Opened Christmas Eve and finished on Christmas. I admit I was recovering from a minor cold This showed much like the other wines I opened the last couple days which were all uneventful.
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Slow ox followed by decant over 5 hour span. Blueberries, sleek and rich. Later this showed some lavender and chalk. Lightweight but not thin. A pretty wine at this st-age.
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Remarkably well balanced for being a rather large wine. No jamminess or booziness at all. Rather, thanks to ample, still-bright acidity, there's a nice amount of fresh black fruit - cassis, black plum, blackberry - in the nose and showing as juiciness on the palate. But this is really about a nose full of roasted wild game, black pepper, leather, and just a little mushroomy earthiness. Really enjoyable and drinking fantastically right now.
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Mid neck fill. Deep garnet color in glass with obvious browning. Black cherry/chocolate bouquet. Heaps of fruit on palate with moderate tannins and acidity. Some fading evident. A few years past peak but drinking well. Tiny particles of sediment.
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Not the best Ridge wine I ever drank... Very unbalanced. Heavy on the licorice and black pepper with a very pronounced red berry high note. It almost tasted like cranberry, but possibly tart red cherry. Served with ox tail soup and a crusty Semi-freddi seeded sourdough baguette.
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With pan-fried Wagyu steak, pan-fried cauliflower with Indian spices. Decanted 30 minutes prior to serving. Opaque crimson, color solid to rim, but a bit dull. Nose of dark fruit, earth, tobacco, leather. Medium tannin, acid has moderated a bit, flavor full but not heavy. Believe this one is a bit beyond its prime. Still needs air to bring some life to the party - nonetheless time to drink up.
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I enjoy this style of Syrah - is fruit forward but isn't thick, syrupy and full of pepper. More a 'pretty' Syrah closer to Pinot fruit. Probably a bit due to the Viognier.
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There's no mistaking this for anything other than California, lots of hedonistic pleasure here. In a good spot right now, but no rush to open - plenty of life left.
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With Pasta and Vodka pasta sauce, spinach salad. Opened 30 minutes before pouring, ran through Vinturi. Nose popped before getting the glass to the now - wonderful and inviting, fruit, pepper. Clear ruby, no longer opaque. Smooth, dry, sweet, blackberry, rich, good length. Still growing.
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Gobsmacking delicious. Restrained red fruit wrapped around grainy tannins, this was pure joy to drink. One of the best CA Syrahs we've had. 11% Viognier.
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Violet color with intriguing, but initially reticent, dark red fruit, smoked meat, olive tapenade, and spice aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied, and well structured with a supple mouth feel, and a core of black cherry, blackberry, red currant, pepper and vanilla flavors. Long finish.
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Not as satisfying as the 07. Could benefit from a few years of bottle age to smooth everything out. Initial pop and pour reveals a beautiful nose of dark and red fruit qualities, but drank over several hours in the glass and felt it was a bit overly tart with a bitter tannic finish. Night 2 wasn't much different, but I have little doubt this will improve with some cellar time.
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San Francisco Rhone Rangers (San Francisco): dark red in color. dark fruit, tobacco, pepper, on the nose. berry, pepper, earth, leather, on the palate. balanced acid and tannins on the finish.
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clear, maroon, in color. spice, earth, wet ground, dark fruit, on the nose. tart fruit, caramel, pepper, clove, mushroom, spice, on the palate. medium acid and tannins on this lingering finish.
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Rich buttery nose of vanilla, cinnamon and dark red berries. Rich and jammy on the palate with black berry fruit that develops smoky and meaty nuances over time. Plush and velvety mouth-coating texture with just a touch of tannic bitterness at the end. I expect the tannins will smooth out with a couple of years in the cellar.
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Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: 2009 Libournais (Frank's): Initially quite reticent and shy, eventually showing notes of dark fruit, pepper and roasted meat. Structured, but balanced. Black fruit and spice qualities with a medium+ finish. Could use a couple of years.
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12/26/2023 - wchrisw wrote:
Opened Christmas Eve and finished on Christmas. I admit I was recovering from a minor cold This showed much like the other wines I opened the last couple days which were all uneventful.
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10/23/2023 - DestinyDief Likes this wine:
Very smooth, good body.
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12/18/2021 - wchrisw Likes this wine:
Slow ox followed by decant over 5 hour span. Blueberries, sleek and rich. Later this showed some lavender and chalk. Lightweight but not thin. A pretty wine at this st-age.
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3/5/2021 - mckillop Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fresh, fruity with wonderful roundness. Drink up!
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7/19/2020 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Balanced and showing well. No where near fading.
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6/21/2020 - Barry Raterink Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing wine - bright, fruit forward, long lasting finish. Hard to imagine a better peak for this wine. Drank over 5 hours on fathers Day.
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4/19/2020 - stvjackson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Remarkably well balanced for being a rather large wine. No jamminess or booziness at all. Rather, thanks to ample, still-bright acidity, there's a nice amount of fresh black fruit - cassis, black plum, blackberry - in the nose and showing as juiciness on the palate. But this is really about a nose full of roasted wild game, black pepper, leather, and just a little mushroomy earthiness. Really enjoyable and drinking fantastically right now.
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4/13/2020 - Terroirterrier wrote:
Delicious blending of blackberry and structure from American oak, supremely balanced.
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1/19/2020 - 41hijinx Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mid neck fill. Deep garnet color in glass with obvious browning. Black cherry/chocolate bouquet. Heaps of fruit on palate with moderate tannins and acidity. Some fading evident. A few years past peak but drinking well. Tiny particles of sediment.
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12/14/2019 - casjf wrote: 87 Points
Not the best Ridge wine I ever drank... Very unbalanced. Heavy on the licorice and black pepper with a very pronounced red berry high note. It almost tasted like cranberry, but possibly tart red cherry. Served with ox tail soup and a crusty Semi-freddi seeded sourdough baguette.
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9/22/2019 - bjschmitt wrote: 89 Points
With pan-fried Wagyu steak, pan-fried cauliflower with Indian spices.
Decanted 30 minutes prior to serving.
Opaque crimson, color solid to rim, but a bit dull.
Nose of dark fruit, earth, tobacco, leather.
Medium tannin, acid has moderated a bit, flavor full but not heavy.
Believe this one is a bit beyond its prime. Still needs air to bring some life to the party - nonetheless time to drink up.
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7/28/2019 - casjf Likes this wine: 88 Points
Time to drink up! Getting a little syrupy. Bold blackberry & black pepper with cassis.
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12/31/2018 - Colorado Native 3G Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a smooth, delicious wine. Nothing seemed to fading. Paired amazingly well with lamb chops and blueberry sauce.
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3/4/2018 - Brian Love wrote: 93 Points
Similar to previous note and even more smoothed out. Excellent wine.
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7/9/2017 - vinorsk Likes this wine:
This wine is singing in July 2017. Tannins acidity and black fruit in perfect balance. Delicious. Too bad it's my last bottle.
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5/21/2017 - vinorsk Likes this wine:
Awesome nose of plumb spice cedar and black fruit. Smooth wine with black fruit flavors, smooth tannins. Juicy and smooth. A delicious Ridge Syrah.
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7/20/2016 - Brian Love wrote: 92 Points
I enjoy this style of Syrah - is fruit forward but isn't thick, syrupy and full of pepper. More a 'pretty' Syrah closer to Pinot fruit. Probably a bit due to the Viognier.
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11/2/2015 - moxielady wrote: 91 Points
Fruit bomb. Spicy finish
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5/18/2015 - SuitePhoto Likes this wine:
There's no mistaking this for anything other than California, lots of hedonistic pleasure here. In a good spot right now, but no rush to open - plenty of life left.
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12/6/2014 - OliverHM wrote: 92 Points
Really complex and smooth...not much fruit, interesting flavors
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11/9/2014 - Silveradoup wrote: 94 Points
Awesome, great aromatics from the 11% Viognier.
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9/28/2014 - Jscalia wrote: 89 Points
dark fruit flavours, forward on palate Heavy ML. Smooth tannins at front on palate, slightly astringent mid palate.
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4/26/2014 - bjschmitt wrote: 90 Points
With Pasta and Vodka pasta sauce, spinach salad.
Opened 30 minutes before pouring, ran through Vinturi.
Nose popped before getting the glass to the now - wonderful and inviting, fruit, pepper.
Clear ruby, no longer opaque.
Smooth, dry, sweet, blackberry, rich, good length. Still growing.
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4/20/2014 - Colima74 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gobsmacking delicious. Restrained red fruit wrapped around grainy tannins, this was pure joy to drink. One of the best CA Syrahs we've had. 11% Viognier.
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4/5/2014 - Cadby Likes this wine: 94 Points
2008 Ridge Lytton Estate Syrah ++++ $35
Rich, bold & gorgeous. Viognier magic on glorious Ridge Syrah.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2014/04/2008-ridge-lytton-estate-syrah-35.html
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3/2/2014 - kcp Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nothing distinct comes to mind.
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12/12/2013 - Alro Likes this wine: 91 Points
1 hour minimum to open. Very tight, but once opened revealed a very Big wine. Easily stood up to Ribeye.
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11/27/2013 - BigTex22 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Muted nose, subtle mid palate with a spicy finish. This is an elegant Syrah. Drink now or hold for a few more years. VERY GOOD.
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11/20/2013 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Violet color with intriguing, but initially reticent, dark red fruit, smoked meat, olive tapenade, and spice aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied, and well structured with a supple mouth feel, and a core of black cherry, blackberry, red currant, pepper and vanilla flavors. Long finish.
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8/18/2013 - jen&pat Likes this wine: 92 Points
Surprising good. Bold. Paired excellent with a spicy pork loin meal.
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6/25/2013 - Lee Fining wrote: 91 Points
Medium garnet red. Smokey aromas of dark fruit. Flavors follow aroma, all combined in a chewy texture.
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6/18/2013 - jrlamia wrote: 89 Points
Sweet, smokey nose. Dark ruby color. Rich mouthfeel. Soft spice, medium tannin, medium mature red fruit. Holds well on the glass over hours.
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5/21/2013 - prexan wrote: 90 Points
Cote Rotie anyone? Will probably do well with at least another year on the bottle but absolutely drinkable today!
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4/24/2013 - storysworld wrote: 87 Points
Not as satisfying as the 07. Could benefit from a few years of bottle age to smooth everything out. Initial pop and pour reveals a beautiful nose of dark and red fruit qualities, but drank over several hours in the glass and felt it was a bit overly tart with a bitter tannic finish. Night 2 wasn't much different, but I have little doubt this will improve with some cellar time.
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4/7/2013 - ledocq Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really solid and happy-making, good bassline and you can dance to it without thinking too much.
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3/23/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
San Francisco Rhone Rangers (San Francisco): dark red in color. dark fruit, tobacco, pepper, on the nose. berry, pepper, earth, leather, on the palate. balanced acid and tannins on the finish.
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3/21/2013 - Cadby Likes this wine: 92 Points
2008 Ridge Lytton Estate Syrah ++++ $30
A glorious mouthful of pleasure. 11% Viognier magic.
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2013/03/2008-ridge-lytton-estate-syrah-30.html
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3/1/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 90 Points
clear, maroon, in color. spice, earth, wet ground, dark fruit, on the nose. tart fruit, caramel, pepper, clove, mushroom, spice, on the palate. medium acid and tannins on this lingering finish.
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3/1/2013 - Anneck Likes this wine:
Black raspberries, toasted marshmallow/vanilla, moderate tannins. Well balanced and drinkable now. A dark inky and delectable syrah.
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3/1/2013 - kosinski Likes this wine:
Rich buttery nose of vanilla, cinnamon and dark red berries. Rich and jammy on the palate with black berry fruit that develops smoky and meaty nuances over time. Plush and velvety mouth-coating texture with just a touch of tannic bitterness at the end. I expect the tannins will smooth out with a couple of years in the cellar.
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2/10/2013 - AllRed wrote:
Sunday Brown Bag Tasting: 2009 Libournais (Frank's): Initially quite reticent and shy, eventually showing notes of dark fruit, pepper and roasted meat. Structured, but balanced. Black fruit and spice qualities with a medium+ finish. Could use a couple of years.
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