Popped and poured, no decant. Incredible color and depth in the glass. This wine is loaded and not giving up much character or concentration despite being eleven years old. Another big hitter and winner from Ridge. The fruit is big, still full of life and extremely alive and deep and rich. These wines tend to age so well and this Ponzo is no different. Considering the reasonable price, people should be stocking up on these beauties, because there is no better zinfandel on the market.
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Popped and poured. Lived up to its expectations. The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry. It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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Smooth perfumed nose with elegant vanilla nuances. Tart blackberry jam, currants Did not need aeration in my opinion. 14.8% alcohol, so some heat. If you like a jammy yummy bramble berry "bomb" with the mellowness of age yes you will like this!
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Double decanted for one hour; no sediment. Bright medium ruby color. Briary nose with a hint of vanilla. Medium-bodied tart cherries on the palate with a good level of acids, and with well-integrated tannins on the medium-length finish. A pleasant wine with a good QPR at $25. Should drink-up my remainder within this year.
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Light purple. Cigar tobacco, licorice, strawberry and mineral on the nose . Drank over two hours. Black raspberry, sage, grilled meat, nicely done acidity, elegant but flavorable. Drinking well now, but should continue to do well for years to come. Drank with pasta and a red sauce. Held up to the food as well as Italian wines. Ridge consistently makes good Zins.
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This is drinking beautifully. Still has some Zinfandel juiciness with a lot of cherry in the middle palate, but giving way to earth and mulch. Not as big and intricate as a Geyserville or LS but beautifully balanced.
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Not a very big zin from Ridge, but very well balanced, if a little restrained. Lots of ripe red fruit on the palate with well integrated silky tannins. The nose was a bit mild but showed some pepper and dried red fruit. Really enjoyable, and like most ridge wines I've tasted, it responds well to time in the glass, opening up a bit more with each sip.
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Great zin and peaking now. Red fruits, pencil lead, lots of spice on the nose, the wine bursts forward with red and black fruits like black raspberry with some oaks notes along with emerging spice on the medium long finish. Tannins are well integrated with a creamy texture and the wine overall, while fruity, isn't over-ripe like many examples of this particular grape. Wish more zins tasted like this one.
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As good a Zin as I've had in a long time. Spicy and bright nose, rich and concentrated color. Supple fruit with acidic balance. While flavorful, contained and restrained. Earth, bell pepper, dark berries, spice. Very well made.
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Medium bodied zin, dark red in color. Smelled of ripe rd red fruit and some spice. Tasted of ripe red fruit, with some pepperiness. An elegant Zinfandel that paired well with grilled flat iron steak.
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A dark purple zin with dark berry and earthy notes. The palate is well balanced and elegant compared to most cali zins, but still w/ plenty of fruit and jamminess. Finish has a touch of pepper and heat. Pretty tasty with a bold meal.
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Second day; nose yields more fruit and gravel. On the palate the wine has developed more layers of ripe fruit, minerality, light acidity. On the finish this has developed more of a spiciness in place of the cocoa noticed on day 1. Impressed and believe this has a couple more years on it and would be interesting to wait even longer. 92
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Nose: red berry, stone, herbs. Palate: red berries, stone, cocoa. Light-medium bodied. Medium finish, well balanced at 14.8% but only a nice touch of heat from the alcohol. Nice light zin for drinking anytime with a focus on subtleties as opposed to heavy fruit, spiciness, and alcohol.
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Light to medium body, definitely Russian River zin. The alcohol was very restrained at 14.8%. Not as exciting as Woodenhead or Martinelli, but very drinkable. Will buy more.
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Lovely clear garnet, nose of black cherry and vanilla spice, medium body, nice acidity balances wood tannin and flavors of dark cherry, plum, and gravel. Very nice.
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Been a fan of this in years past and liked it this time. It is, as priori notes note, lighter and has some tartness, but those are features, not bugs. Very drinkable, tastes like a Zin, just not over the top.
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- Crimsom color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Coarse texture with a medium finish - Great wine for the value. Full of fruit but not overbearing. Drank right out of the bottle and then a day later. Not much of a change and enjoyable from both ends.
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This was a good, not great Ridge Zin. A tart red fruit with a little spice zin that drank well alone and with Turkey on T-day. A lighter well made Zin Would recommend and an OK QPR.
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This has wonderful Zinfandel fruit. It lacks complexity but makes up for that shortcoming with its intensity and purity. It's medium in the mouth, ready, feels like a table wine and finishes with medium length. Overall, not overdone, classy, together, very enjoyable.
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Fresh, bright and herbal fruit aromas. Herb really makes the mouth water. In a very cedar chest fashion. These 09 Ridge wines are just out of the park. Estate Cab, York Creek Zin, Geyserville, and now this...that I had previously written off as a floozie.
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Day #2. Somewhat muted nose of red apple skins, spice, and very ripe raspberries. In the mouth, it's ripe red berries with some tartness. The flavors are not overly ripe, but I get a bit of heat and some extra body that overwhelms the fruit. The acid and tannins are nice and balanced, and carry the flavors out the finish.
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Pop and pour. Big and jammy but enough acidity and pure fruit flavors to keep it from becoming cloying. Stylistically, I prefer the 2009 Three Valleys, but this is perfectly enjoyable. Will happily finish the bottle tomorrow.
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Jan and I had this at her HS reunion at the Rendezvous in Memphis. We shared our wines with friends who like wine, but forgot it was a BBQ restaurant even though they serve wine. I am glad we had this before we started with the BBQ Chicken and Pork. This was a really nice ruby red color with a slight red edge and nice legs. The nose was mostly dark cherry with pepper, mild to bitter spices and a little smoke. Mid palate, it was both peppery and sweet. All the elements were nicely balanced. I think it would have held up well to the BBQ, but we finished the bottle before we started the food. The finish was more pepper and was mid length. All in all, a very nice bottle.
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Deep ruby color with a sweet, red fruit nose. No decant. Sweet red cherry and red raspberry with some white pepper and moderate spices. Full, yet moderate, body with modest tannins and a moderate finish. High alcohol (14.8%). Terrific with some spicy pizza.
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Red fruit. Bitter spice. A freshness of fruit and along with some ripe red appeal, I'm onto the 09 vintage of this wine much more than the floozie of an 08.
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On the nose, baking spice, deep red ripe fruit, stone mineral and graphite. Richly flavored with berry, licorice, a savory bacon quality with black pepper, spice, smoke and a mix of red and black berries. Sweet on the mid palate. Nicely balanced.
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Wow...very berry! I typically don't enjoy zinfandel, but with this one being from the cool Russian River Valley, it did not have that spiciness that is expected with zin. Bright acidity lifted the raspberry and red cherry fruit while the tiny bit of petite sirah gave some mild cocao. Tannin structure was quite mild so doesn't seem to be one to last too long, but still is incredibly balanced for being so young.
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Forgettable wine. Wan fruits, chemical flavor. The worst sort of corporate wine - I know Ridge has huge distribution, but still, I expect better from them.
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Passed thru vinturi. Color dark ruby. Nose shows waxy red fruit with a whiff of alcohol. Palate entry soft and fruit forward. Not really spicy but finish medium long. Not sure how this will fare with time. I am leaning toward drinking early.
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Tasted at the winery. Nice balanced Zin with sweet red fruit and crisp acid. Different character than the other Zins in the lineup with more of a smoky, spicy finish. Stood out.
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4/25/2020 - daved Likes this wine: 93 Points
It went amazingly with Chipotle Citrus rub on a Flank Steak. Smooth, vibrant and rich. Great QPR
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3/26/2020 - pdbender Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured, no decant. Incredible color and depth in the glass. This wine is loaded and not giving up much character or concentration despite being eleven years old. Another big hitter and winner from Ridge. The fruit is big, still full of life and extremely alive and deep and rich. These wines tend to age so well and this Ponzo is no different. Considering the reasonable price, people should be stocking up on these beauties, because there is no better zinfandel on the market.
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12/8/2019 - Wandrewsu wrote: 91 Points
Well balanced, jammy, on the way down and would drink NOW
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11/2/2019 - Jeff Ferrante wrote: 95 Points
Popped and poured. Lived up to its expectations.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry.
It tastes like blackberry and black currant (cassis). The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
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10/26/2019 - FoMoCo Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was excellent. Oak, tannins, and fruit all very well balanced.
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12/3/2016 - MdeCarabas Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smooth perfumed nose with elegant vanilla nuances.
Tart blackberry jam, currants
Did not need aeration in my opinion.
14.8% alcohol, so some heat.
If you like a jammy yummy bramble berry "bomb" with the mellowness of age yes you will like this!
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2/1/2016 - The Wine Sherpa Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still lots of great fruit. Classic jammy and fruit. Strawberry on noise and grip.
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1/31/2016 - wculpepper Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double decanted for one hour; no sediment. Bright medium ruby color. Briary nose with a hint of vanilla. Medium-bodied tart cherries on the palate with a good level of acids, and with well-integrated tannins on the medium-length finish. A pleasant wine with a good QPR at $25. Should drink-up my remainder within this year.
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7/28/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Light purple. Cigar tobacco, licorice, strawberry and mineral on the nose . Drank over two hours. Black raspberry, sage, grilled meat, nicely done acidity, elegant but flavorable. Drinking well now, but should continue to do well for years to come. Drank with pasta and a red sauce. Held up to the food as well as Italian wines. Ridge consistently makes good Zins.
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5/28/2015 - Doblk Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is drinking beautifully. Still has some Zinfandel juiciness with a lot of cherry in the middle palate, but giving way to earth and mulch. Not as big and intricate as a Geyserville or LS but beautifully balanced.
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3/29/2015 - Kesslerc14 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking very well right now. Delicious red fruit. Baking cherry pie and caramel.
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11/22/2014 - AllRed wrote: flawed
Corked.
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11/22/2014 - thelostverse wrote: flawed
4th Saturday group. Corked.
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11/19/2014 - Kesslerc14 wrote: 92 Points
Great zinfandel. Baked cherry pie and dark fruit.
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9/27/2014 - The Wine Sherpa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great zin. Opens fairly quick. Great red fruit - strawberry and raspberry. Drinking well now.
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5/29/2014 - alfaverde Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not a very big zin from Ridge, but very well balanced, if a little restrained. Lots of ripe red fruit on the palate with well integrated silky tannins. The nose was a bit mild but showed some pepper and dried red fruit. Really enjoyable, and like most ridge wines I've tasted, it responds well to time in the glass, opening up a bit more with each sip.
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3/29/2014 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great zin and peaking now. Red fruits, pencil lead, lots of spice on the nose, the wine bursts forward with red and black fruits like black raspberry with some oaks notes along with emerging spice on the medium long finish. Tannins are well integrated with a creamy texture and the wine overall, while fruity, isn't over-ripe like many examples of this particular grape. Wish more zins tasted like this one.
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10/29/2013 - rbradleypate Likes this wine: 88 Points
very well made. ripe, rich, and balanced.
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9/28/2013 - mclanew wrote: 89 Points
Black and red fruit, smoke. Nice nose. Full bodied, classic ridge zin. Ate with chili cheese dogs. Yum.
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9/13/2013 - jshearer Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ripe but maintains a sense of focus and freshness. Dark fruits, drying tannins, and well-balanced acidity.
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9/6/2013 - jeffal66 wrote: 91 Points
As good a Zin as I've had in a long time. Spicy and bright nose, rich and concentrated color. Supple fruit with acidic balance. While flavorful, contained and restrained. Earth, bell pepper, dark berries, spice. Very well made.
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8/15/2013 - ShonIsenhour wrote: 92 Points
Jammy goodness finishes with a hint of tobacco
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8/8/2013 - wiscgrad wrote: 91 Points
richard jennings nailed it. its like drinking baked cherry pie. Delicious
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7/21/2013 - Kesslerc14 wrote: 90 Points
Great smooth zin. Strong red and dark fruit. Delicious.
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6/9/2013 - emf Likes this wine:
Medium bodied zin, dark red in color. Smelled of ripe rd red fruit and some spice. Tasted of ripe red fruit, with some pepperiness. An elegant Zinfandel that paired well with grilled flat iron steak.
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5/22/2013 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
A dark purple zin with dark berry and earthy notes. The palate is well balanced and elegant compared to most cali zins, but still w/ plenty of fruit and jamminess. Finish has a touch of pepper and heat. Pretty tasty with a bold meal.
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4/4/2013 - tindallb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second day; nose yields more fruit and gravel. On the palate the wine has developed more layers of ripe fruit, minerality, light acidity. On the finish this has developed more of a spiciness in place of the cocoa noticed on day 1. Impressed and believe this has a couple more years on it and would be interesting to wait even longer. 92
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4/3/2013 - tindallb wrote: 90 Points
Nose: red berry, stone, herbs. Palate: red berries, stone, cocoa. Light-medium bodied. Medium finish, well balanced at 14.8% but only a nice touch of heat from the alcohol. Nice light zin for drinking anytime with a focus on subtleties as opposed to heavy fruit, spiciness, and alcohol.
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3/22/2013 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 90 Points
Light to medium body, definitely Russian River zin. The alcohol was very restrained at 14.8%. Not as exciting as Woodenhead or Martinelli, but very drinkable. Will buy more.
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3/10/2013 - Vervelb wrote: 90 Points
Lovely clear garnet, nose of black cherry and vanilla spice, medium body, nice acidity balances wood tannin and flavors of dark cherry, plum, and gravel. Very nice.
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2/17/2013 - Griffin5416 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Lighter style zin, tart berries. Def buy again. Preferred this over the York Creek.
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2/16/2013 - cab Likes this wine:
Been a fan of this in years past and liked it this time. It is, as priori notes note, lighter and has some tartness, but those are features, not bugs. Very drinkable, tastes like a Zin, just not over the top.
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1/2/2013 - Jmanz2000 wrote: 90 Points
- Crimsom color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Coarse texture with a medium finish - Great wine for the value. Full of fruit but not overbearing. Drank right out of the bottle and then a day later. Not much of a change and enjoyable from both ends.
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12/9/2012 - VinoPKM wrote: 89 Points
This was a good, not great Ridge Zin. A tart red fruit with a little spice zin that drank well alone and with Turkey on T-day. A lighter well made Zin
Would recommend and an OK QPR.
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12/9/2012 - esb wrote:
This has wonderful Zinfandel fruit. It lacks complexity but makes up for that shortcoming with its intensity and purity. It's medium in the mouth, ready, feels like a table wine and finishes with medium length. Overall, not overdone, classy, together, very enjoyable.
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12/3/2012 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Fresh, bright and herbal fruit aromas. Herb really makes the mouth water. In a very cedar chest fashion. These 09 Ridge wines are just out of the park. Estate Cab, York Creek Zin, Geyserville, and now this...that I had previously written off as a floozie.
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11/3/2012 - jshearer wrote: 88 Points
Day #2. Somewhat muted nose of red apple skins, spice, and very ripe raspberries. In the mouth, it's ripe red berries with some tartness. The flavors are not overly ripe, but I get a bit of heat and some extra body that overwhelms the fruit. The acid and tannins are nice and balanced, and carry the flavors out the finish.
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11/2/2012 - jshearer wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour. Big and jammy but enough acidity and pure fruit flavors to keep it from becoming cloying. Stylistically, I prefer the 2009 Three Valleys, but this is perfectly enjoyable. Will happily finish the bottle tomorrow.
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10/27/2012 - AlphaL wrote: 90 Points
Jan and I had this at her HS reunion at the Rendezvous in Memphis. We shared our wines with friends who like wine, but forgot it was a BBQ restaurant even though they serve wine. I am glad we had this before we started with the BBQ Chicken and Pork. This was a really nice ruby red color with a slight red edge and nice legs. The nose was mostly dark cherry with pepper, mild to bitter spices and a little smoke. Mid palate, it was both peppery and sweet. All the elements were nicely balanced. I think it would have held up well to the BBQ, but we finished the bottle before we started the food. The finish was more pepper and was mid length. All in all, a very nice bottle.
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10/15/2012 - vine20 wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color with a sweet, red fruit nose. No decant. Sweet red cherry and red raspberry with some white pepper and moderate spices. Full, yet moderate, body with modest tannins and a moderate finish. High alcohol (14.8%). Terrific with some spicy pizza.
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10/13/2012 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Red fruit. Bitter spice. A freshness of fruit and along with some ripe red appeal, I'm onto the 09 vintage of this wine much more than the floozie of an 08.
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9/24/2012 - ddsolomon2000 wrote: 90 Points
White Pepper, mid palate, smooth finish. Nice everday wine.
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7/19/2012 - SkiForever wrote:
Nice zin flavor
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7/15/2012 - tallboy3000 wrote: 87 Points
A fruit bomb. Enjoyed it, but didn't feel there were many distinctive flavors.
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6/12/2012 - vegasoenophile wrote: 91 Points
On the nose, baking spice, deep red ripe fruit, stone mineral and graphite. Richly flavored with berry, licorice, a savory bacon quality with black pepper, spice, smoke and a mix of red and black berries. Sweet on the mid palate. Nicely balanced.
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4/27/2012 - gossba wrote: 91 Points
Flavorful. Pepper and blackberry
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4/7/2012 - Dive Shark wrote: 95 Points
Wow...very berry! I typically don't enjoy zinfandel, but with this one being from the cool Russian River Valley, it did not have that spiciness that is expected with zin. Bright acidity lifted the raspberry and red cherry fruit while the tiny bit of petite sirah gave some mild cocao. Tannin structure was quite mild so doesn't seem to be one to last too long, but still is incredibly balanced for being so young.
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12/28/2011 - WineLoversLA wrote: 98 Points
Utterly delicious
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9/23/2011 - jdb123 wrote: 81 Points
Forgettable wine. Wan fruits, chemical flavor. The worst sort of corporate wine - I know Ridge has huge distribution, but still, I expect better from them.
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8/29/2011 - SkiForever wrote:
Deep red, smooth, fruity, excellent wine.
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8/20/2011 - chcook wrote: 90 Points
Passed thru vinturi. Color dark ruby. Nose shows waxy red fruit with a whiff of alcohol. Palate entry soft and fruit forward. Not really spicy but finish medium long. Not sure how this will fare with time. I am leaning toward drinking early.
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6/22/2011 - pete s. wrote: 89 Points
Tasted at the winery. Nice balanced Zin with sweet red fruit and crisp acid. Different character than the other Zins in the lineup with more of a smoky, spicy finish. Stood out.
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