February 11, 2024 - 27th Anniversary Cellar Pull. Ravenswood wines age gracefully and this 1997 Monte Rosso vineyard Zinfandel was no exception! Mostly tertiary, but still holding on to some primary fruit. The palate is still lively with silky tannins and a beautiful acid streak lasting into the long finish. The only downfall was the amount of sediment that had fallen out.
March 25, 2020 - A good bottle - and when they’re on, these old ravenswoods are revelatory. In beautiful balance, starting to develop a caramel edge. Speaks more to the place than the grape. Texturally layered, rich but not thick - medium bodied and just so nice. Plums, caramel, resolved tannin.
November 30, 2017 - The things you find when you are poking around the wine cellar. I thought I had consumed all the bottles from my six pack, but there was one left, packed in with my Pickberry Bottles. I was prepared for disappointment, as my last bottle, in 2008, was rather nasty and volatile. Well this certainly showed some wild acidity, but it also showed a well developed, leather, bramble and dusty cherry set of aromatics. On the palate it was kind of lean, but the bramble and leather elements came back from the mid-palate. Overall it was not the most rewarding aging experiment, but it was at least a better end to my bottles than the one in 2008.
November 13, 2016 - Still hanging in there. Blackberry flavors present. Nice wine toi go with griiled ribeyes, especially for a wine that is 19 ears old.
August 18, 2015 - VA and corked as well.
January 18, 2015 - to pruney for my taste in zin. but others liked it.
May 30, 2010 - EWG does Zins and Sliders @ Conrad's: Around 1997 is when I tapered off my Zin buying as they seemed to be getting more over ripe, heavier and hotter. I suspect this was very ripe and a bit hot when young but it seems to have walked that line just fine. Not heavy or pruney. The acids were bright and sweet rather than tart. Very good.
May 30, 2010 - EWG does Zinfandel and Sliders (Conrad Green's Abode): Jammy stony Zinberry nose that is remarkably fresh and young. Big and brightly fruited, very expressive with a great acidic, almost minerally finish. I was very surprised at how young and fresh this seemed and the way the acids balanced out the fruit. Terrific and one of my favorites on the night but not for the kind that insist on fruit taking a secondary seat in aged wines.
May 19, 2009 - this bottle lives up to the producer's motto, "no wimpy wines". significant sedimentation. youthful ruby color. full nose. firm body. if you like hefty zin, this is for you. could probably continue to pack a powerful punch as a midle weight champion for another year or two.
March 9, 2009 - BLACK CHERRIES, LEATHER, AND LICORICE IN THE NOSE WITH BLACK CHERRIES AND SPICE IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.