This my WOTY for 2021!! Dark garnet in color and clear in the glass; aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, peach, baking spice, black pepper, and sweet floral notes that I could not pinpoint; tastes of black cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, and black pepper on the palate; incredibly long finish with lingering hints of black cherry and pomegranate that lasted well over 2 minutes. The acidity just lingered in the midpalate for awhile and then slowly lingered into that finish. Balanced, polished tannins, texture, and complexity. Drinking just absolutely superb right now
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Good. Has aged well, and has a foot into the secondary stage. Not overly complex, but certainly well-balanced, and very approachable. Not too sure additional cellaring will reward greater complexity, but I've been schooled by Ridge zins before and won't bet against it. Good food wine. recommended
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W terrific “venison meatballs” in Rbeck. Still very fresh color, nose and palate. Medium wait, good brambly berry fruit, good finish. I had expected a heavier wine but given the vintage maybe this is all that is there. After an hour open this comes across as juicy, but in summary this is a good wine. After two hours this is great, maybe it needed lighter food - grilled chciken or pizza. I gather this is LS and Geyserville territory as far as aging is concerned. Drink now since you would have it on the good side of age.
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This is my first bottle of the 2011. The blend consists of 78% Zin, 18% Alicante Bouschet, 3% Petite Sirah and 1% Mourvedre. Consumed as a second bottle after the Lagier-Meredith Tribidrag 2011. And what a very different Zin from the L-M! This wine is much brighter; much jammier; much “sweeter”; and just a festival in a bottle. With loads of flavors jumping out of the glass, this dark plum-to-purple wine has Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, boysenberry and vanilla leaping and scampering. Definite Draper perfume wafts along with the other flavors. Everything simply bursts out the glass. The finish is more vanilla than most anything else. A shadow of sediment on the shoulder and neck. 14.7% alc. With homemade pork barbeque for Independence Day. Recommended.
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A touch hot with alcohol and a hint of overripenes. Great tannin and acid on finish. I lowered my score as its overall perception is too disjointed. Ripe Zin style aromatics.
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very odd (for me) .. first night, lovely fruit with some spice and just a little vanilla showing to make it interesting.... second night, the fruit had receded and vanilla was on full display (way too much for my taste) ... moral of this story.. DRINK IT THE FIRST NIGHT!
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Sour pomegranate, sour cherries, sour blackberries...just plain sour. Acids NOT in check (just too plentiful). Body is medium +. Some have mentioned the rusticity of this effort, and I would certainly agree, but the alcohol is so obtrusive! The nose is all grappa. Some cedar on the finish along with medium-viscosity.
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Very attractive garnet color. Super intro to the palate. Very much in the Zin style that I recall from the 1980s. In addition to the blackberry fruit, I get the impression that they were not too fussy during the crushing process about picking out leaves and stems. I just get the sensation that this is a rustic wine meant for relatively simple foods and just for fun. Firm, gripping tannin. Easy to enjoy tart acids. Agreeable, lengthy finish.
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Over two hours, this wine opened up and really shined. Well-balanced fruit, specifically blackberry and dark fruit along with firm tannins. Long finish.
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Drank during the week as an everyday wine and thought it very good. Well integrated interesting fruit. Balanced alcohol and tannins. Nice finish. Very pleasant wine.
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Transparent strawberry red color. Light herbal nose with red fruit forward character. Slightly sharp but balanced bite of acidity and raspberry, touch of herb and earth. This is a very friendly and versatile wine.
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Dark red-violet color. Repeating my tasting note almost verbatim from last month. ... Big and rich aromas of raspberry, framboise liqueur, brush, black pepper, vanilla and cinnamon. On arrival, medium tannin and medium acidity. An excellent zinfandel, balanced and yet there's big dry raspberry fruit, and moderate wood - yes, a superb oak spice. Perfect for drinking or holding for me. Long finish, fruited, balanced, intense. Added another case to the cellar since dinner yesterday; we don't buy cases of anything anymore. but ... Bottle #3 of sixteen.
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Dark red-violet color. Big and rich aromas of raspberry, framboise, brush, black pepper and vanilla. On arrival, medium tannin and medium acidity. A strong zin, not over the top in any way, but a brute compared to the Swan (served together with dinner.) In the mouth, there's big raspberry and moderate wood, but there is some toast. Perfect stage for drinking. Long finish, fruited, balanced, intense. Bottle #2 of four.
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Enjoyed this more than most other Ridge wines I've had. Classy describes it well as noted by others here, but still pretty straight forward. I do like its zest and acidity that seems to replace the normal fruitiness of Zinfandels.
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Opened to accompany brisket and smoked chicken. PnP, fruit-forward, fairly one dimensional, but still managing to be balanced and not a fruit-bomb. Decent selection for the meal, holding steady over the course of several hours.
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The nose was ripe and slightly rustic with intense wild berry fruit, candied black cherry, spiced vanilla and cola. It saturated the palate with ripe dark fruits, smoke house wood and mineral laden, black stone. It's intensity was well matched by a balancing acidity that kept it juicy--it was hard to believe this is 14.7% alc. The finish was loaded with dark fruit, yet clean and fresh, a really great effort, yet I feel it's an earlier drinking wine than the back label boasts. I honestly don't see this improving over the next seven to eight years--but that's because it's just so darn good now--why wait?
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Pepper and dark fruit up front on the nose. Pagani signature of fruit forward, but not syrup or sticky, black berry, more fruit, acid bite, ever ever so slight sweetness, chalky, some pucker, almost smooth finish for a wine of this character. Drinking well now. PNP worked but an hour or two open will soften it a bit.
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a higher alcohol ridge zin, this was very fruity, with intense berry that almost masked the tannin. I wouldn't say it was quite over the top, but it was close. Still enjoyable.
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Has held up well overnight. Boysenberry confiture, cherry and black raspberry aromas. Has a lush, ripe quality to the red fruit qualities which I am really enjoying. Finishes very well and shows nice balance throughout.
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Ridge tasting at Allred's. Tasted alongside the '10 Lytton Estate Zin. This was better to my tastes. This had notes of chocolate, boysenberry and bubble gum (in a good way), with the tannins still in the forefront. This just seemed brighter and more lively than the Lytton.
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Dark red-violet color. Rich, ripe nose of raspberry, framboise, dusty coastal California chapparal, black pepper. On arrival, medium tannin and medium-low acidity. Develops strong raspberry fruit and mixed herb flavors; not much evolution in three hours air. Supple, long finish. I like Pagani Ranch bottlings like this, the medium-ripe style that stands midway between the overripeness from 1992 and the ultra-lean 2005.
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Zinfandel Claret. Nice structure, with excellent varietal character, tho less exuberant than my most recent Pagani, the Ridge 2008. A delicious savory Zin without any aggressive WOW factor, everything in balance. A spicy, tart sweetness in the finish. Good now, and another year in the bottle could easily bump it up over 90.
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Incense cedar and maraschino cherry aroma. Sweet and jammy on the palate with rich cherry and strawberry compote flavors. Some baking spice. Moderate tannins and acidity throughout. Mouth coating texture. Good pasta or pizza wine.
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ZAP 2013 (San Francisco, CA): dark red in color. blackberry, soil, floral, herbal, pepper, vanilla, cotton candy, toast, oak, on the nose. balanced acid and tannins on the finish. another couple of years, this will be a gem.
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11/6/2021 - Stephen Rash wrote: 95 Points
This my WOTY for 2021!! Dark garnet in color and clear in the glass; aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, peach, baking spice, black pepper, and sweet floral notes that I could not pinpoint; tastes of black cherry, pomegranate, red raspberry, and black pepper on the palate; incredibly long finish with lingering hints of black cherry and pomegranate that lasted well over 2 minutes. The acidity just lingered in the midpalate for awhile and then slowly lingered into that finish. Balanced, polished tannins, texture, and complexity. Drinking just absolutely superb right now
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3/27/2021 - cdpm Likes this wine: 66 Points
More mellow due to age.
Raspberry, red fruits and deep flavours
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3/1/2021 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Good. Has aged well, and has a foot into the secondary stage. Not overly complex, but certainly well-balanced, and very approachable. Not too sure additional cellaring will reward greater complexity, but I've been schooled by Ridge zins before and won't bet against it. Good food wine. recommended
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12/2/2020 - Jfkervan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Smooth, deep, high in alcohol. Classic. Good value
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8/2/2020 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great match with bbq chicken and southwest salad. Classy complex Zin.
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4/24/2020 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another bottle, good and consistent. Spice and dark fruits. Ready now.
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4/14/2020 - creek55 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great Ridge Zin! This one aged well.
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3/28/2020 - ClaytonDave Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic ridge zin with pepper and black fruits
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2/28/2020 - MichielV wrote: 90 Points
W terrific “venison meatballs” in Rbeck. Still very fresh color, nose and palate. Medium wait, good brambly berry fruit, good finish. I had expected a heavier wine but given the vintage maybe this is all that is there. After an hour open this comes across as juicy, but in summary this is a good wine. After two hours this is great, maybe it needed lighter food - grilled chciken or pizza. I gather this is LS and Geyserville territory as far as aging is concerned. Drink now since you would have it on the good side of age.
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7/4/2019 - timewithwine wrote:
This is my first bottle of the 2011. The blend consists of 78% Zin, 18% Alicante Bouschet, 3% Petite Sirah and 1% Mourvedre. Consumed as a second bottle after the Lagier-Meredith Tribidrag 2011. And what a very different Zin from the L-M! This wine is much brighter; much jammier; much “sweeter”; and just a festival in a bottle. With loads of flavors jumping out of the glass, this dark plum-to-purple wine has Zin funk, molasses, cinnamon, boysenberry and vanilla leaping and scampering. Definite Draper perfume wafts along with the other flavors. Everything simply bursts out the glass. The finish is more vanilla than most anything else. A shadow of sediment on the shoulder and neck. 14.7% alc. With homemade pork barbeque for Independence Day. Recommended.
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4/20/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 87 Points
A touch hot with alcohol and a hint of overripenes. Great tannin and acid on finish. I lowered my score as its overall perception is too disjointed. Ripe Zin style aromatics.
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11/21/2016 - bobpsi Likes this wine:
PnP. Moderate nose of black raspberry, violets, and sweet oak. Medium body of brambly fruits, smoke, herbs and vanilla.
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7/29/2016 - gf2182 Likes this wine:
very odd (for me) .. first night, lovely fruit with some spice and just a little vanilla showing to make it interesting.... second night, the fruit had receded and vanilla was on full display (way too much for my taste) ... moral of this story.. DRINK IT THE FIRST NIGHT!
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6/26/2016 - Opus2010 Likes this wine: 91 Points
not overpowering, but just a delicious balanced Ridge Zin. I decanted it for 30 minutes and drank it with a delicious Cowboy steak.
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3/30/2016 - Mech-E Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Decanted 1 hour.
Sour pomegranate, sour cherries, sour blackberries...just plain sour. Acids NOT in check (just too plentiful). Body is medium +. Some have mentioned the rusticity of this effort, and I would certainly agree, but the alcohol is so obtrusive! The nose is all grappa. Some cedar on the finish along with medium-viscosity.
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2/12/2016 - Opus2010 wrote: 93 Points
Perfect pairing with Greek food. Very dry, light bouquet and refined flavor.
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12/18/2015 - Opus2010 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pleasant light bouquet. Deep garnet red. Rounded palate with a 5s finish and good after taste.
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12/12/2015 - Jump29 wrote: flawed
Corked or something.
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11/4/2015 - EMark Likes this wine:
Very attractive garnet color. Super intro to the palate. Very much in the Zin style that I recall from the 1980s. In addition to the blackberry fruit, I get the impression that they were not too fussy during the crushing process about picking out leaves and stems. I just get the sensation that this is a rustic wine meant for relatively simple foods and just for fun. Firm, gripping tannin. Easy to enjoy tart acids. Agreeable, lengthy finish.
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9/27/2015 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
Raspberry, strawberry and hints of chocolate. Decent body, not terribly complex, but enjoyable. No signs of fading.
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8/31/2015 - westcoastwannabe wrote: 91 Points
Over two hours, this wine opened up and really shined. Well-balanced fruit, specifically blackberry and dark fruit along with firm tannins. Long finish.
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6/13/2015 - gf2182 Likes this wine: 92 Points
med+ body, deep dark fruit.. loved it and several years of enjoyment ahead
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6/12/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Improves significantly with about two hours of air time. Black fruits become smooth and fairly complex. Good finish.
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6/8/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank during the week as an everyday wine and thought it very good. Well integrated interesting fruit. Balanced alcohol and tannins. Nice finish. Very pleasant wine.
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1/26/2015 - marcellevi wrote: 91 Points
Transparent strawberry red color. Light herbal nose with red fruit forward character. Slightly sharp but balanced bite of acidity and raspberry, touch of herb and earth. This is a very friendly and versatile wine.
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1/19/2015 - Wizaard1 wrote: 91 Points
exceptional fruit. Nice structure
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9/18/2014 - Hodby wrote: 92 Points
Dark red-violet color. Repeating my tasting note almost verbatim from last month. ... Big and rich aromas of raspberry, framboise liqueur, brush, black pepper, vanilla and cinnamon. On arrival, medium tannin and medium acidity. An excellent zinfandel, balanced and yet there's big dry raspberry fruit, and moderate wood - yes, a superb oak spice. Perfect for drinking or holding for me. Long finish, fruited, balanced, intense. Added another case to the cellar since dinner yesterday; we don't buy cases of anything anymore. but ... Bottle #3 of sixteen.
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8/21/2014 - Hodby wrote: 91 Points
Dark red-violet color. Big and rich aromas of raspberry, framboise, brush, black pepper and vanilla. On arrival, medium tannin and medium acidity. A strong zin, not over the top in any way, but a brute compared to the Swan (served together with dinner.) In the mouth, there's big raspberry and moderate wood, but there is some toast. Perfect stage for drinking. Long finish, fruited, balanced, intense. Bottle #2 of four.
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8/15/2014 - freestatejayhawk wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed this more than most other Ridge wines I've had. Classy describes it well as noted by others here, but still pretty straight forward. I do like its zest and acidity that seems to replace the normal fruitiness of Zinfandels.
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8/10/2014 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:
Opened to accompany brisket and smoked chicken. PnP, fruit-forward, fairly one dimensional, but still managing to be balanced and not a fruit-bomb. Decent selection for the meal, holding steady over the course of several hours.
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6/29/2014 - pickhardt wrote: 90 Points
Really nice zin-based field blend. A bit on the lighter side with very good acidity and great fruit. Classy.
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6/27/2014 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was ripe and slightly rustic with intense wild berry fruit, candied black cherry, spiced vanilla and cola. It saturated the palate with ripe dark fruits, smoke house wood and mineral laden, black stone. It's intensity was well matched by a balancing acidity that kept it juicy--it was hard to believe this is 14.7% alc. The finish was loaded with dark fruit, yet clean and fresh, a really great effort, yet I feel it's an earlier drinking wine than the back label boasts. I honestly don't see this improving over the next seven to eight years--but that's because it's just so darn good now--why wait?
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5/9/2014 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pepper and dark fruit up front on the nose. Pagani signature of fruit forward, but not syrup or sticky, black berry, more fruit, acid bite, ever ever so slight sweetness, chalky, some pucker, almost smooth finish for a wine of this character. Drinking well now. PNP worked but an hour or two open will soften it a bit.
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2/21/2014 - twoamps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice full classic Zin. Riper and fruitier than the typical Ridge, which is just fine with me.
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12/12/2013 - Rktekt3 wrote: 89 Points
Very nice fruit flavors but a bit subdued for a zinfandel.
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12/6/2013 - tarheel17 Likes this wine:
a higher alcohol ridge zin, this was very fruity, with intense berry that almost masked the tannin. I wouldn't say it was quite over the top, but it was close. Still enjoyable.
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12/3/2013 - Trustjustus wrote: 91 Points
The paradigm of big Zinfandel. Delicious
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11/2/2013 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Has held up well overnight. Boysenberry confiture, cherry and black raspberry aromas. Has a lush, ripe quality to the red fruit qualities which I am really enjoying. Finishes very well and shows nice balance throughout.
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11/2/2013 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
Opened by Allred. No formal notes. 88 points
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11/1/2013 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Vineyards Virtual Winemaker Tasting of the Fall Releases (Our house): Aromas of black raspberry, pomegranate, boysenberry and even some chocolate. Sweet, firm tannins with flavors of boysenberry and raspberry with a long, fruit-filled finish.
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11/1/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Ridge tasting at Allred's. Tasted alongside the '10 Lytton Estate Zin. This was better to my tastes. This had notes of chocolate, boysenberry and bubble gum (in a good way), with the tannins still in the forefront. This just seemed brighter and more lively than the Lytton.
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10/25/2013 - Hodby wrote: 91 Points
Dark red-violet color. Rich, ripe nose of raspberry, framboise, dusty coastal California chapparal, black pepper. On arrival, medium tannin and medium-low acidity. Develops strong raspberry fruit and mixed herb flavors; not much evolution in three hours air. Supple, long finish. I like Pagani Ranch bottlings like this, the medium-ripe style that stands midway between the overripeness from 1992 and the ultra-lean 2005.
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9/27/2013 - wilypod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Zinfandel Claret. Nice structure, with excellent varietal character, tho less exuberant than my most recent Pagani, the Ridge 2008. A delicious savory Zin without any aggressive WOW factor, everything in balance. A spicy, tart sweetness in the finish. Good now, and another year in the bottle could easily bump it up over 90.
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9/15/2013 - MRichman wrote:
Tasting at Ridge Lytton (Ridge Lytton Springs): Dark fruit with bright acid. Smooth, silky, syrupy feel. Sweeter than some of the other Ridge offerings. Lots of baking spices.
B
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8/31/2013 - kosinski wrote:
Incense cedar and maraschino cherry aroma. Sweet and jammy on the palate with rich cherry and strawberry compote flavors. Some baking spice. Moderate tannins and acidity throughout. Mouth coating texture. Good pasta or pizza wine.
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2/2/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 91 Points
ZAP 2013 (San Francisco, CA): dark red in color. blackberry, soil, floral, herbal, pepper, vanilla, cotton candy, toast, oak, on the nose. balanced acid and tannins on the finish. another couple of years, this will be a gem.
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