November 9, 2020 - Had a bottle of this yesterday. It should be past its 'drink by date' to be fair. I fact it was a lovely wine. Lovely soft fruit. It was a bit light on the palate as opposed to its youthful vigour but lovely none the less.I got lovely vanilla, tobacco leather. My daughter said blackberries. This is easily a 89 to 90 point wine. Very pleased it has lasted so well this long.
January 23, 2019 - Brief note. cork was perfect. color showing age. this is perfectly mature. it has dill from its obvious oak influence, but despite the oak being prominent the fruit is hanging in. i dont see any upside to waiting. drink
November 8, 2018 - Tasted in a flight with 94 Rafanelli and 94 Ravenswood Old Hill Vineyard.
When first tasted, it was by far the freshest of the lineup. Still quite primary with jammy blackberry, fresh raspberry, boysenberry, and blueberry, but it opened up to reveal black pepper, white pepper, drying leather, dried thyme, and a hint of potting soil. Spectacular! Wine of the night, but just by a hair over the Ravenswood.
December 26, 2017 - Lovely wine. Had it with duck. Delicious. Its aged with all the secondary flavours you would expect. A little dusky on the edge but still holding up well especially if you like you secondary flavours.
October 22, 2016 - Deep color belies its age. Red fruit, spice and leather notes. Raspberry, cherry and red plum with pepper and spice qualities as well. Fully-integrated and balanced. This bottle has held up surprisingly well.
March 12, 2016 - Ridge tasting at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2016: strong red color; in the nose leather, herbs and red fruits; later vanilla aroma added in; medium body and strong finish.
January 23, 2016 - on the downslope, but still enjoyable. Trademark brambly red fruit faded after an hour.
October 24, 2015 - Had this wine the other night. I was expecting it to be past its best. It is radically different to when it was a young wine but it has aged really well. No flaws. Lovely dark fruit, liquorice, soft tannins. I am really pleased and plan to drink this case of wine over the next 2 years. Well done Ridge. Its a testament to the ability of their wines to age even wines that are mainly Zinfandel.
April 22, 2013 - mature colour. Very expressive nose, plummy fruit, quite luxuriant. Palate mature fruit , quite high toned, still some tannins and quite high acidity. Excellent with food. Fully mature.
October 7, 2012 - Wow -- though my expectations were low, I'm stunned how well this was still drinking... must be the petit syrah complementing the oxidizing zin. I agree with prior review that this could keep awhile, but why wait more on a 16-yr-old zin-heavy blend? Enjoy now while a sure thing.