The last tasting note (from March 2023) prompted me to drink this wine with a simple dinner of grilled lamb and asparagus at home, thinking that I wouldn't want to risk opening it with friends or for guests. The writer of that note is clearly a very experienced wine drinker and reviewer (much more so than I), but he must have opened a bad bottle. This wine is still fabulous.
A bit more rustic and less elegant than most Zinfandels from Ridge, but still very much in the Ridge style. Translucent ruby with some brick-red around the edges. Intense dark red fruit, very brambly and peppery; classic old-vine Sonoma Zin aromas and flavors. Tertiary notes are definitely present but are complementary and nowhere near dominant. Tasted great immediately after opening, still beautifully balanced and even more delicious 2-3 hours later. Perfect with rich food, as the great Paul Draper suggested on the back label. Bottles of this wine that have been properly stored and aren't corked should last another few years.
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This is so obviously over the hill that I can't rate it. 12...even 10 years ago it sounded pretty nice. That said, we opened a bottle last night and I record the below for posterity.
VA that blew off after 30 minutes; and was replaced with dried strawberry, dried red cherry, dried cranberry, lemon peel, ash and an attractive hint of salinity on the nose. The palate is MUCH more tertiary and adds dried meat/jerky, clove, cinnamon and allspice notes in addition to the dried fruits which are still pretty intense.
Medium + body with surprisingly medium acid. Tannins are fully resolved. Drink 12 years ago.
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For a 10 year old Zin that according to Ridge's back label is supposed to be ready by 2008, this bottle really sings! This winery always under promises and over delivers and this ATP bottling is no exception. Massive Zin nose, smooth deep structured, mouth filling, finish that goes on and on. BIG. Although its 14.8% you can't tell. This wine is drinking extremely nicely right now. Solid effort.
Tasted again several days later. Even better!
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Ruby red color. Cold coffee aroma. Pleasant vanilla, coffee, and tar notes, all intermingled. Some mild spice. It appears to be drinking about a year past its prime.
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Very plush, very velvety, mostly dark cherry fruits. Opened up well after 2 hours in uncorked bottle + 22 hours under nitrogen. It should be perfect by 2007.
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Peppery, jammy blackberry and cherry, some anise as well. I like this wine's balance, intensity, plush texture, and velvety tannins. A bit unintegrated on the first day, but came to together on the second.
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2/18/2024 - cydrone Likes this wine: 91 Points
The last tasting note (from March 2023) prompted me to drink this wine with a simple dinner of grilled lamb and asparagus at home, thinking that I wouldn't want to risk opening it with friends or for guests. The writer of that note is clearly a very experienced wine drinker and reviewer (much more so than I), but he must have opened a bad bottle. This wine is still fabulous.
A bit more rustic and less elegant than most Zinfandels from Ridge, but still very much in the Ridge style. Translucent ruby with some brick-red around the edges. Intense dark red fruit, very brambly and peppery; classic old-vine Sonoma Zin aromas and flavors. Tertiary notes are definitely present but are complementary and nowhere near dominant. Tasted great immediately after opening, still beautifully balanced and even more delicious 2-3 hours later. Perfect with rich food, as the great Paul Draper suggested on the back label. Bottles of this wine that have been properly stored and aren't corked should last another few years.
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3/15/2023 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote:
This is so obviously over the hill that I can't rate it. 12...even 10 years ago it sounded pretty nice. That said, we opened a bottle last night and I record the below for posterity.
VA that blew off after 30 minutes; and was replaced with dried strawberry, dried red cherry, dried cranberry, lemon peel, ash and an attractive hint of salinity on the nose. The palate is MUCH more tertiary and adds dried meat/jerky, clove, cinnamon and allspice notes in addition to the dried fruits which are still pretty intense.
Medium + body with surprisingly medium acid. Tannins are fully resolved. Drink 12 years ago.
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2/27/2012 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 91 Points
For a 10 year old Zin that according to Ridge's back label is supposed to be ready by 2008, this bottle really sings! This winery always under promises and over delivers and this ATP bottling is no exception. Massive Zin nose, smooth deep structured, mouth filling, finish that goes on and on. BIG. Although its 14.8% you can't tell. This wine is drinking extremely nicely right now. Solid effort.
Tasted again several days later. Even better!
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5/1/2010 - TexasBob wrote: 87 Points
Ruby red color. Cold coffee aroma. Pleasant vanilla, coffee, and tar notes, all intermingled. Some mild spice. It appears to be drinking about a year past its prime.
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3/19/2010 - dboutt wrote: 91 Points
Excellent
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2/19/2010 - veniceslug1 wrote: 91 Points
Nicely balanced and complex. Dark fruit.
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11/15/2009 - phil0711 wrote:
still drinking well right out of the bottle - giving it some air...
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2/21/2009 - dboutt wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking well
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4/26/2008 - winemaker wrote: 90 Points
Very good, fresh, fruit laden, soft tannins. Drinking very well right now.
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11/6/2005 - FeloniousMonk wrote: 90 Points
Very plush, very velvety, mostly dark cherry fruits. Opened up well after 2 hours in uncorked bottle + 22 hours under nitrogen.
It should be perfect by 2007.
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5/29/2005 - jwwinec wrote: 89 Points
Peppery, jammy blackberry and cherry, some anise as well. I like this wine's balance, intensity, plush texture, and velvety tannins. A bit unintegrated on the first day, but came to together on the second.
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