The color is deep, very deep beyond plum. The nose is intoxicating with deep red fruits, bramble berry, Zin funk, cinnamon bark, coffee, cedar and mocha. The palate tracks the nose with precision. I so love this cuvée from Ridge! The mouthfeel is round with resolved tannins. A blend of 80% Zin. 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. Some sediment. 15% alc. With (beef) smash burgers. 07.07.22. Highly Recommended.
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The blend consists of 80% Zin, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. We pulled this and a Pagani ‘08 to compare vintages. It wasn’t much of a comparison as the ‘08 was an off bottle and everyone easily found this ‘09 fresher, cleaner and an over all better wine. Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, sblackberry, blueberry, plum, allspice, Draper perfume; an explosion of scents! A delight to drink. Not much rhubarb here, an observation shared by us all. Maybe a bit of coffee on the finish. Chunks of grainy sediment coats the neck of the bottle. 15% alc. With pork BBQ on Covid-19 lockdown Easter day. Recommended.
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Deep burnt garnet. Old strawberry, black pepper, medium to full bodied with slight acidity. Beautiful vintage ripeness on nose. It has an "exotic" quality as noted by others. One of my favorites from Ridge.
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Dense, dark and very ripe. The sweet fruit is pretty well held in check by the acidity. It has some interesting spice notes and a very long tart finish. The other grapes make it not quite a Zinfandel. Not usually a fan of sweet, high alcohol Zins but this is done very well. I thought it was drinking really well and was great with lamb, tarragon rice, and harissa roasted carrots.
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It’s fine. Aged too long. It lost its middle and front palate. The flavors of overripe berries dominate, losing the secondary flavors. Body is okay, tannins feel disjointed from the rest of the wine. I think 2015 would have been a better time to drink this.
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My first impression of the ‘09 bottling. The blend consists of 80% Zin, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. As the cork clears the bottle the room fills with this wine’s bouquet. Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, something floral, blackberry, blueberry, plum, allspice, Draper perfume; an explosion of scents! And its all there with precision on the palate. Surprisingly absent is the usual tell-tale rhubarb most Zins and most all Ridge Zins show. Here, it’s simply not a factor. More red fruits burst out by the finish where coffee elbows its way in. Very little sediment. 15% alc. With (beef) Shack attack burgers. Recommended.
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Dark color, looks heavy but not thick. Nose of aged fruit (not bright), some spice - maybe cinnamon. Both a little bit of "burn" (higher alcohol?) and sweet on the taste. (Spouse agrees with sweet.) We both are enjoying it, but it seems a little too much of "big fruit" and not as bright as I was expecting. Smooth, with some alcohol burn, but not as much as some others. Bought at release, stored until 7/2017, open about 90 minutes when I tasted & wrote this. Happy I have another one, but wouldn't chase this one.
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PnD let air for 1hr. Dark purple saturated with a crimson rim. Very ripe blackberry on the nose a bit boozy with a touch of beef jerky. Medium(+) with ripe silky tannins. Ripe blackfruits with a hint of bing cherry anise cinnamon and a pleasant bitter herbal note. Very ripe but saved rom being OTT with some vibrant acidity on the finish.
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Brambly on the nose, with aromas and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, black pepper, spice, hints of chocolate and some vanillian. Somewhat jammy in the mouth; soft. Fairly rich fruit. Has good balance. A medium soft finish on the back palate. A great pairing with meat pizza. Drinking well now, but has a few years left for appreciation.
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Drinking very well. Very Zin on the nose and palate, with a lot of depth. Works great with grilled meats. Well balanced, and has a lot going on which hides the alcohol. This might be near peak, not convinced that further aging will improve it as the fruit is heavy enough that the structure might leave first. Love the individuality of this bottling.
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Medium red violet color. Significant oak veneer in the nose, very ripe plum, cow's milk. On arrival, medium tannin fairly drying, medium acidity. Ripe boysenberry and raspberry fruit in the mouth, somewhat simple and intense. Alcoholic finish with huge American oak seasoning; too much actually. Bottle #2 of three.
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In the CA Zin tasting, the 2 blends took top honors, with this bottle placing 2nd. The nose had hints of grass and slight pepper, but also had a strong, robust fruit foundation. The flavor was even on the palate with very nice mid fruits and a good mellow finish. It was quite enjoyable, and is teaching me that Zin seems to do better when it is blended.
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Developing beautifully in the cellar is the '09 Pagani, which has shed some of it's youthful intensity, which was replaced by a more focused, ripe fruit nose of dark berries and sweet spice. Notes of coco and ginger remain, yet the hint of vanilla has now been replaced by dried floral notes and spice. On the palate, I found spiced red berries with juicy textures and perfect balance. The finish was shorter than expected, yet structured, and may resolve with time. All in all an excellent wine.
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Good but not great. Followed another wine that was awesome and older so I didn't have the most objective view on this wine. Seemed it would benefit from more age or a decant (which I didn't do).
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Somehow pulls off the high wire act of having rich, creamy oaked fruit while still projecting elegance and never wearing out the palate. Loads of brambly fruit, soft tannins, peppery spice, and a lick of vanilla. Great with BBQ.
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Pronounced nose. Blackberry, bramble, mulling spice, vanilla and toast. Very nice finish. Very little heat detected. Long life ahead, but it is so yummy now with a bit of air.
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Still my favorite Ridge Zin - and unfortunately my last bottle of this vintage. My friends loved this wine - big flavor but not overpowering and a great finish.
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Day one this wine was a bit simple, with creamy vanilla and briar fruit and a little out of joint. Day two, everything came much more into focus, with a more claret-like profile and a very balanced (despite the 15% ABV) feel. But overall, this is just too young to say anything definitive. Hold.
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Simplistic nose of raspberries and vanilla. The palate has a great sensuous texture with some baking spices and more vanilla. This needs a lot of time to loosen up.
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Popped and poured. Medium-plus dark ruby/purple hue, brooding. Upon first pour, the aromas are primarily those of toasted oak and show by way of vanilla bean, toasted coconut, and cinnamon graham cracker. After a good 40-50 minutes, the nose opens up to reveal a strong core of dark fruits, which evoke raspberry jam, boysenberry, and black cherry. Herbaceous complexities of mild sage, fresh oregano, chocolate mint, and perhaps even hints of menthol show as well. Medium-plus body, and terrifically structured...almost beastly for a Ridge - indeed, it veers structurally more towards that of a powerful claret than your typical CA Zinfandel, and even more so than is the norm from this producer (who is certainly known making wines in such a style). However, the claret comparisons end there, as the ripened fruit flavors are almost akin to a hypothetical blending of spicy, kirsch-infused Châteauneuf-du-Pape with that of herbaceous Priorat. The fruit complexities are heightened through a subtle impression of minerals backed by moderate acidity along with dried herbs and umami characteristics peppered throughout. Although a touch of heat shows on the lengthy close, it's really quite incidental to the lingering, intense flavors of fresh fruit propelled by rounded, chewy tannins. This will age for 10-15 years, easily. Awesome juice, and a true testament to both the historic vineyard and renowned winey alike.
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Popped & poured. Deep ruby color. Pungent aromas of green tea leaves and bosenberry compote. Off dry to medium sweet body. Lively acidity with slight tannins. Intense raspberry with vanilla bean and lightly toasted wood. Classic Ridge zin!
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Rich, nearly opaque purple color. Aroma of jammy black fruit with a touch of floral perfume. Black fruit flavors predominate, with excellent structure and considerable tannin lurking under the surface and persisting on the long finish. Drinkable now, but should do well over the next decade at least. Fruit is complemented by vanilla notes and a touch of warm spice.
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Sonoma - March 2012: Spectacular and a step up from Ridge's other great Zins. Complex, floral, spicy fruit. Rich and classy in the mouth. Good now but probably better in a year or two.
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Drunk over two days, better after sitting in half full bottle in the cellar overnight. Straightforward, full flavor Zin. Like an excellent hunk of steak; not a nuanced wine but rich and very well balanced from nose through palate and finish. Dark fruits and spices, says 15% abv but does not show it as there is more than enough to offset the alcohol. The acid/tannin balance with the fruit are such that I am sure this can age but it is very pleasant right now. Thought jsums below summarized what I found very well.
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Full garnet color. Nose: dried cherry/cranberry and ripe Boysenberry fruit with accents of baking spices, black tea, orange peel, leather, and damp earth. Medium/full body on the fantastically complex, silky palate: juicy Boysenberry and dried cherry/cranberry fruit with black tea, baking spices, leather, hot cinnamon candy, orange peel, peppercorn, and damp earth. Medium+ acidity. Moderate/lighter dusty, earthy fine-grain tannins. Lingering black tea, damp earth, and graphite on the long dry finish. Lush, bright, powerful, and finely detailed all at once. Brilliant effort. Extraordinary combination of terroir expression and superb winemaking, though the alcohol does have a tendency to spike here and there. Drink over the next 10 years.
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Nose is candy and feels a touch hot (although the bottle only says 15.0%). Intense red fruit and sharp spice with again a touch of a hot finish. This wine is a firecracker.
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The nose was massive, as aromas of wild berries, dry coco, vanilla, ginger spice and savory notes filled the senses. On the palate, it was medium to full-bodied with amazing focus to its intense red berry fruit and spice. The masses of fruit slowly gave way to show this wine’s structure and balance. The finish was long and clinging to the palate, yet ultimately refreshing as the tannins faded away. I seriously enjoyed this structured Zinfandel and am very happy to have more in my cellar, as I can image that it will get even better with time.
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5/23/2023 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I think it's a little past its prime. A little dusty. EB says should go 15 years - may be optimistic.
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7/7/2022 - timewithwine Likes this wine:
The color is deep, very deep beyond plum. The nose is intoxicating with deep red fruits, bramble berry, Zin funk, cinnamon bark, coffee, cedar and mocha. The palate tracks the nose with precision. I so love this cuvée from Ridge! The mouthfeel is round with resolved tannins. A blend of 80% Zin. 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. Some sediment. 15% alc. With (beef) smash burgers. 07.07.22. Highly Recommended.
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4/12/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
The blend consists of 80% Zin, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. We pulled this and a Pagani ‘08 to compare vintages. It wasn’t much of a comparison as the ‘08 was an off bottle and everyone easily found this ‘09 fresher, cleaner and an over all better wine. Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, sblackberry, blueberry, plum, allspice, Draper perfume; an explosion of scents! A delight to drink. Not much rhubarb here, an observation shared by us all. Maybe a bit of coffee on the finish. Chunks of grainy sediment coats the neck of the bottle. 15% alc. With pork BBQ on Covid-19 lockdown Easter day. Recommended.
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3/14/2020 - cclearningwine wrote: 94 Points
Deep burnt garnet. Old strawberry, black pepper, medium to full bodied with slight acidity. Beautiful vintage ripeness on nose. It has an "exotic" quality as noted by others. One of my favorites from Ridge.
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6/17/2019 - Doblk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dense, dark and very ripe. The sweet fruit is pretty well held in check by the acidity. It has some interesting spice notes and a very long tart finish. The other grapes make it not quite a Zinfandel. Not usually a fan of sweet, high alcohol Zins but this is done very well. I thought it was drinking really well and was great with lamb, tarragon rice, and harissa roasted carrots.
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2/3/2019 - Radzimir Likes this wine: 86 Points
It’s fine. Aged too long. It lost its middle and front palate. The flavors of overripe berries dominate, losing the secondary flavors. Body is okay, tannins feel disjointed from the rest of the wine. I think 2015 would have been a better time to drink this.
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9/19/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
My first impression of the ‘09 bottling. The blend consists of 80% Zin, 14% Alicante Bouschet, 4% Petite Sirah and 2% Carignane. As the cork clears the bottle the room fills with this wine’s bouquet. Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, something floral, blackberry, blueberry, plum, allspice, Draper perfume; an explosion of scents! And its all there with precision on the palate. Surprisingly absent is the usual tell-tale rhubarb most Zins and most all Ridge Zins show. Here, it’s simply not a factor. More red fruits burst out by the finish where coffee elbows its way in. Very little sediment. 15% alc. With (beef) Shack attack burgers. Recommended.
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7/17/2017 - JM_IS Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark color, looks heavy but not thick. Nose of aged fruit (not bright), some spice - maybe cinnamon. Both a little bit of "burn" (higher alcohol?) and sweet on the taste. (Spouse agrees with sweet.) We both are enjoying it, but it seems a little too much of "big fruit" and not as bright as I was expecting. Smooth, with some alcohol burn, but not as much as some others. Bought at release, stored until 7/2017, open about 90 minutes when I tasted & wrote this. Happy I have another one, but wouldn't chase this one.
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4/28/2017 - SpoochMan wrote:
Lab dinner at Avvino. I did not taste this one but seemed to be enjoyed. Last bottle.
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3/19/2016 - df1962 Likes this wine: 91 Points
PnD let air for 1hr. Dark purple saturated with a crimson rim. Very ripe blackberry on the nose a bit boozy with a touch of beef jerky. Medium(+) with ripe silky tannins. Ripe blackfruits with a hint of bing cherry anise cinnamon and a pleasant bitter herbal note. Very ripe but saved rom being OTT with some vibrant acidity on the finish.
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1/29/2016 - Chainthroer wrote: 91 Points
Brambly on the nose, with aromas and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, black pepper, spice, hints of chocolate and some vanillian. Somewhat jammy in the mouth; soft. Fairly rich fruit. Has good balance. A medium soft finish on the back palate. A great pairing with meat pizza. Drinking well now, but has a few years left for appreciation.
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1/16/2016 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brought to E&K's for football. Very smooth and drinking really well, everyone liked this. Went well with chicken mole.
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10/30/2015 - Rechrom wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well. Very Zin on the nose and palate, with a lot of depth. Works great with grilled meats. Well balanced, and has a lot going on which hides the alcohol. This might be near peak, not convinced that further aging will improve it as the fruit is heavy enough that the structure might leave first. Love the individuality of this bottling.
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10/22/2015 - Hodby wrote: 87 Points
Medium red violet color. Significant oak veneer in the nose, very ripe plum, cow's milk. On arrival, medium tannin fairly drying, medium acidity. Ripe boysenberry and raspberry fruit in the mouth, somewhat simple and intense. Alcoholic finish with huge American oak seasoning; too much actually. Bottle #2 of three.
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6/3/2015 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brought to Jude's for BBQ. No detailed notes but it went quickly. Good pairing for BBQ. Fruity but decently balanced
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5/25/2015 - Cadby wrote: 94 Points
2009 Ridge Pagani Ranch Zinfandel ++++ $40
Vibrant, complex elegance, defies 15%alc. Ridge Zin perfection!
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2015/05/2009-ridge-pagani-ranch-zinfandel-40.html
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5/14/2015 - up4wine wrote: 90 Points
In the CA Zin tasting, the 2 blends took top honors, with this bottle placing 2nd. The nose had hints of grass and slight pepper, but also had a strong, robust fruit foundation. The flavor was even on the palate with very nice mid fruits and a good mellow finish. It was quite enjoyable, and is teaching me that Zin seems to do better when it is blended.
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12/30/2014 - Eric Guido wrote: 92 Points
Developing beautifully in the cellar is the '09 Pagani, which has shed some of it's youthful intensity, which was replaced by a more focused, ripe fruit nose of dark berries and sweet spice. Notes of coco and ginger remain, yet the hint of vanilla has now been replaced by dried floral notes and spice. On the palate, I found spiced red berries with juicy textures and perfect balance. The finish was shorter than expected, yet structured, and may resolve with time. All in all an excellent wine.
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8/20/2014 - dransford wrote:
Good but not great. Followed another wine that was awesome and older so I didn't have the most objective view on this wine. Seemed it would benefit from more age or a decant (which I didn't do).
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8/3/2014 - patsox wrote: 92 Points
Typical Ridge. Rich and complex without being overbearing.
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7/26/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Somehow pulls off the high wire act of having rich, creamy oaked fruit while still projecting elegance and never wearing out the palate. Loads of brambly fruit, soft tannins, peppery spice, and a lick of vanilla. Great with BBQ.
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6/25/2014 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 91 Points
Pronounced nose. Blackberry, bramble, mulling spice, vanilla and toast. Very nice finish. Very little heat detected. Long life ahead, but it is so yummy now with a bit of air.
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12/20/2013 - Bsfoakdale wrote: 92 Points
Still my favorite Ridge Zin - and unfortunately my last bottle of this vintage. My friends loved this wine - big flavor but not overpowering and a great finish.
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8/18/2013 - Billigan wrote:
Day one this wine was a bit simple, with creamy vanilla and briar fruit and a little out of joint. Day two, everything came much more into focus, with a more claret-like profile and a very balanced (despite the 15% ABV) feel. But overall, this is just too young to say anything definitive. Hold.
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4/15/2013 - ChadRS wrote: 86 Points
Prior vintages were much better.
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1/26/2013 - Bsfoakdale Likes this wine: 92 Points
My favorite Ridge Zin, not overpowering but a rich sense of fruit and enough body to handle any meat dish.
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11/19/2012 - Scott Butler Likes this wine:
Dang, forgot to take a note on this one. Drank it a while back. It was young, yet excellent. Need to get more to age.
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10/5/2012 - Uglypinga wrote:
Simplistic nose of raspberries and vanilla. The palate has a great sensuous texture with some baking spices and more vanilla. This needs a lot of time to loosen up.
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7/30/2012 - J2K wrote:
Pepper, red fruit, vanilla nose. Very smooth, sweet vanilla, little spice, give some air or cellar time.
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7/27/2012 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured. Medium-plus dark ruby/purple hue, brooding. Upon first pour, the aromas are primarily those of toasted oak and show by way of vanilla bean, toasted coconut, and cinnamon graham cracker. After a good 40-50 minutes, the nose opens up to reveal a strong core of dark fruits, which evoke raspberry jam, boysenberry, and black cherry. Herbaceous complexities of mild sage, fresh oregano, chocolate mint, and perhaps even hints of menthol show as well. Medium-plus body, and terrifically structured...almost beastly for a Ridge - indeed, it veers structurally more towards that of a powerful claret than your typical CA Zinfandel, and even more so than is the norm from this producer (who is certainly known making wines in such a style). However, the claret comparisons end there, as the ripened fruit flavors are almost akin to a hypothetical blending of spicy, kirsch-infused Châteauneuf-du-Pape with that of herbaceous Priorat. The fruit complexities are heightened through a subtle impression of minerals backed by moderate acidity along with dried herbs and umami characteristics peppered throughout. Although a touch of heat shows on the lengthy close, it's really quite incidental to the lingering, intense flavors of fresh fruit propelled by rounded, chewy tannins. This will age for 10-15 years, easily.
Awesome juice, and a true testament to both the historic vineyard and renowned winey alike.
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6/17/2012 - raydawgone wrote: 94 Points
Popped & poured. Deep ruby color. Pungent aromas of green tea leaves and bosenberry compote. Off dry to medium sweet body. Lively acidity with slight tannins. Intense raspberry with vanilla bean and lightly toasted wood. Classic Ridge zin!
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6/5/2012 - pdellacroce wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic Zin! Huge nose, delicious dark fruit taste and tremendous finish.
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5/4/2012 - kosinski wrote:
Rich, nearly opaque purple color. Aroma of jammy black fruit with a touch of floral perfume. Black fruit flavors predominate, with excellent structure and considerable tannin lurking under the surface and persisting on the long finish. Drinkable now, but should do well over the next decade at least. Fruit is complemented by vanilla notes and a touch of warm spice.
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4/13/2012 - twoamps wrote: 89 Points
ok but not our style. Sort of bitter overwhelming the fruit. More beef and licorice than fruit. Age may mellow it a bit...
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4/1/2012 - esb wrote: 93 Points
Sonoma - March 2012: Spectacular and a step up from Ridge's other great Zins. Complex, floral, spicy fruit. Rich and classy in the mouth. Good now but probably better in a year or two.
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2/3/2012 - Rechrom wrote: 92 Points
Drunk over two days, better after sitting in half full bottle in the cellar overnight. Straightforward, full flavor Zin. Like an excellent hunk of steak; not a nuanced wine but rich and very well balanced from nose through palate and finish. Dark fruits and spices, says 15% abv but does not show it as there is more than enough to offset the alcohol. The acid/tannin balance with the fruit are such that I am sure this can age but it is very pleasant right now. Thought jsums below summarized what I found very well.
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2/1/2012 - ClubTerry wrote: 91 Points
Big fruit forward Zin.
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12/16/2011 - pk236768 wrote: 93 Points
This is what zin is all about. Big nose, big taste, simply amazing!
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11/14/2011 - jsums wrote: 92 Points
Full garnet color. Nose: dried cherry/cranberry and ripe Boysenberry fruit with accents of baking spices, black tea, orange peel, leather, and damp earth. Medium/full body on the fantastically complex, silky palate: juicy Boysenberry and dried cherry/cranberry fruit with black tea, baking spices, leather, hot cinnamon candy, orange peel, peppercorn, and damp earth. Medium+ acidity. Moderate/lighter dusty, earthy fine-grain tannins. Lingering black tea, damp earth, and graphite on the long dry finish. Lush, bright, powerful, and finely detailed all at once. Brilliant effort. Extraordinary combination of terroir expression and superb winemaking, though the alcohol does have a tendency to spike here and there. Drink over the next 10 years.
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11/8/2011 - LTS wrote:
This is a seriously good Zin. I enjoyed it very young but gave it ample time to open up. So glad I was gifted this bottle. Amazing value too.
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10/13/2011 - AlexHop wrote: 90 Points
Nose is candy and feels a touch hot (although the bottle only says 15.0%). Intense red fruit and sharp spice with again a touch of a hot finish. This wine is a firecracker.
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10/9/2011 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose was massive, as aromas of wild berries, dry coco, vanilla, ginger spice and savory notes filled the senses. On the palate, it was medium to full-bodied with amazing focus to its intense red berry fruit and spice. The masses of fruit slowly gave way to show this wine’s structure and balance. The finish was long and clinging to the palate, yet ultimately refreshing as the tannins faded away. I seriously enjoyed this structured Zinfandel and am very happy to have more in my cellar, as I can image that it will get even better with time.
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9/3/2011 - danstrings wrote: 88 Points
Ridge Fall Release Party (Monte Bello Vineyard): A bright, juicy, jazzy zin with good blackberry/raspberry quality. Good acidity/grip tho so good food wine I am sure.
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9/3/2011 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Dark and jammy with good acidity and tannins. I'd let this wine sit a bit before trying.
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9/3/2011 - kosinski wrote:
Ridge Fall Release Celebration (Ridge Monte Bello Vineyard): Characteristic jammy zin fruit with good acidity. Light soft tannins. Drink now.
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2/2/2011 - mrfroopy wrote: 92 Points
This will be a brilliant wine. Brilliant.
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1/30/2011 - bambam wrote: 92 Points
ZAP 2011 20th Annual Grand Tasting; 1/29/2011-1/31/2011 (San Francisco, Fort Mason): One of my favorites of the Ridge lineup and ZAP.
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