Immediately upon opening, presented a nose of earthy loam with savory herbs, dried dark fruit, and hints of vanilla. Aerated with Vinturi; palate reflected dark fruit coupled with elegant dried rose petals and cigar box spice. Decanted the bottle as wine was still tight around the margins. Post decanting, nose displayed brambly dark fruit with tasty black pepper as it headed into finish. Full-flavored palate with plush, lush tannins. Loooong finish with dark cocoa around edges. Refined and balanced; peak drinkability. Hits all the right notes. Fabulous wine. Great example of what a probably aged Zinfandel can exemplify.
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Loads of baking spice on the nose. Fragrant black plum, pomegranate, as well as some candied and nail polish tones with hints of cinnamon stick. On the palate, it's lush and retains a bracing acidity. Almost tart at the entry, it's dark. Flavors of espresso, cocoa, loads of black fruit, some blue fruits, plum, baking spice and some nice oak vanillin on the finish. It's not very peppery with only a suggestion of black pepper. It's muscular and brooding, but not overwhelmingly so. It's still well balanced and has a finesse that carries it start to finish. At 14.9% it's not hot on the palate. Some black cherry appears on the finish. Nice! Opened 1/5/12
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Garnet color, with alcohol (14.9%) and a dusty raspberry on the nose. Rough, jammy red raspberry, red cherries and some spice with a vegetable undercurrent and noticeable drying tannin showing dusty, single vineyard East Bench characteristics. Doesn't open up over 2 hours. Long finish.
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Very hot upon first opening, with some jammy fruit hiding underneath. All heat on the nose. Hoping this will open-up with time, thus I will hold off my rating. [...] Bottle done. Heat and jam never found harmony. Wine was fine though not great. Too harsh and jammy at the same time. Guess too young.
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Nose - smoky, with smooth, rich, dusty oak, blackberry and custard. Smoky, lime zest, charred oak, blackberry, bay. Fruit is still fairly primary. A bit rustic. Drink '12-'17.
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This was some nice zin. Med+ body. Blackberry fruits at first, that did lighten with time. More spice came out with time. Terrific stuff, with all the easy joy of the grape, but with more structure and spices then most bottlings. Draper still rocks.
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My brother-in-law & I tasted this at the winery on 7/18/09. It had aromas and flavors of cherry, strawberry, vanilla and spice…a solid, but average Zin.
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A blast of blackberry and bramble on the nose. A bit of stony mineral. Getting those cedar notes also. Initially very approachable on the palate. Fresh blackberry and raspberry flavors. After it opened a bit, the cedar flavors and tannins crept up, almost too much. After several hours, it calmed back down again, and became a smoother dark berry flavor. Still a bit young.
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Garnet color. Notes of spice, black fruit and plum, with a slightly herbal undertone. Juicy red and black fruit tones on the palate, with a nice, long finish.
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Brambly, raspberry fruit a nose. A little lighter than many Ridge zins. Very tannic. Smoky, tart berry flavors. A sweeter finish with a hint of pepper.
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Wine 6 of Ridge Zinfandel Tasting: Really pure dark fruits on the nose. Little bit of cedar. Lighter berries on the palate, not as thick as the Lytton. Strong tannins. Almost a mix of strawberry and black raspberry. None of the gaminess of the Lytton. A nice finish of white pepper. I was getting none of the gaminess or leather that I got from the 2006 Lytton. This is part of the Lytton vineyard, but it's 100% Zin and sees no Petite Sirah or Carignane. That's my reasoning anyway. Just a clean drinking wine with purity of fruit. Delicious.
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this was the first year since 2000 that Ridge has made a zin from this vineyard. Popped and poured at Butch's in Holland Mich. If you buy wine in their store, the corkage fee is only $5.00 and they are listed in W.S. as one of the best restaurant wine lists. I am a huge fan of Ridge Zins, and this did not dissapoint.
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This is the first vintage of this wine for Ridge, so some of their info may be of interest. Although this area had been a vineyard, “The original vines were abandoned in 1920. More of these vineyard blocks have been replanted each year over the last thirty years. This wine is from vines replanted in 2000, using budwood from our own old-vine vineyards. The East Bench zinfandel is classic Dry Creek”
They go on to say that the East Bench “separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. The original vines were abandoned in 1920; we replanted in 2000, using budwood from our own old-vine vineyards.” While usually experiencing hot Augusts on this benchland, they found the August of ‘06 to be “a challenge.” As usual with Ridge, “Primary and secondary fermentations were natural. To maximize extraction, the skins macerated for ten days and were pressed at dryness. After malolactic, the wine aged for thirteen months in air-dried American oak. This is classic Dry Creek— rich and structured with brambly dark fruit and chalky, yet balanced, tannins.”
As much as I hate to be a hack and agree with the back label, this one - like nearly all Ridge back labels - is dead on. The chalky mouthfeel is wonderful, the fruit is brambly, the tannins are balanced. It’s a good, solid, fun Zin. The problem I have with it, is whether it’s worth $30. I prefer the Paso Robles bottling to the East Bench for its Zin-exuberance and think that it’s a better wine.
14.9% alc. Two bottles consumed; the first with flank steak and the second more or less by itself (crusty bread, red pepper spread and olives on the side.) 03.13 and 14.08. Because this was consumed with friends (Randy and Rosalie) over conversation without any real focus on the wine itself, I’m not making any recommendation on this at this time.
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Although this is listed here in CellarTracker as the Dry Creek appellation, it is actually "entirely from vines on the benchland that separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys." (from the back label of the bottle)
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3/13/2021 - jwhiggins Likes this wine: 94 Points
Immediately upon opening, presented a nose of earthy loam with savory herbs, dried dark fruit, and hints of vanilla. Aerated with Vinturi; palate reflected dark fruit coupled with elegant dried rose petals and cigar box spice. Decanted the bottle as wine was still tight around the margins. Post decanting, nose displayed brambly dark fruit with tasty black pepper as it headed into finish. Full-flavored palate with plush, lush tannins. Loooong finish with dark cocoa around edges. Refined and balanced; peak drinkability. Hits all the right notes. Fabulous wine. Great example of what a probably aged Zinfandel can exemplify.
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9/30/2017 - Twitch12 wrote: 89 Points
Very boozy and hot on the finish. Didn't change much after two hours. Jammy fruit and booze. Don't wait to drink.
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8/14/2016 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Sunday Group: 2006 Napa Cabernets (Our house): Notes of black raspberry and raisins. The palate follows the bouquet, adding spice and blue fruit notes on the back end. Very nice.
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10/2/2015 - hankj wrote: 91 Points
Spot on age-wise - the right amount of tertiary aroma and still some fruit and structure. My palate would wait no longer on these.
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6/20/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 87 Points
Consistent notes
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1/5/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 95 Points
Loads of baking spice on the nose. Fragrant black plum, pomegranate, as well as some candied and nail polish tones with hints of cinnamon stick. On the palate, it's lush and retains a bracing acidity. Almost tart at the entry, it's dark. Flavors of espresso, cocoa, loads of black fruit, some blue fruits, plum, baking spice and some nice oak vanillin on the finish. It's not very peppery with only a suggestion of black pepper. It's muscular and brooding, but not overwhelmingly so. It's still well balanced and has a finesse that carries it start to finish. At 14.9% it's not hot on the palate. Some black cherry appears on the finish. Nice!
Opened 1/5/12
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12/28/2011 - vine20 wrote: 90 Points
Garnet color, with alcohol (14.9%) and a dusty raspberry on the nose. Rough, jammy red raspberry, red cherries and some spice with a vegetable undercurrent and noticeable drying tannin showing dusty, single vineyard East Bench characteristics. Doesn't open up over 2 hours. Long finish.
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5/24/2011 - chapinde Likes this wine: 90 Points
Classic Ridge Zin showing brambles, red fruits and rustic earth. Good value.
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2/22/2011 - ogres3 wrote:
An excellent bottle of wine, better on the second night. Good fruit. Husband not as enthusiastic.
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1/25/2011 - joannevicious wrote: 82 Points
Very hot upon first opening, with some jammy fruit hiding underneath. All heat on the nose. Hoping this will open-up with time, thus I will hold off my rating. [...] Bottle done. Heat and jam never found harmony. Wine was fine though not great. Too harsh and jammy at the same time. Guess too young.
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1/3/2011 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice brambly berry fruit, with some spice. Good concentration without being jammy. Typical Dry Creek style Zin.
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5/31/2010 - twoamps wrote: 90 Points
fruit forward zin, a little tart, very fresh, a good wine with fresh berries.
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3/18/2010 - yhn wrote: 90 Points
Nose - smoky, with smooth, rich, dusty oak, blackberry and custard.
Smoky, lime zest, charred oak, blackberry, bay. Fruit is still fairly primary. A bit rustic. Drink '12-'17.
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2/25/2010 - winepog wrote: 90 Points
Great zin...blackberry, jammy..deep berry jam
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1/29/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 87 Points
Nice zin with jammy fruit notes but some noticeable alcohol on day two.
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12/7/2009 - Zinister wrote: 88 Points
Enjoyable zin with good berry and soft spices. A bit tannic, even after one day. Lingering, flavorful finish.
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11/13/2009 - hutch wrote: 90 Points
This was some nice zin. Med+ body. Blackberry fruits at first, that did lighten with time. More spice came out with time. Terrific stuff, with all the easy joy of the grape, but with more structure and spices then most bottlings. Draper still rocks.
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7/18/2009 - garambler wrote: 89 Points
My brother-in-law & I tasted this at the winery on 7/18/09. It had aromas and flavors of cherry, strawberry, vanilla and spice…a solid, but average Zin.
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7/14/2009 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Big, almost chocolatey fruit. Touch hollow in the mid but that is probably youth showing through.
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6/28/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
A blast of blackberry and bramble on the nose. A bit of stony mineral. Getting those cedar notes also.
Initially very approachable on the palate. Fresh blackberry and raspberry flavors. After it opened a bit, the cedar flavors and tannins crept up, almost too much. After several hours, it calmed back down again, and became a smoother dark berry flavor.
Still a bit young.
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5/10/2009 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Garnet color. Notes of spice, black fruit and plum, with a slightly herbal undertone. Juicy red and black fruit tones on the palate, with a nice, long finish.
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4/12/2009 - Thursday Last wrote: 90 Points
Brambly, raspberry fruit a nose. A little lighter than many Ridge zins. Very tannic. Smoky, tart berry flavors. A sweeter finish with a hint of pepper.
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1/21/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
Wine 6 of Ridge Zinfandel Tasting:
Really pure dark fruits on the nose. Little bit of cedar.
Lighter berries on the palate, not as thick as the Lytton. Strong tannins. Almost a mix of strawberry and black raspberry. None of the gaminess of the Lytton. A nice finish of white pepper.
I was getting none of the gaminess or leather that I got from the 2006 Lytton. This is part of the Lytton vineyard, but it's 100% Zin and sees no Petite Sirah or Carignane. That's my reasoning anyway. Just a clean drinking wine with purity of fruit. Delicious.
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8/18/2008 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Niche Restaurant Staff Tasting (Niche Restaurant, Geneva, Illinois): Aromas of jammy red fruit with a nice underlying spiciness. Medium-bodied, with plush red fruit, spice and black cherry flavors. 90-91 pts.
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7/19/2008 - VinoPKM wrote: 89 Points
Wine Exchange's Aisle Six: Summer Edition (Orange, CA): Was my favorite Zin of the tasting. Good buy at $26. Strong 89 pts.
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6/16/2008 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
this was the first year since 2000 that Ridge has made a zin from this vineyard. Popped and poured at Butch's in Holland Mich. If you buy wine in their store, the corkage fee is only $5.00 and they are listed in W.S. as one of the best restaurant wine lists. I am a huge fan of Ridge Zins, and this did not dissapoint.
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4/30/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 90 Points
California Wine Night (Sam's South Loop - Chicago, IL): Tasted at the 2008 Sam's South Loop Grand California Night Event.
Really nice. Excellent spice.
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3/14/2008 - timewithwine wrote:
This is the first vintage of this wine for Ridge, so some of their info may be of interest. Although this area had been a vineyard, “The original vines were abandoned in 1920. More of these vineyard blocks have been replanted each year over the last thirty years. This wine is from vines replanted in 2000, using budwood from our own old-vine vineyards. The East Bench zinfandel is classic Dry Creek”
They go on to say that the East Bench “separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys. The original vines were abandoned in 1920; we replanted in 2000, using budwood from our own old-vine vineyards.” While usually experiencing hot Augusts on this benchland, they found the August of ‘06 to be “a challenge.” As usual with Ridge, “Primary and secondary fermentations were natural. To maximize extraction, the skins macerated for ten days and were pressed at dryness. After malolactic, the wine aged for thirteen months in air-dried American oak. This is classic Dry Creek— rich and structured with brambly dark fruit and chalky, yet balanced, tannins.”
As much as I hate to be a hack and agree with the back label, this one - like nearly all Ridge back labels - is dead on. The chalky mouthfeel is wonderful, the fruit is brambly, the tannins are balanced. It’s a good, solid, fun Zin. The problem I have with it, is whether it’s worth $30. I prefer the Paso Robles bottling to the East Bench for its Zin-exuberance and think that it’s a better wine.
14.9% alc. Two bottles consumed; the first with flank steak and the second more or less by itself (crusty bread, red pepper spread and olives on the side.) 03.13 and 14.08. Because this was consumed with friends (Randy and Rosalie) over conversation without any real focus on the wine itself, I’m not making any recommendation on this at this time.
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3/11/2008 - r_wolfcastle wrote:
Although this is listed here in CellarTracker as the Dry Creek appellation, it is actually "entirely from vines on the benchland that separates Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys." (from the back label of the bottle)
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