Stunning light ruby color with zero degradation in color. Looks about three years old. Slight chocolate and dark berries on a somewhat elusive nose. THIS WINE IS STILL FRESH!!!! Sweet, fresh raspberries, lingonberries, a bit of cocoa - I would likely have guessed old-style Cali Pinot Noir if served blind. Long, crisp red berry finish with a lovely sweet sourness to it. Just complex enough to be compelling without taking away from the purity of the fruit. Excellent acidity and tannic balance. I am blown away; bravo, Ridge; I wish you still made wines in this style (though I still adore you!!).
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Old zins like this Ridge that I bought from my friend Al have been a delightful surprise and revelation about how well they are holding up after 20 years. Blackberries, pepper and spices and a touch of oak. Very balanced. Don't know how long this will go on, but it sure didn't seem on its last legs. Every bottle I have had so far has been spot-on. Wish I had more of this particular wine but I have several other old zins, including some Seghesio and Ravenwood single vineyards, left to try. Paired the Ridge with grilled ribeyes and a 2006 Sean Capiaux pinot from Gary's Vineyard and both wines were wonderful and complementary. Go figure
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Old Vine Offline 2 (Forestville, CA): Day 2 notes, after last nights offline. Color is holding nicely on this, blood red with no color degradation even on the edges. Nose showing smoky oak, boysenberry and blackberry. Palate is rich and fruity with mouth coating dark berry, tannins still kinda chunky but this has loads of life left. Showing extremely well. Like this a lot.
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Great nose! Love ridge zins! Juicy fruity, spicy, black cherry, peppery aftertaste with some dryness, with the first pour. Smoother and fruitier as it is sitting. Excellent!
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still delightful, open 1 hour and decanted and had it with non tomato based bouillibase, opened up beautifully fruit was there color was deep red this wine hase been in my cellar since 1998 I have 2 left and will be drinking them soon.
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I’m not really a zin fan, but decided to open up a Ridge tonight to go with a mustard chicken dish. I’ve usually been impressed with how long Ridge zin’s can age, I’ve had bottles from the early 80’s that were still drinking well. Sweet velvety textured fruit. Very nice espressive nose of over-ripe cherry and spice with a very minute green streak – classic zinfandel. Very full weight and richness in the mouth, with a short to medium length finish. This wine is mature, but I think it will maintain this level for some time, good fruit is still present. Rather enjoyable for a zin.
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11/21/2023 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stunning light ruby color with zero degradation in color. Looks about three years old. Slight chocolate and dark berries on a somewhat elusive nose. THIS WINE IS STILL FRESH!!!! Sweet, fresh raspberries, lingonberries, a bit of cocoa - I would likely have guessed old-style Cali Pinot Noir if served blind. Long, crisp red berry finish with a lovely sweet sourness to it. Just complex enough to be compelling without taking away from the purity of the fruit. Excellent acidity and tannic balance. I am blown away; bravo, Ridge; I wish you still made wines in this style (though I still adore you!!).
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4/19/2020 - Tony Molester Likes this wine:
Single piece cork, signs of past seepage.
Level was into neck
Quick note, this was alive and a nice wine to boot, very ripe suggesting a residual sugar level >5gpl.
A nice modern wine still full of zin character.
75% zinfandel
10% alicante bouschet
5% petite syrah
Remainder other varietals
Filtered wine
Drink or hold, can go another 10 years+
14.5%abv
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7/19/2015 - mouton45 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Old zins like this Ridge that I bought from my friend Al have been a delightful surprise and revelation about how well they are holding up after 20 years. Blackberries, pepper and spices and a touch of oak. Very balanced. Don't know how long this will go on, but it sure didn't seem on its last legs. Every bottle I have had so far has been spot-on. Wish I had more of this particular wine but I have several other old zins, including some Seghesio and Ravenwood single vineyards, left to try. Paired the Ridge with grilled ribeyes and a 2006 Sean Capiaux pinot from Gary's Vineyard and both wines were wonderful and complementary. Go figure
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8/24/2013 - River Rat Likes this wine:
Old Vine Offline 2 (Forestville, CA): Day 2 notes, after last nights offline.
Color is holding nicely on this, blood red with no color degradation even on the edges. Nose showing smoky oak, boysenberry and blackberry. Palate is rich and fruity with mouth coating dark berry, tannins still kinda chunky but this has loads of life left. Showing extremely well. Like this a lot.
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9/4/2011 - Acucole wrote: 94 Points
Great nose! Love ridge zins! Juicy fruity, spicy, black cherry, peppery aftertaste with some dryness, with the first pour. Smoother and fruitier as it is sitting. Excellent!
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3/13/2011 - mindev wrote: 91 Points
still delightful, open 1 hour and decanted and had it with non tomato based bouillibase, opened up beautifully fruit was there color was deep red this wine hase been in my cellar since 1998 I have 2 left and will be drinking them soon.
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3/7/2006 - Mark wrote: 87 Points
I’m not really a zin fan, but decided to open up a Ridge tonight to go with a mustard chicken dish. I’ve usually been impressed with how long Ridge zin’s can age, I’ve had bottles from the early 80’s that were still drinking well. Sweet velvety textured fruit. Very nice espressive nose of over-ripe cherry and spice with a very minute green streak – classic zinfandel. Very full weight and richness in the mouth, with a short to medium length finish. This wine is mature, but I think it will maintain this level for some time, good fruit is still present. Rather enjoyable for a zin.
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10/15/2005 - SteveH wrote: 85 Points
Fading a little, but still a well-balanced, pleasant wine. Don't hold it any longer.
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9/7/2002 - SadEdjo wrote:
truffly, earthy blackberry zin
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5/1/2001 - twoamps wrote: 90 Points
drank 5/01 softer tannins, good oak, fruit, jammy
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