Decanted about 45 minutes before tasting. Inky deep garnet in color. Powerful nose. Dried black cherries, plums, drying bramble, dill, thyme, a bit of umami, a bit of fresh cigar box, and a hint of iodine. A heavily extracted palate follows the nose. Perfect level of acidity. Light velvety tannins. Long finish of tobacco leaf, decomposing leafy herbs, black pepper, earl grey tea, a dash of vanilla, and a bit of graphite. A candied note black cherry persists.
This is at a perfect peak for me. Glad I won two bottles of this vintage at auction.
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A real testament to the fine winemaking at Ridge. After 13 years, still drinks well - good color, lively fruit, interesting tertiary notes. Not as good on day two, however.
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Let's just say I'm glad I had this bottle with a hamburger. If this is an indication of CA drought year wines going forward, we don't have much to look forward to. Extremely jammy & sweet, with a background of cocoa and black pepper.
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With homemade sausage pizza. Semi-opaque ruby, color consistent to rim. Raspberry nose covering black cherry. Dry, balanced dusty fruit/acid, olive. Nice length.
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This was worth holding on to for a while. After about an hour out of the bottle, it has smoothed out very nicely. It is lovely. Glad to see there are 300+ bottles in cellars in this community. I wouldn't hold it much longer; it's time to enjoy this lovely wine now.
Deep ruby. This struck me as more restrained and acidic than I would expect from a zin, but the label reveals that it is only 50% zin, with the rest almost entirely Carignane. Bramble, blackberries, a bit of cedar. Still quite primary. Good.
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Dark garnet color in glass with thin brown rims. Ripe berry bouquet. Slightly oxidized fruit on palate with dusty tannins. Alcohol (14.5%) under control. Good but fading slightly. No sediment. Drink up!
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This was enjoyable. The half Carignane component added some flavors I wasn't used to. Went well with the Zin. In a good spot with some age on it. Definitely drinkable now. Would recommend.
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Leathery, slightly smoky, rich fruit. Well-balanced, with acidity that grows in the finish. Moderate tannins have smoothed out nicely. Drinks well now, but should have a few good years left in it.
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I'm always a fan of the Mazzoni and this bottle is consistent with prior years. This is a Zinfandel field blend with almost half Carignane (49 percent this year) and a traditional Ridge shot (1 percent) of PS. The century-old vines are dry farmed. Great complexity with some brambly fruit, deep mid-palate and nice finish. This is drinking well now but can be held for more years.
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Interesting aromas of leather, spice, mushrooms and perhaps a funky note of blue cheese. Rich on the palate with jammy black fruit and baking spice. Fairly mellow tannins and not much acid. Moderately structured. Should be quite ageworthy but enjoyable now.
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I liked this. The carignane really shines in this field blend. Good aromatics, with a dense mouthful that revealed herbal blueberry, earthy notes, and some spice, complemented by refreshing acidity and minerals. I drunk this over two days, the flavor profile didn't change much. However, some heat was more noticeable on day two but nothing to get alarmed over.
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This is a great blend: 50% win, 49% carignane, 1% petite sirah. It has the ripe black fruit of a win with enough acidity (medium) to make it a great food paring. I can't wait to try this with BBQ. It's 14.5% ABV is well integrated and the wine isn't at all hot. This is a contender for a great bbq wine as it keeps the zin profile but is much more food friendly than most zins as it has the acidity and tannin (from the 1% PS) to pair.
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12/25/2022 - ChateauShiny Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted about 45 minutes before tasting. Inky deep garnet in color. Powerful nose. Dried black cherries, plums, drying bramble, dill, thyme, a bit of umami, a bit of fresh cigar box, and a hint of iodine. A heavily extracted palate follows the nose. Perfect level of acidity. Light velvety tannins. Long finish of tobacco leaf, decomposing leafy herbs, black pepper, earl grey tea, a dash of vanilla, and a bit of graphite. A candied note black cherry persists.
This is at a perfect peak for me. Glad I won two bottles of this vintage at auction.
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6/28/2021 - VinCA wrote:
A real testament to the fine winemaking at Ridge. After 13 years, still drinks well - good color, lively fruit, interesting tertiary notes. Not as good on day two, however.
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8/8/2018 - casjf Likes this wine: 90 Points
Anise and black cherry/black plum flavors. Bold and high in alcohol (14.5%%)
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5/28/2018 - casjf Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Let's just say I'm glad I had this bottle with a hamburger. If this is an indication of CA drought year wines going forward, we don't have much to look forward to. Extremely jammy & sweet, with a background of cocoa and black pepper.
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9/4/2016 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
With homemade sausage pizza.
Semi-opaque ruby, color consistent to rim.
Raspberry nose covering black cherry.
Dry, balanced dusty fruit/acid, olive.
Nice length.
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7/22/2016 - Samadhi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs time to breathe but then beautiful!
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6/27/2016 - ptm wrote: 90 Points
This was worth holding on to for a while. After about an hour out of the bottle, it has smoothed out very nicely. It is lovely. Glad to see there are 300+ bottles in cellars in this community. I wouldn't hold it much longer; it's time to enjoy this lovely wine now.
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1/14/2016 - moxielady wrote: 90 Points
Peppery and fruity. Delicious!
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10/29/2015 - moxielady wrote: 91 Points
Jammy, spicy, full body, nice sour cherry and pepper finish
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9/26/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Deep ruby. This struck me as more restrained and acidic than I would expect from a zin, but the label reveals that it is only 50% zin, with the rest almost entirely Carignane. Bramble, blackberries, a bit of cedar. Still quite primary. Good.
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5/10/2015 - 41hijinx Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dark garnet color in glass with thin brown rims. Ripe berry bouquet. Slightly oxidized fruit on palate with dusty tannins. Alcohol (14.5%) under control. Good but fading slightly. No sediment. Drink up!
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4/16/2015 - dabovino wrote: 91 Points
Drinking beautifully right now. Well balanced with dark berry and some earth and spice.
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1/31/2015 - kenthargis wrote: 90 Points
This was enjoyable. The half Carignane component added some flavors I wasn't used to. Went well with the Zin. In a good spot with some age on it. Definitely drinkable now. Would recommend.
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5/11/2014 - stvjackson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Leathery, slightly smoky, rich fruit. Well-balanced, with acidity that grows in the finish. Moderate tannins have smoothed out nicely. Drinks well now, but should have a few good years left in it.
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5/3/2014 - jrlamia wrote: 88 Points
Vibrant tart berry flavors, opened up quickly. Mild tannins,
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3/16/2014 - Cadby wrote:
2008 Ridge California Mazzoni Home Ranch +++ $35
More Carignane presence than Zinfandel. Pleasurably fruit forward.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2014/03/2008-ridge-california-mazzoni-home.html
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1/13/2014 - moxielady wrote: 92 Points
Dark cherry, earthy spice, smooth tannin. Low acid and nice finish
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12/29/2013 - MusignyBlanc wrote:
I'm always a fan of the Mazzoni and this bottle is consistent with prior years. This is a Zinfandel field blend with almost half Carignane (49 percent this year) and a traditional Ridge shot (1 percent) of PS. The century-old vines are dry farmed. Great complexity with some brambly fruit, deep mid-palate and nice finish. This is drinking well now but can be held for more years.
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12/7/2013 - K3ecklund wrote: 90 Points
Great
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9/12/2013 - Cadby wrote: 93 Points
2008 Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch ++++ $29
Sexy, racy & vibrant! Silence of the lamb. Wonderful.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/09/2008-ridge-mazzoni-home-ranch-35.html
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6/29/2013 - DaninClearwater wrote: 88 Points
did not enjoy as much as other Ridge bottles
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5/3/2013 - kosinski wrote:
Interesting aromas of leather, spice, mushrooms and perhaps a funky note of blue cheese. Rich on the palate with jammy black fruit and baking spice. Fairly mellow tannins and not much acid. Moderately structured. Should be quite ageworthy but enjoyable now.
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3/12/2013 - Silveradoup wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, this stuff is in its prime!
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2/18/2013 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Missus drank while I was on call. She thought very nice - likes big bold fruit and tannin. Seemed to fade a bit on second night.
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2/9/2013 - bergkamp10 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I liked this. The carignane really shines in this field blend. Good aromatics, with a dense mouthful that revealed herbal blueberry, earthy notes, and some spice, complemented by refreshing acidity and minerals. I drunk this over two days, the flavor profile didn't change much. However, some heat was more noticeable on day two but nothing to get alarmed over.
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12/29/2012 - affordableCollector wrote: 87 Points
red with orange hues in the color. dark fruit, leather, cedar box on the nose. blackberry, cedar, earth, clove on the palate. medium finish.
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12/2/2012 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Dense, earthy and minerally, with black fruit at its core. I like that the carignane is such a firm component here. Shows interesting aging potential.
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11/29/2012 - sully13 wrote: 90 Points
Drank over several days. Dark berry and asphalt nose(?). Smooth dark berry and spice flavor and finish.
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11/18/2012 - Silveradoup wrote: 91 Points
Great acidity and lift from the carignane. Great field blend!
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11/4/2012 - GrumpyYoungMan Likes this wine:
Pop and Pour. On open:
Nose of lavendar, briar, cedar, blackberry jam. Body - medium weight, red berries, brambly yet elegant, purple flowers, maybe pine?
Second glass, 40 minutes after open:
Nose: tons of cedar and lavendar.
Body: Focused intensity, but still elegant. Blackberry, clove, cigar tobacco, rosemary, coffee, violet, sage. Tannins have slight grip.
This is great stuff - will order more from the winery!
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11/3/2012 - vinorsk Likes this wine: 90 Points
This is a great blend: 50% win, 49% carignane, 1% petite sirah. It has the ripe black fruit of a win with enough acidity (medium) to make it a great food paring. I can't wait to try this with BBQ. It's 14.5% ABV is well integrated and the wine isn't at all hot. This is a contender for a great bbq wine as it keeps the zin profile but is much more food friendly than most zins as it has the acidity and tannin (from the 1% PS) to pair.
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