March 2, 2014 - PNP. Cork wet half way up and crumbly. Wine was fine. Color starting to brick on edges. This was soft and smooth with no edges. Has transitioned to mostly secondary flavors with a core of fig fruit and earth. The dark berries are gone. Finish polished and easy. Perfect match with our salmon and rice. Would not have guessed this as zin, and would drink it again w pleasure. Doubt that it will get any better.
May 19, 2013 - Chicago Berserkerfest; 5/18/2013-5/19/2013 (Chicago, IL): I really liked this. The fruit was ultra spicy, rich, but focused. Seems to have shed its sappy fruit in the perfect way. Left behind were brambly dark fruits, subtle earth, some wood char and great structure. Didn't seem tired at all.
May 18, 2013 - Excellent wine, with dark cherry, bramble, herbs, great acidity, and warm wood. A little less "oomph" than yesterday's 92 Lytton Springs, but better integration and finesse, and more subtle wood. Very nice. Quite lovely now, but no real hurry.
March 14, 2012 - Top shoulder fill, $45 from UVA wines in Brooklyn via auction. Appreciated Dan's help and their temp control storage for back vintage stock. Cork looked good at the top but was saturated almost all the way up though the wine did not seem affected. Started off musty, dirty and one taster thought brett. Another pointed out that brett would have destroyed the solid core of sweet fruit that this wine held for 2 hours up until is was polished off. Mr. Moore says its usually other bacteria responsible for the 'stable' smell if the wine is older and not completely obliterated. There was a dusty thicket aspect and it carried the alcohol and fruit flawlessly without ever seeming oversweet or hot. Quite tasty amongst a lot of other qualty wines and pleased the group of experienced tasters. Expectations fulfilled!
November 20, 2011 - The finest example of old Ridge Zin that I've experienced to date. Despite Paul Draper's advice to consume prior to 1997 (from the label) the '91 Paso Zin is now at its peak. 14.9% alcohol, but not a hint of it on a nose of anise and dark fruit. Color was dark cherry without even a hint of browing at the edges. Surprisingly jammy and fresh; 45+ second finish. Fantastic.
November 19, 2010 - This puppy is showing a little bricking. A full nose of plums and raisins. Thick mouthfeel -- this is a full bodied wine with nearly 15% ABV. Plenty of fruit of the palate, raspberries and cherries. Plenty of acid well in balance. Dusty, silky tannin with a very long finish. This is a beaut.
July 20, 2010 - Fully saturated cork slipped out so easily, and turned as I was putting the corkscrew in, I thought it would be bad. But no - a beautiful wine. Serious bricking, with only a hint of salmon at the lightening rim. Brambly zin, strong alcohol, mild vanilla on the effusive nose. Peak maturity on the palate - good, dry attack of fruit forward and secondarily complex earth and leather notes. Strong flavors of plum, very ripe raspberries and other red and black fruits. Good finish, strong mouthwatering acidity, noticeable oak that gives sweet depth, and fine tannins, mostly resolved. Delicious. Another winner from Paul Draper. Knowing Ridge Zins, this will be on a long and SLOW decline for another 10 years. 93 pts.
October 13, 1997 - VIBRANT FRUIT IN THE NOSE WITH COFFEE, LICORICE, RASPBERRIES, AND BLACKBERRIES. FLAVOR LIKE THE NOSE, VERY JAMMY FRUIT. LONG FINISH. PORT LIKE NOSE. NICE LEGS.