April 14, 2024 - Vibrant raspberry on the nose. Cherry, anise, and herbs on the palate.
March 21, 2024 - Cherry and cherry and more cherry
March 12, 2024 - Just like first bottle… very good on many levels. Not a bargain, but worth the price.
March 10, 2024 - Wow! As my old friend MLipton elided, this is a splendid, throwback to the 90s Pagani. The nose doesn't have the American oak creamy dill or elevated alcohol that drove me away from this American classic. It's not like this is a slight or IPOB wine, but it seems more in line with what I've had from Bedrock than the last young Ridge Pagani I tried. There is a real vibrancy to the fruit as deep and dark as it is. I get this dark earth, licorice, espresso savory mélange from Pagani that undergirds the fruit in a savory way. Silky and voluptuous through the palate, well shaped by acidity and buried structure. The best part of drinking this is that I got to share some with pigdaddy, who shares a love of the Ridge wines of yesteryear and has kept closer tabs on them than I. This bottle had an emotional, nostalgic resonance with me which will probably lead me to buy a case even though I need more wine like a hole in the head.
March 10, 2024 - Bright purple, youthfully opaque. Brimful of fruit (blueberry, brambles, cherry lifesavers), very vivid, fresh. Lots of energy on the palate, with an intensity that belies its medium weight. Well integrated acidity, peppery tannins. Promising.
February 10, 2024 - Dinner at Peter's: Really interesting nose of raspberry milkshake, exuberant and eager to please. New leather, milk chocolate and pot pourri - but for all that it's not cloying. Rich red fruit on the palate, quite silky and very drinkable while retaining some structure and drive.
January 25, 2024 - dark red fruit, spice, surprisingly well integrated oak at this age. Great length on this and pleasant palette heft.
January 23, 2024 - Rich and smooth. Deep purple fruit on the nose and palette. Well integrated and fine tannins. Medium long finish. Good with roasted pork… as well as sipping the next day.
January 15, 2024 - This shows all the right elements - dark red fruit, acid, oak, with a med+ finish - for my tastes this will improve considerably with a few years to integrate and develop complexity. I’d say 90-91 now with definite upside potential
January 12, 2024 - Blueberry, tobacco, crushed rock and freesia. Nice length and a medium-to full-bodied palate, with silky tannins. This has structure and a great presence. Tasted next to the Carlisle Pagani - as both are just stunning - the Carlisle has more depth and nuance. This will age gracefully. Decant or wait a year. Drink 2025 - 2035.