June 5, 2019 - A 19 year old Zinfandel blend...yea, I was holding my breath for this one. Was it about to blow my mind or had I just blown my money on the bottle? If ever there were doubts that Ridge was one of THE greats, this bottle silenced them. Zinging blackberry, ripe plum. I never would have guessed it’s aged. All hail the masters on zin!
February 24, 2011 - Discovered in cellar and popped open. This was an oak bomb that needed several hours and multiple aerations to make it drinkable. Hopefully the balance of the bottle will be better tonight....
September 14, 2010 - Disappointing. Perhaps the 2000 is over its peak.
September 14, 2010 - This was a good bottle of Ridge. I am noticing though that quality of the fruit is beginning to vary from the 2000 vintage.
May 8, 2009 - Really was looking forward to this one & was not disappointed. Smooth yet complex. Wonderful dark fruits. Makes me wish I'd scored more than one bottle. Everyone at dinner thought this was exceptional.
January 4, 2009 - Raspberries, black cherry, and graphite on the nose. Still a nice mouthfeel and well balanced for its age, a little flabby on the initial flavors, but then some marzipan and cherry on the midpalate and finishing with red Twizzlers and some old leaves. A lot for the price point, but finish what you have.
May 29, 2008 - Nose of raspberries, medium mouthfeel, glycerin taste with long finish. Probably a little past its prime. Drank as part of a semi-annual cellar purge of wines unitentially held too long. Better than expected for a wine not expected to last this long.
November 23, 2006 - Past its prime, aging a few more years hurt rather than added to this wine.
November 23, 2006 - Drank Thanksgiving 2006, had turned and lost some flavor - past its prime.
September 27, 2004 - Very berry and tannic. Tastes like a dusty Zin with Grenache. Reasonably enjoyable, except for the puckery tannins. Give it until 2006.