The Paso Robles is, as always, 100% Zin, right? Apparently not! This is 95% Zin and 5% Petite Sirah. We pulled this after finishing a ‘10 East Bench. The difference was amazing! This cuvee was much brighter with a big berry flavor. While a year older, the wine had a distinct freshness over the East Bench with telltale rhubarb and cherry, but also cloves, cinnamon and maybe some blackberry. The tannins appear to be fully integrated. 14.8% alc. Some sediment. With pork barbecue ribs. 05.29.22. Recommended.
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No real notes, but we enjoyed this quite a lot. Garnet at its core. Notes of cinnamon, cinnamon bark, rhubarb, tarragon on the nose. Big and bright on the nose and palate, and perhaps some RS. The fruit is a bit sweet, but the sweetness is more than just ripe fruit. The nose is ripe with boysenberry, brown sugar and candied apple. While the tannins are integrated, the brightness of wine at first lifts and them becomes a bit heavy. Some sediment. 14.8% alc. With bbq rubbed chicken. 07.05.20. Recommended.
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Full bodied Zin, very well structured even at 11 years old. Could easily go another 4-6 maybe even 7 years with proper cellaring. Loaded with dark rich ripe black fruit. Quite a big Zin.
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This is my first bottle of this vintage and I’m hoping the rest are not like this one. While big and bright on the nose and palate, the stuff is sweet as in some amount of RS. The fruit is big and sweet, but the sweetness is more than just ripe fruit. The wine itself is sweet. The color is plum from the core to the rim. The nose is ripe with boysenberry, brown sugar and candied apple. This is the sweetish fruit I can recall on a Ridge Zin absent those (often-but-not-always) abysmal Late Harvest Zins. It’s hard to believe this is 10 years old. While the tannins are integrated, the brightness of the fruit and lineare quality do not suggest a wine of this age. Orange zest appears on the mid-palate; tart cranberry and brown sugar carry the finish. Perhaps because of the Italian wines I’ve consumed for the past several days this seems so sweet. The wine is almost shocking. Some sediment. 14.8% alc. Without food, while watching the Daytona 500 and the unworthy Hamlin steal a spot from Kyle Bush for the win. Recommended with reservations.
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Palate coating wild blackberries dominate from the perfumed nose through the finish. I can imagine some additional red fruits and berries - loganberries, marionberries and lime zest. This is a strong wine at 14.8 % alcohol. I am drinking it on a beautiful fall evening for the sheer joy of its delicious blackberries.
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Opened, poured, and presented with thick, chewy, ripe, sweet prunes. Frankly, I don't like it - not sure what to do with it. Neither a typical Ridge nor Zin.
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surprisingly jammy, in a good sort of way. Yes, Paso zin producers tend towards the jammy side of things, but it't not something I'd expect from Ridge, especially a 6 year old Ridge. Unexpected, but we liked it.
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Fairly typical in my opinion of Ridge Zins except a little more jammy and less acid than the other 09's I have had. Had with pork barbecue. Red fruit, some raspberry, but more ripe cherry, ripe plum and golden raisin.
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The missus found this very flat. Bottle wasn't corked but something abnormal. Best described as drinking a Coke two days after opening. Lots of glycerin, no ripe lush fruit.
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36th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2009s (Rich & Dana's): Red fruit and spice but again, there's a very subtle acetone note here as well. Lovely red berry fruit, spice and raspberry flavors. Finishes with a nice sweetness, and I mean that in a complimentary way; very nice.
My #3, Domino's #4 Group #6, 56 pts
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Fairly ripe for a zin. Reminded me more of a Paso cab than a zin. None of that brambly goodness or rounded flavors that I typically get from a Ridge. However, not all bad and it drank well.
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First night a youthful wine that wasn't exciting. On night two, developed into a fresh zesty fruity wine with an excellent finish. Marked difference between the two nights, so probably needs to be decanted or cellared.
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This was one juicy fruit bomb, but a well-done one. Very tasty and drinkable on its own and probably best consumed that way as I don't know what food it would pair well with. Unlike some fruit bomb zins, this one had balance, wasn't overdone or too hot on the finish.
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Very fruity and a jammy on first taste. Alcohol taste is high, and it's 14.8%. It's been a long time since I've put a Ridge Zin below 85, maybe never, but this didn't get any better after being opened for a bit, or with dinner, and neither of us liked it or even find one good thing to say about it; I'm not sure what the story is on this, the bottle notes claim the sweetness is toned down with the blend (5% Petit Syrah, despite a note below saying it's 100% zin), but it's mostly sweet and tart--not a good tart--and like cheap jelly. I'm glad I only have one bottle. We didn't finish it, and likely will dispose of the rest. (Revised after 3 hours; may be revised again, after a try the next night, to see if time helps.) I have a 2010 PR, and hope this is a one-off issue.
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This starts off a little sweet and slowly evolves into an interesting Zin. It does nicely on its own without food, with low acidity and absent tannins.
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Just an off-dry nature (unexpected in a big red Zin!) that brings out the dark fruit flavors and the great body in this wine. Had it with teriyaki steak and it stood up to the bold flavors in the meat.
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Amazing how a year can change a wine! Much less fruit. Not as over the top, but the residual sugar is still there. Very pleasant and more depth. Rounded mouth feel from both the sugars and the mild smooth tannins. If you require a wine be dry to enjoying, avoid. Otherwise it's great, like most zins, with a burger.
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Deep plum color, aroma of chocolate and dark berries, extremely sweet tasting initially with very little tannin. Reserving judgment until it opens a little. Thirty minutes later the tannins arrived, but still less than I expect from a Zin. The sweet fruit had subsided some but I'll wait until tomorrow to come to a final conclusion.
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Stone Balloon Luxury Brand Tasting (Stone Balloon Winehouse, Newark DE): I have been a big fan of ridge zins since first trying the York Creek and Geyserville in the mid-1980's. That being said, this is the first time in 25 years I have disliked one of their efforts. I have not had the Paso Robles in a few years,so I do not know whether this is a complete departure in style or a one time miss, but it is quite the miss. Overripe with a prune juice nose, way out of balance with tons of overripe fruit and nowhere near the acid needed. Really,really surprised at this,as were the rest of the Ridge fans at the tasting.
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Succulent. Rounded. Big fruit. Very new world, and Ridges most fruit forward 2009. Almost jolly rancher like and a bit much for my tastes, but one glass was just right.
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It’s very hard to go wrong with Zinfandel from Ridge. The 100% Zin from Binoto Dusi Ranch is no exception. The color is deep dark red, opaque with a black cherry nose, white pepper and cardamom. The flavor is a tangy sweet black currant flavor with a mid-palate tannic raspberry. The finish is long tannic and complex. A really lovely Zin 90
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Good, tasty, but not enough structure for my taste. This is likely more an indictment of Paso in general than this particular bottling, but I remember being more impressed with the last non-Dusi Paso bottling from Ridge than this.
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Decanted 30-150 mins. Deep, dark ruby color. Big mouthfeel. Plums and sour cherries. Too sweet and jammy, at least now. Trusting Ridge, I'll try again in in 4-5 years. However, at $30+ there are many other Ridge wines I prefer.
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Wow, the dense one of the bunch. This is day 5. Dark cherry and plum aromas. Palate is dense and concentrated. Even today, great balance for this monster style. Not calling attention to the 14.8 ABV. Not loads of tannin, but loads of fruit. Caressing.
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Has a very lush and rich palate feel. Very pure and primary cherries and rasberries. Lingering aftertaste. Delicious, if somewhat simple at this point.
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Rather weak nose of mostly garrigue. Flavors are completely different -- very sweet jammy raspberry. Soft tannins but a bit of grip at the end. Not sure how much structure and age-worthiness there -- probably best to drink young.
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5/29/2022 - timewithwine Likes this wine:
The Paso Robles is, as always, 100% Zin, right? Apparently not! This is 95% Zin and 5% Petite Sirah. We pulled this after finishing a ‘10 East Bench. The difference was amazing! This cuvee was much brighter with a big berry flavor. While a year older, the wine had a distinct freshness over the East Bench with telltale rhubarb and cherry, but also cloves, cinnamon and maybe some blackberry. The tannins appear to be fully integrated. 14.8% alc. Some sediment. With pork barbecue ribs. 05.29.22. Recommended.
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7/4/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
No real notes, but we enjoyed this quite a lot. Garnet at its core. Notes of cinnamon, cinnamon bark, rhubarb, tarragon on the nose. Big and bright on the nose and palate, and perhaps some RS. The fruit is a bit sweet, but the sweetness is more than just ripe fruit. The nose is ripe with boysenberry, brown sugar and candied apple. While the tannins are integrated, the brightness of wine at first lifts and them becomes a bit heavy. Some sediment. 14.8% alc. With bbq rubbed chicken. 07.05.20. Recommended.
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6/19/2020 - Alro wrote: 91 Points
Full bodied Zin, very well structured even at 11 years old. Could easily go another 4-6 maybe even 7 years with proper cellaring. Loaded with dark rich ripe black fruit. Quite a big Zin.
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5/30/2020 - Bam_Man wrote: flawed
Over-the-Hill. Should have drank it sooner. Flat as a pancake, tasted like a two day old Coca-Cola.
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4/5/2020 - DJVJ Wines wrote:
Fantastic
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2/17/2019 - timewithwine wrote:
This is my first bottle of this vintage and I’m hoping the rest are not like this one. While big and bright on the nose and palate, the stuff is sweet as in some amount of RS. The fruit is big and sweet, but the sweetness is more than just ripe fruit. The wine itself is sweet. The color is plum from the core to the rim. The nose is ripe with boysenberry, brown sugar and candied apple. This is the sweetish fruit I can recall on a Ridge Zin absent those (often-but-not-always) abysmal Late Harvest Zins. It’s hard to believe this is 10 years old. While the tannins are integrated, the brightness of the fruit and lineare quality do not suggest a wine of this age. Orange zest appears on the mid-palate; tart cranberry and brown sugar carry the finish. Perhaps because of the Italian wines I’ve consumed for the past several days this seems so sweet. The wine is almost shocking. Some sediment. 14.8% alc. Without food, while watching the Daytona 500 and the unworthy Hamlin steal a spot from Kyle Bush for the win. Recommended with reservations.
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11/12/2016 - MdeCarabas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Palate coating wild blackberries dominate from the perfumed nose through the finish. I can imagine some additional red fruits and berries - loganberries, marionberries and lime zest.
This is a strong wine at 14.8 % alcohol.
I am drinking it on a beautiful fall evening for the sheer joy of its delicious blackberries.
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8/31/2016 - bluedog wrote: 84 Points
Opened, poured, and presented with thick, chewy, ripe, sweet prunes. Frankly, I don't like it - not sure what to do with it. Neither a typical Ridge nor Zin.
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1/8/2016 - twoamps Likes this wine: 90 Points
surprisingly jammy, in a good sort of way. Yes, Paso zin producers tend towards the jammy side of things, but it't not something I'd expect from Ridge, especially a 6 year old Ridge. Unexpected, but we liked it.
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12/18/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fairly typical in my opinion of Ridge Zins except a little more jammy and less acid than the other 09's I have had. Had with pork barbecue. Red fruit, some raspberry, but more ripe cherry, ripe plum and golden raisin.
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10/7/2014 - ogres3 wrote: 86 Points
The missus found this very flat. Bottle wasn't corked but something abnormal. Best described as drinking a Coke two days after opening. Lots of glycerin, no ripe lush fruit.
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5/25/2014 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
36th Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2009s (Rich & Dana's): Red fruit and spice but again, there's a very subtle acetone note here as well. Lovely red berry fruit, spice and raspberry flavors. Finishes with a nice sweetness, and I mean that in a complimentary way; very nice.
My #3, Domino's #4
Group #6, 56 pts
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4/27/2014 - Cadby wrote: 88 Points
2009 Ridge California Zinfandel Paso Robles +++ $28
Rich, overripe, unctuous, chewy, decadent, delicious. Lateharvestish
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2014/04/2009-ridge-california-zinfandel-paso.html
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4/17/2014 - TC16 wrote:
Fairly ripe for a zin. Reminded me more of a Paso cab than a zin. None of that brambly goodness or rounded flavors that I typically get from a Ridge. However, not all bad and it drank well.
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11/19/2013 - boogeyone Likes this wine: 88 Points
Tastes better this time. The flavors have rounded out. Rich red fruit but lacks typical zin spiciness.
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10/19/2013 - omars wrote: 79 Points
Something is very off. Doesn't taste like a ridge wine at all. Fruit is wrong.
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9/23/2013 - wdlohr wrote: flawed
vinegar. cork was intact. $28 wasted.
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5/13/2013 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
First night a youthful wine that wasn't exciting.
On night two, developed into a fresh zesty fruity wine with an excellent finish. Marked difference between the two nights, so probably needs to be decanted or cellared.
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3/24/2013 - Alro wrote: 93 Points
Big Fruit......extremely full bodied
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2/23/2013 - donash.com wrote: 88 Points
- Ruby color. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of fig, rose and butterscotch.
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12/9/2012 - jrlamia wrote: 87 Points
Fruity and sweet upon opening. Not a great pairing with food. This did mellow quite abut after a few hours. Much softer and balanced.
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12/6/2012 - skp88 wrote: 90 Points
This was one juicy fruit bomb, but a well-done one. Very tasty and drinkable on its own and probably best consumed that way as I don't know what food it would pair well with. Unlike some fruit bomb zins, this one had balance, wasn't overdone or too hot on the finish.
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11/10/2012 - krhaugh wrote: 90 Points
Really fruity and unexpectedly good. Not over the top with a nice balance.
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11/10/2012 - Mennotas wrote: 90 Points
Perfumed nose; fruity, sweet on the palate but not unbalanced. Lovely expression of Zinfandel.
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10/5/2012 - JM_IS Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Very fruity and a jammy on first taste. Alcohol taste is high, and it's 14.8%. It's been a long time since I've put a Ridge Zin below 85, maybe never, but this didn't get any better after being opened for a bit, or with dinner, and neither of us liked it or even find one good thing to say about it; I'm not sure what the story is on this, the bottle notes claim the sweetness is toned down with the blend (5% Petit Syrah, despite a note below saying it's 100% zin), but it's mostly sweet and tart--not a good tart--and like cheap jelly. I'm glad I only have one bottle. We didn't finish it, and likely will dispose of the rest. (Revised after 3 hours; may be revised again, after a try the next night, to see if time helps.) I have a 2010 PR, and hope this is a one-off issue.
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9/23/2012 - BHP1994 wrote: 85 Points
Tasted more like a ruby port than a zin. Way too ripe. Too hot. Like spiked concord grape juice.
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8/26/2012 - chanote44 wrote: 89 Points
This starts off a little sweet and slowly evolves into an interesting Zin. It does nicely on its own without food, with low acidity and absent tannins.
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8/8/2012 - wacobipe wrote:
Bb
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8/6/2012 - FredF wrote: 91 Points
Just an off-dry nature (unexpected in a big red Zin!) that brings out the dark fruit flavors and the great body in this wine. Had it with teriyaki steak and it stood up to the bold flavors in the meat.
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7/5/2012 - yossarian.livez wrote: 89 Points
Amazing how a year can change a wine! Much less fruit. Not as over the top, but the residual sugar is still there. Very pleasant and more depth. Rounded mouth feel from both the sugars and the mild smooth tannins. If you require a wine be dry to enjoying, avoid. Otherwise it's great, like most zins, with a burger.
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7/2/2012 - SkiForever wrote:
Outstanding!
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6/21/2012 - boogeyone Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Day two. Still surprisingly sweet, almost cloying. Lacks tannin.
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6/20/2012 - wffinn wrote: 89 Points
Opens up nicely with time with smoother characteristics. perhaps 91 at the last sip.
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6/20/2012 - boogeyone wrote:
Deep plum color, aroma of chocolate and dark berries, extremely sweet tasting initially with very little tannin. Reserving judgment until it opens a little. Thirty minutes later the tannins arrived, but still less than I expect from a Zin. The sweet fruit had subsided some but I'll wait until tomorrow to come to a final conclusion.
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5/12/2012 - lockestep Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Stone Balloon Luxury Brand Tasting (Stone Balloon Winehouse, Newark DE): I have been a big fan of ridge zins since first trying the York Creek and Geyserville in the mid-1980's. That being said, this is the first time in 25 years I have disliked one of their efforts. I have not had the Paso Robles in a few years,so I do not know whether this is a complete departure in style or a one time miss, but it is quite the miss. Overripe with a prune juice nose, way out of balance with tons of overripe fruit and nowhere near the acid needed. Really,really surprised at this,as were the rest of the Ridge fans at the tasting.
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4/26/2012 - yossarian.livez wrote: 87 Points
Succulent. Rounded. Big fruit. Very new world, and Ridges most fruit forward 2009. Almost jolly rancher like and a bit much for my tastes, but one glass was just right.
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4/9/2012 - OregonWineGeeks Likes this wine: 90 Points
It’s very hard to go wrong with Zinfandel from Ridge. The 100% Zin from Binoto Dusi Ranch is no exception. The color is deep dark red, opaque with a black cherry nose, white pepper and cardamom. The flavor is a tangy sweet black currant flavor with a mid-palate tannic raspberry. The finish is long tannic and complex. A really lovely Zin 90
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3/17/2012 - Benjaminb25 wrote: 86 Points
I wasn't a fan of the sweetness in this. It's nice and balanced besides that just not what I would have liked.
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2/29/2012 - Adaver wrote: 91 Points
Very robust wine
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2/28/2012 - SkiForever wrote:
Outstanding: smooth, flavorful, ready to drink
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2/23/2012 - rcmcb wrote: 90 Points
Good, tasty, but not enough structure for my taste. This is likely more an indictment of Paso in general than this particular bottling, but I remember being more impressed with the last non-Dusi Paso bottling from Ridge than this.
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1/15/2012 - typ993 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice fruit on the nose and palate, not much in the way of tannins. Great finish.
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12/17/2011 - Ed B wrote: 86 Points
Decanted 30-150 mins. Deep, dark ruby color. Big mouthfeel. Plums and sour cherries. Too sweet and jammy, at least now. Trusting Ridge, I'll try again in in 4-5 years. However, at $30+ there are many other Ridge wines I prefer.
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7/18/2011 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Wow, the dense one of the bunch. This is day 5. Dark cherry and plum aromas. Palate is dense and concentrated. Even today, great balance for this monster style. Not calling attention to the 14.8 ABV. Not loads of tannin, but loads of fruit. Caressing.
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4/25/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 89 Points
Has a very lush and rich palate feel. Very pure and primary cherries and rasberries. Lingering aftertaste. Delicious, if somewhat simple at this point.
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3/4/2011 - kosinski wrote:
Rather weak nose of mostly garrigue. Flavors are completely different -- very sweet jammy raspberry. Soft tannins but a bit of grip at the end. Not sure how much structure and age-worthiness there -- probably best to drink young.
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1/30/2011 - bambam wrote: 85 Points
ZAP 2011 20th Annual Grand Tasting; 1/29/2011-1/31/2011 (San Francisco, Fort Mason): This was the only Ridge wine of the day I did not like. There were some off flavors that did not show well.
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