Medium ruby (surprising) color with pink meniscus to the edge. Medium intensity nose with a mix of dark red and black fruits. Oak is present, but well integrated after 14 years of age. Minimal tertiary notes for me on this bottle. The palate was supple with tannin and acidity in perfect balance. The darker fruit was more pronounced and present but again in harmony with the other elements. This is an outstanding wine. It could go longer if you're searching out more tertiary flavors, but I very much enjoyed this wine today.
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Six months ago a sister bottle exhibited distinct, strong acid throughout and overall distinctly unpleasant. This bottle was showed pleasingly better. Cranberry marked its color and some of the nose along with rhubarb and molasses. In a unoffensive, compliant way, the attack tracked the nose. ... and then it was gone. Linear, shallow and forgotten. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. Some sediment. With Shack attack (beef) burgers with PM while DD is out of town. Recommended with reservations.
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Another bottle pulled to see if the prior bottle was an oddity or if this bottle continues a trend. The trend continues. Again a pretty cranberry in the glass, but most of the pleasure ends there. A distinct smell of acid, fading fruit and a strong acid finish. No finish but for the acid. Distinctly unpleasant. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. Some sediment. With mushroom risotto. Not Recommended.
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Two and a half years ago when recommending this wine, I wrote, “Patience will reward.” It did not. Two years ago this wine displayed abundant fruit and loads of angular structure. The tannins needed to integrate. Today, the tannins have softened, but the fruit died in the meantime. While the wine displays pretty cranberry colors in the glass, and a nose of plum, molasses, and roses. But the nose also has the smell of acid. On the palate, the fruit notes appear on the attack, but they have retreated by the mid-palate. Beyond that, they are a no-show. Some graham cracker appears, but then acid takes over. The wine has no finish but acid; a short, unpleasant finish. Off bottle? Unknown. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. With grilled pork tenderloin with molasses and mustard glaze. Not Recommended.
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I was originally skeptical of the high ratings for this and other Ridge Zins. In early years I've found them a bit vegetal, green and unsatisfying, but I now see how much quality they have, given a bit of bottle age. This is deep, expressive, serious and very satisfying - just needed time.
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Plum at the rim, but an opaqueness quickly grabs toward the core. Young in color and bouquet with both caramel and molasses, it delivers an attack of sweet brown sugar and molasses with fruits of plum and blackberry. Rhubarb weighs in along with balsamic and some black pepper. The tannins are still angular and edgy. After two days, the tannins soften a touch. There’s a load of structure in this wine. Patience will reward. No hotness whatsoever. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. With (chicken) Coq au Zin with the Sheets and the Scripps. Recommended.
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Had another one of my bottles last night and it couldn't be any more different than the 4/16/14 bottle. Chalk the 4/16 bottle up to an off bottle as they were all purchased and stored together.
Ripe, juicy, balanced, nicely integrated and a pleasure to drink. I still think the wine is in the last few years of its PRIME drinking window and would not hold much beyond 2017.
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Have to agree with the last few tasting notes. Definitely underwhelming and unexpectedly flat, muted fruit,and somewhat astringent compared to the other three I've had. This was bottle four of six purchased in 2011 and I'm hoping just an off bottle as the other three were quite good. If not an off bottle then these are definitely on the back end of their drinking window.
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Meh. Medium red, medium body, medium fruit. Nothing happening in the middle between the first sip and the tannins taking over. Just not well put together, and not up to the usual Ridge standard.
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This disappointed me, too plummy, flabby, needs some acidity and bright fruit. No freshness. If I tasted blind I would have guessed a Sonoma Merlot. This blend of Zinfandel and Petite Syrah tastes like a bad idea for my palate.
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1 hr decant. Expressive nose of dark cherry, raspberry,vanilla and baking spice. Medium body of black raspberry, licorice, and cinnamon. Medium plus finish with moderate tannins.
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Decanted over 1.5 hours. Lighter than most Zins but it did not have the medicinal nose I have come to expect of Ridge wines. Lots of light red fruit like strawberries and cherries. Hints of vanilla. A nice drinking wine that is not over the top.
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I love this style of Zin. A lot if zins are over-extracted, "jammy", hot and overripe. This is the complete opposite of that style. This Zin is very balanced on the nose and palate. The fruit shines through in both senses. While this could be more "in-your-face", this is just our style of Zin; yummy and easy drinking
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Fruit is developing in both the nose and the palate, but it still needs time. Puckers tannins appear in the mid-palate through the finish. Bright acidity should make it good with food.
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Wow. Not your little sisters Zin. Purple in the glass. Smoky rough fruit. Tight rough dirty w a nervy high fruit finish. This is just too tight & oaky w the PS in here. It needs 2 years to settle into a fun wine. Today w a long decant.
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Initially shy and tight structure but not overly tannic. It doesn't have traditional Zin fruit. Field blend style highlighting York Creek over Zin. Good wine but not imminently satisfying. Wait a few years but will probably age for quite some time.
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Petite gives it good structure, but little else going on. Might not even peg this as a Zin in a blind tasting. Black fruit. 90, might reach 91 with time.
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Garnet color, nose of deep red fruit, austere, fennel. Very tannin right now, lots of structure, more like a cabernet sauvignon as you might expect from Ridge's only vineyard in Napa.
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Garnet color. Nose: blackberry reduction, licorice, cinnamon, pie crust, and some sweet new leather. Medium body on the palate: crushed wild blackberry, cherry tart, licorice, cocoa, and baking spices. Focused acidity. Moderate/firm tannins. Lingering berries, berry skin, and cocoa powder on the moderate/long dry finish. Somewhat tightly wound right now even after a substantial decanting. The beautiful fruit shines through nonetheless. Could use a few years to help integrate the tannins. Nicely done as usual.
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9/8/2022 - srwatters Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium ruby (surprising) color with pink meniscus to the edge. Medium intensity nose with a mix of dark red and black fruits. Oak is present, but well integrated after 14 years of age. Minimal tertiary notes for me on this bottle. The palate was supple with tannin and acidity in perfect balance. The darker fruit was more pronounced and present but again in harmony with the other elements. This is an outstanding wine. It could go longer if you're searching out more tertiary flavors, but I very much enjoyed this wine today.
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12/23/2020 - Ed B Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. No detailed notes. Love good Zins with some age. In a great place now.
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7/20/2020 - Wine4Amygdala wrote:
Drinking this way after as it was accidentally in deep storage. Still a very nice zinfandel lots of berries nice finish. Surprised
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6/23/2019 - jschoenau wrote: 89 Points
had with tri-tip
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5/16/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
Six months ago a sister bottle exhibited distinct, strong acid throughout and overall distinctly unpleasant. This bottle was showed pleasingly better. Cranberry marked its color and some of the nose along with rhubarb and molasses. In a unoffensive, compliant way, the attack tracked the nose. ... and then it was gone. Linear, shallow and forgotten. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. Some sediment. With Shack attack (beef) burgers with PM while DD is out of town. Recommended with reservations.
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11/5/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
Another bottle pulled to see if the prior bottle was an oddity or if this bottle continues a trend. The trend continues. Again a pretty cranberry in the glass, but most of the pleasure ends there. A distinct smell of acid, fading fruit and a strong acid finish. No finish but for the acid. Distinctly unpleasant. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. Some sediment. With mushroom risotto. Not Recommended.
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11/4/2017 - timewithwine wrote:
Two and a half years ago when recommending this wine, I wrote, “Patience will reward.” It did not. Two years ago this wine displayed abundant fruit and loads of angular structure. The tannins needed to integrate. Today, the tannins have softened, but the fruit died in the meantime. While the wine displays pretty cranberry colors in the glass, and a nose of plum, molasses, and roses. But the nose also has the smell of acid. On the palate, the fruit notes appear on the attack, but they have retreated by the mid-palate. Beyond that, they are a no-show. Some graham cracker appears, but then acid takes over. The wine has no finish but acid; a short, unpleasant finish. Off bottle? Unknown. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. With grilled pork tenderloin with molasses and mustard glaze. Not Recommended.
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7/16/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
I was originally skeptical of the high ratings for this and other Ridge Zins. In early years I've found them a bit vegetal, green and unsatisfying, but I now see how much quality they have, given a bit of bottle age. This is deep, expressive, serious and very satisfying - just needed time.
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8/14/2016 - floating_cellar wrote: 89 Points
A bit flat, maybe an off bottle, as mentioned by many there seems to be a lot of bottle variation.
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4/12/2015 - mlmotto Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great pairing with my creole red beans & rice.
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2/13/2015 - timewithwine wrote:
Plum at the rim, but an opaqueness quickly grabs toward the core. Young in color and bouquet with both caramel and molasses, it delivers an attack of sweet brown sugar and molasses with fruits of plum and blackberry. Rhubarb weighs in along with balsamic and some black pepper. The tannins are still angular and edgy. After two days, the tannins soften a touch. There’s a load of structure in this wine. Patience will reward. No hotness whatsoever. A blend of Zinfandel (79%) and Petit Sirah (21%). 14.9% alc. With (chicken) Coq au Zin with the Sheets and the Scripps. Recommended.
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11/19/2014 - que syrah syrah wrote: 88 Points
Had another one of my bottles last night and it couldn't be any more different than the 4/16/14 bottle. Chalk the 4/16 bottle up to an off bottle as they were all purchased and stored together.
Ripe, juicy, balanced, nicely integrated and a pleasure to drink. I still think the wine is in the last few years of its PRIME drinking window and would not hold much beyond 2017.
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7/27/2014 - ogres3 wrote: 88 Points
The missus drank when I was OOT. Had a drop after a day or two and didn't knock my socks off. Seemed to be a bit harsh.
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4/16/2014 - que syrah syrah wrote:
Have to agree with the last few tasting notes. Definitely underwhelming and unexpectedly flat, muted fruit,and somewhat astringent compared to the other three I've had. This was bottle four of six purchased in 2011 and I'm hoping just an off bottle as the other three were quite good. If not an off bottle then these are definitely on the back end of their drinking window.
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4/6/2014 - jrlamia wrote: 84 Points
Thin, sharp acidity, muted flavors. Past prime.
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1/15/2014 - ogres3 wrote: 88 Points
Underwhelming. Not a wine I would go out and buy. The 07 was much better. Oh well.
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11/30/2013 - twoamps wrote: 87 Points
Meh. Medium red, medium body, medium fruit. Nothing happening in the middle between the first sip and the tannins taking over. Just not well put together, and not up to the usual Ridge standard.
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10/31/2013 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 88 Points
Nice typical Zin. Actually tasted better the next day
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6/5/2013 - wineotim wrote: 85 Points
This disappointed me, too plummy, flabby, needs some acidity and bright fruit. No freshness. If I tasted blind I would have guessed a Sonoma Merlot. This blend of Zinfandel and Petite Syrah tastes like a bad idea for my palate.
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9/1/2012 - thatrick wrote: 87 Points
Very average Zin - not one of Ridge's better efforts
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8/13/2012 - Nebuchadnezzar1974 wrote: 86 Points
OK. Drink in first hour. By 3rd hour it was done. Do not buy more. Medium to light nose/taste/body
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8/5/2012 - rosesandthorns wrote: 86 Points
Super ripe and lacking a balance between fruit and acid. Out of sync out of the gate and didn't get better.
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7/3/2012 - krhaugh wrote: 88 Points
Better than the 1st time I tasted this. Dark red fruit that a little "wow" factor to it. Hints of blueberry & blackberry with just a touch of vanilla.
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5/22/2012 - bobpsi wrote: 90 Points
1 hr decant. Expressive nose of dark cherry, raspberry,vanilla and baking spice. Medium body of black raspberry, licorice, and cinnamon. Medium plus finish with moderate tannins.
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4/13/2012 - krhaugh wrote: 86 Points
Decanted over 1.5 hours. Lighter than most Zins but it did not have the medicinal nose I have come to expect of Ridge wines. Lots of light red fruit like strawberries and cherries. Hints of vanilla. A nice drinking wine that is not over the top.
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3/27/2012 - Relliott127 wrote:
Very nice pleasant drinking
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2/20/2012 - ShaneO wrote: 91 Points
I love this style of Zin. A lot if zins are over-extracted, "jammy", hot and overripe. This is the complete opposite of that style. This Zin is very balanced on the nose and palate. The fruit shines through in both senses. While this could be more "in-your-face", this is just our style of Zin; yummy and easy drinking
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12/2/2011 - kosinski wrote:
Fruit is developing in both the nose and the palate, but it still needs time. Puckers tannins appear in the mid-palate through the finish. Bright acidity should make it good with food.
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10/7/2011 - Sunsettseeker Likes this wine:
Fruit forward with vanilla. Tannins on the mid palate. Could age a few years!
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10/5/2011 - tplskylrk wrote: 88 Points
Wow. Not your little sisters Zin. Purple in the glass. Smoky rough fruit. Tight rough dirty w a nervy high fruit finish. This is just too tight & oaky w the PS in here. It needs 2 years to settle into a fun wine. Today w a long decant.
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9/25/2011 - esb wrote:
Initially shy and tight structure but not overly tannic. It doesn't have traditional Zin fruit. Field blend style highlighting York Creek over Zin. Good wine but not imminently satisfying. Wait a few years but will probably age for quite some time.
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7/31/2011 - rcmcb wrote: 90 Points
Petite gives it good structure, but little else going on. Might not even peg this as a Zin in a blind tasting. Black fruit. 90, might reach 91 with time.
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6/5/2011 - Mezz wrote: 91 Points
LiB, Delicious zin blend, further affirming my love of Ridge. Worth every penny!
Thievery Corporation 2011
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5/4/2011 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Garnet color, nose of deep red fruit, austere, fennel. Very tannin right now, lots of structure, more like a cabernet sauvignon as you might expect from Ridge's only vineyard in Napa.
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1/31/2011 - jsums wrote: 89 Points
Garnet color. Nose: blackberry reduction, licorice, cinnamon, pie crust, and some sweet new leather. Medium body on the palate: crushed wild blackberry, cherry tart, licorice, cocoa, and baking spices. Focused acidity. Moderate/firm tannins. Lingering berries, berry skin, and cocoa powder on the moderate/long dry finish. Somewhat tightly wound right now even after a substantial decanting. The beautiful fruit shines through nonetheless. Could use a few years to help integrate the tannins. Nicely done as usual.
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8/28/2010 - kosinski wrote:
Earthy, mossy nose. Closed and vegetal at first, but then opens to some jamminess. Good structure. Needs some cellar time. Try again in 2013.
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