very good wine. Drink and enjoy now or for another 5+ years. So glad I bought this case 10 years ago, as I've always had a soft spot for Geyserville - sadly only 4 bottles left now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/1/2010 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking nicely. Agree with review by Giggs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2010 - Giggs wrote: 92 Points
Red-garnet color. Nose of rose petal, fresh herbs, banana taffy, red currant, leather, and spicy black cherry. Palate is polished and linear, good concentration, fully integrated tannins. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2009 - jmht wrote: 88 Points
Definitely less integrated than any of the prior tastings. Similar profile (plum, tar, blackberry) but alcohol and oak too strong. I don't think it will age well with this imbalance-- drink now, and with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2009 - mplympton wrote:
This is the way I like Ridge wine. These single vineyard wines need a good 7-10 years of age for me to really get to where I want them. Since I find that these can be a bit brash in their youthfulness I look for the claret style flavors that these wines can bring with age. This was tasty straight out of the bottle. A nice integration of dried cherry, baking spices, and vanilla with a structure that is still present but not forced. Lively acidity too. I am looking forward to drinking my last bottle soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2009 - jmht wrote: 91 Points
Still robust, youthful blackcurrant and plum nose; dark fruits, tobacco, integrated oak, spice. A big wine, but well structured.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2009 - suttonri wrote: 90 Points
Still youthful. Cherries, bramblefruit, and garrigue. Masterful, seamless oak treatment that accents the wine, not dominant. Just amazing what Draper does with zin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2008 - MRichman wrote:
Dinner at La Sirene (NYC): Rich, dense with a lot of typical Ridge perfume. Sweet core with broad floral flavors. Warm, broad, round and pretty soft. Lacks a firm backbone and at this point a little mushy in the fruit, but that could be due to the firm CDP it was paired against. While I don't think it's suffering from age, this wine is not going to get any better I would plan to drink up before the next 3-5 years at most. A pretty and friendly wine and quite nice.
B+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2008 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 92 Points
garnet. Nose was of an aged Bordeaux of 20+ years from a ripe vintage. Taste was less convincing. Slightly overripe taste and plums.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2008 - jmht wrote: 90 Points
As before, a great, structured zin based wine. This 97 bottle seemed slightly less robust than the same wine consumed last December. Perhaps time to drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2008 - zap wrote:
Bottle opened and recorked 4 hours prior. Warm cheery pie on the nose. Soft and with little verve through the long, but sluggish finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2008 - rowen wrote:
Improved with air, but still somewhat past its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2008 - no leashes wrote: 90 Points
Nice dark fruit and tobacco, nice structure, decent tannins. still drinking nicely, even in half-bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2008 - KirkR wrote: 94 Points
Perfect age now - tannins have mellowed nicely leaving dark fruit and tobacco. Nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2008 - cassel wrote: 93 Points
Hanging in very well. Wonderfull complexity. Black cherry and plum on the palate. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2008 - jmht wrote: 91 Points
Second of 3 Geyserville vintages tasted. By far, 97 was the best. Plum, smoke and tar aromatics. Palate of black cherry, plum, pepper kick, fantastic acidity and length. Balance was exceptional. All tasters loved this wine above the 91 and 02. Drink now or cellar 2 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2007 - no leashes wrote: 91 Points
A lovely example of what makes the Ridge Geyserville so special. Plum, smoke and spice, with still enough acid and structure to compliment Indian spices. Drink now if you have some in your cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2007 - mplympton wrote:
n: dusty, dried cherry, zesty, lots of baking spice, earth, dried currants, anise, a little bit of sour dairy/yogurt aroma, a bit of tawny-ness, dried rosemary, bit of dill, aromatic,
m: nice sweetness and a silky attack, dried cherries, plums, dates, nice meatiness, earthy, med bodied, fairly bright, really zest, at its peak?, lots of meat, a it smoky, not a ton in the mid palate but really good length
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2007 - Big_Al wrote: 92 Points
Solid aged Zin. Dark fruit aromatics. Comples taste of dark plums with touch of spice and jamminess. Classic example of why Ridge Zins age so nicely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2006 - RussW wrote:
Really great stuff!! Pefectly balanced with lush dark fruit, some subtle spice/pepper, very long finish with some chocolate notes showing up with air. Also was very tasty with food. Sorry this was my one and only bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - gregg g wrote:
17 vintages of Ridge Zinfandel, '67 & '78 Stony Hill & Dessert Wines (Campanile in Los Angeles, CA.): Initially aromas of vanilla,yet after some time the telltale signs of spices came through. The fruit is remarkable lush with chocolate covered cherries. The texture is again rich and palate coating. I liked this wine after it had time to open up. The structure is well balanced with good length to the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2006 - sol wrote: 94 Points
Amazing expressive nose. Peppery, fruity, leathery, (insert your superlative here). Velvety in the mouth with minimal noticeable tannin and a smooth finish. Drinking great now, and has at least 5 years of life. Actually paired very well with salmon burgers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2006 - Cheryl wrote:
Ben's zin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2006 - MichielV wrote: 85 Points
Tried 2 bottles and believed both are over the hill, our guests had different opinion and said that it needed more. However had it next to the 98, great, 99 great but wait and 2000, pretty good. This one stayed behind. 2 left maybe wait for two years, if they are also bad it doesnt really matter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2006 - JBVino wrote: 87 Points
Underwhelmed...had bottle of this zin 4 or 5 years ago and really enjoyed it but this one was disappointing. I traditionally like Geyserville zin and zins with age. Older zins to me take on almost cab like characteristics as the fruit fades but struture and subte flavors emerge. The wine was extremely acid focused with poor mid palate and no real structure or mouthfeel. Fruit had faded as you expect but all that was left was acid. The wine was consumed quickly after opening so some more air time might have helped but not confident.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2006 - dsimmons wrote: 93 Points
Had my second bottle of this wine and the results were consistent with the first. Bravo Ridge.Oly one left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2006 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle out of a case. Has been a pleasure to drink from the begining.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2006 - Will wrote:
Still very big and forward compared to what I was expecting after almost 10 years of age. I will definitely let my other bottle age for a few more years because I think the secondary aromas that develop in Ridge's Zins (especially Geyserville) are well worth the wait. For the moment the wine is very new-worldish and difficult to pair with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2006 - 5laton wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Bing cherries, a touch of cedar and earth, very smooth, short to moderate finish with sweet tannins. Decanted due to light sediment, but this may have been a mistake as the fruit dissipated somewhat after an hour or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2006 - dsimmons wrote: 93 Points
I mean to tell you this wine was singing tonight! What a delightful bottle. Color was a bit brownish with a nose full of fruit. The palate was absolutely wonderful. Black berries and fruit, spice and nice earthy complexity. This is the oldest bottle of zin that I have had and I must say I was favorably impressed. I would say if you own these they are in the sweet spot. pop a cork and enjoy!! Even my Champagne swilling partner was impressed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2005 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
First day a simple, jammy fruit with a strong VA note on the nose. By day 2, there are more mature aromas of cedar and darker, earthier fruit. A smoother, fuller mouthfeel emerged. I suspect this wine is between an exuberant youth and a more complex, satisfying senior years. Sounds like my life ;-).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2004 - veniceslug1 wrote:
Wonderful spice and fruit. Beautifully balenced and nuanced. Drank at Friday night tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2004 - 1800kidney wrote: 95 Points
Lovely..ready to enjoy. Rounded fruit in great balance, yummy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2004 - thewinelake wrote: 90 Points
UK wine-pages Geyserville Vertical (London): Ooh yes! Warm and spicy - like Stollen or fruitcake (tones of Liquer Muscat). I am seduced by this wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2004 - AlanC wrote: 90 Points
A trademark Geyserville with all the jammy fruit that you could imagine. Served to accompany a butterflied leg of lamb, this thick, rich bomb of a wine is drinking just perfectly now, and this from a 3.0 liter. The char and smoke of the grill complimented just perfectly the spiciness that lingers below the outrageous berry flavors that frame this wine. Note to self--do not drink 3.0 liter bottles on Sunday evenings, regardless of whether you have eight guests!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2004 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Red Carpet: Lighter color ruby red with lots of rim change; hi note fumey, plummy notes w/hint of vinegar; vanilla notes, dusty; silky med lite bod, van., a little candy/jammy in mth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2000 - dbg wrote:
outstanding!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2000 - SadEdjo wrote:
very rich plum, blackberry & black pepper wlth matching tannins & acid - a stunner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2000 - Oberhau wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding, full-bodied, rich and jammy; had 2nd bottle on 9/14/02 and it was a little over the hill
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Rich, luscious, extracted wine. Lavish oak, which has ample fruit to absorb it. Sweet, peppery fruit lead into a long finish. Excellent, yet young wine. Well structured, and built to age. Wow!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment