According the the winemaker notes on the bottle, the 2011 was just starting to reach its peak drinkability. It definitely the smoothest of the lot, still having fruit on the palate, but restrained. More earthly notes are starting to come out. Don't wait too long to drink the 2011.
The oldest two were stored in a wine fridge.
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Vanilla, blueberry, and a sniff of mint. Palate is rather hot and a bit thinner than other vintages. Strawberries, blueberries and leather give a rather fruit bomb light feel. Nice spices that don't dominate and enough drying tannins to linger on the tongue. Had with pizza and the garlic and and oregano really bring out the best in the wine.
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Served with home made sausage and mushroom pizza (sour dough crust). PNP, probably too cool as well. Crimson, touch of purple, and the start of brick at the rim. Jane gets alcohol and tobacco on the nose, with a hint of licorice. I get an abundance of fruit (grape). A fair amount of acid on the palate (which toned down as the wine got to room temp). Needed some air and to be served a little closer to room temp.
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Dark and youthful. Better than previous bottle - that extra year in the cellar has helped. Less oaky than before - but still quite alcoholic though. Black fruit. Brambly. Nice spiciness. Low acidity - some acidity would help.
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Dark, ruby. Little if any bricking. Very young looking. On the nose, alcohol and especially oak dominate. Black fruit. Brambly. On the palate, black and blue fruit... but vanillin and toasted coconut from the oak overwhelm. Little in the way of non-fruit characteristics - just a trace of leather. A rather undistinguished wine by Ridge's usually high standards. Lacks balance and finesse. Tannins still a bit too much. Not enough acidity. Maybe a few more yrs in the cellar would have helped.
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With sausage and mushroom pizza, salad. Cork smell was lovely. Opened 90 minutes before pouring. Crimson/ruby, no longer opaque. Earth and fruit on the nose. Dry. some tannin there, but not overpowering. Acid sneaks up on you. Blackberry, earth, mushroom, and a medium-long finish.
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Sugary candy, a familiar nose from Ridge and one that I like. I must admit, I'm trying to dump all these single vineyard Ridge bottles (I have 40+ from my dumb decision to join their ATP wine club) on my family during the holidays, but this is one bottle I would definitely drink again. So far, the 2011 Zins seem to have something the other years don't.
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Lovely Zin. Full flavored yet restrained with pretty floral notes, perfume, a bit of baking spices, some vanilla, and firm dark black tannins. Drinking well, could improve but I wouldn't put this one down as a long ager. Dense and packed. B
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Decanted for one hour after pulling from a cool cellar. Beautiful transparent ruby in color, more like a pinot noir. The nose was a bit shy at first. Started off with a definite red fruit emphasis (cranberries, cherries, etc.), but as the wine warmed and aired during the course of the evening, it opened up, adding some darker notes and brown spice. A lighter vintage, not very tannic, very vibrant. I found it delightful now, but I would imagine it could go the 6-8 years estimated by the winemaker on the back label.
I'm finding myself liking 2011 as a vintage more and more. True, they don't have the volume of warmer years. But every time I've had a 2011 zinfandel or field blend from a quality producer, I've come away appreciating the wine's poise and freshness. I have a hunch that they will age beautifully and provide understated, elegant drinking in a few years' time.
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Kalamata olive tapenade aroma with notes of mace and blackberry. Rather light bodied on the palate with restrained red cherry flavors. Develops more fruit with air. More prominent are notes of almond pit and cedar. Distinctly acidic and backward, with rather green grippy tannins. Needs some time to mellow the tannin but then should prove a good food wine.
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6/29/2023 - affordableCollector wrote: 93 Points
ruby, garnet, in color. black raspberry, dark plum, clove, dusty road, wet wood, earth, pepper. cinnamon, spice, raspberry juice, on the finish.
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2/2/2020 - casjf Likes this wine: 90 Points
Anise and dark plum flavors. Nice complement to Super Bowl meal of red beans, rice, and sausage.
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11/28/2019 - Alro Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great drinker for this vintage....very well put together Drink now, but can go another 2-3 years
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5/25/2019 - casjf Likes this wine: 92 Points
Stunning wine with flavors of Red cherry and red plum. Great with BBQ!
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3/22/2018 - Italiana Likes this wine:
Incredibly enveloping aromas just from pulling the cork. Dark purple. Very rich, smooth texture. Plenty of fruit. Moderately tannic.
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11/9/2017 - yaya wrote: 91 Points
Flight Tasting with 2011, 2012, 2013.
According the the winemaker notes on the bottle, the 2011 was just starting to reach its peak drinkability. It definitely the smoothest of the lot, still having fruit on the palate, but restrained. More earthly notes are starting to come out. Don't wait too long to drink the 2011.
The oldest two were stored in a wine fridge.
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3/30/2017 - Ecb1456 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Vanilla, blueberry, and a sniff of mint. Palate is rather hot and a bit thinner than other vintages. Strawberries, blueberries and leather give a rather fruit bomb light feel. Nice spices that don't dominate and enough drying tannins to linger on the tongue. Had with pizza and the garlic and and oregano really bring out the best in the wine.
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1/21/2017 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Served with home made sausage and mushroom pizza (sour dough crust).
PNP, probably too cool as well.
Crimson, touch of purple, and the start of brick at the rim.
Jane gets alcohol and tobacco on the nose, with a hint of licorice. I get an abundance of fruit (grape).
A fair amount of acid on the palate (which toned down as the wine got to room temp). Needed some air and to be served a little closer to room temp.
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1/3/2017 - bravo.solares wrote: 90 Points
Dark and youthful. Better than previous bottle - that extra year in the cellar has helped. Less oaky than before - but still quite alcoholic though. Black fruit. Brambly. Nice spiciness. Low acidity - some acidity would help.
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3/9/2016 - Mackall817 wrote: 88 Points
Took a long while to open up. Way too fruity at first. After about two hours it became imminently more drinkable with a longer finish.
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1/29/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Dark, dense and not as pretty as most Ridge. Tar and black fruit. Solid. Black finish. Good firm fruit but nothing special. Good for the price.
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1/24/2016 - bravo.solares wrote: 88 Points
Dark, ruby. Little if any bricking. Very young looking. On the nose, alcohol and especially oak dominate. Black fruit. Brambly. On the palate, black and blue fruit... but vanillin and toasted coconut from the oak overwhelm. Little in the way of non-fruit characteristics - just a trace of leather. A rather undistinguished wine by Ridge's usually high standards. Lacks balance and finesse. Tannins still a bit too much. Not enough acidity. Maybe a few more yrs in the cellar would have helped.
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12/20/2015 - Tyler Zimmer wrote: 89 Points
Solid showing. straightforward Zin. Brambly, blackberry, balanced, not overripe.
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12/11/2015 - bjschmitt wrote: 90 Points
With sausage and mushroom pizza, salad.
Cork smell was lovely. Opened 90 minutes before pouring.
Crimson/ruby, no longer opaque.
Earth and fruit on the nose.
Dry. some tannin there, but not overpowering. Acid sneaks up on you. Blackberry, earth, mushroom, and a medium-long finish.
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2/12/2015 - jrlamia wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby color, soft floral and a hint of vanilla . Earthy, rich, long finish. Some cherry. Good tannins and balance.
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11/28/2014 - Dr. Galazkiewicz Likes this wine:
Sugary candy, a familiar nose from Ridge and one that I like. I must admit, I'm trying to dump all these single vineyard Ridge bottles (I have 40+ from my dumb decision to join their ATP wine club) on my family during the holidays, but this is one bottle I would definitely drink again. So far, the 2011 Zins seem to have something the other years don't.
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10/25/2014 - Cadby Likes this wine: 89 Points
010 Ridge Carmichael Ranch Zinfandel +++ $30
Backstreet stink, quantum complexity, chewy deliciousness, Verdot dominance
http://8wordsonwine.blogspot.com/2014/10/2010-ridge-carmichael-ranch-zinfandel-30.html
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10/17/2014 - WineCPA wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with my prior note. I don't know how much this will improve. Not my favorite from Ridge but still good. Drink now.
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9/28/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mensa mensa
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9/4/2014 - ghobby Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black fruit and earthy; easy to drink
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5/18/2014 - SaveWildlife_NoRatPoison wrote: 91 Points
Blackberry flavors. Good with aeration. Very smooth.
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4/2/2014 - MRichman wrote:
Lovely Zin. Full flavored yet restrained with pretty floral notes, perfume, a bit of baking spices, some vanilla, and firm dark black tannins. Drinking well, could improve but I wouldn't put this one down as a long ager. Dense and packed.
B
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3/7/2014 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted for one hour after pulling from a cool cellar. Beautiful transparent ruby in color, more like a pinot noir. The nose was a bit shy at first. Started off with a definite red fruit emphasis (cranberries, cherries, etc.), but as the wine warmed and aired during the course of the evening, it opened up, adding some darker notes and brown spice. A lighter vintage, not very tannic, very vibrant. I found it delightful now, but I would imagine it could go the 6-8 years estimated by the winemaker on the back label.
I'm finding myself liking 2011 as a vintage more and more. True, they don't have the volume of warmer years. But every time I've had a 2011 zinfandel or field blend from a quality producer, I've come away appreciating the wine's poise and freshness. I have a hunch that they will age beautifully and provide understated, elegant drinking in a few years' time.
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2/22/2014 - WineCPA wrote: 89 Points
Medium bodied and nicely balanced. Plenty of fruit on the palate- raspberry, cherry. Some spice gives it just a enough depth. Drink now-2017.
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2/7/2014 - kosinski wrote:
Kalamata olive tapenade aroma with notes of mace and blackberry. Rather light bodied on the palate with restrained red cherry flavors. Develops more fruit with air. More prominent are notes of almond pit and cedar. Distinctly acidic and backward, with rather green grippy tannins. Needs some time to mellow the tannin but then should prove a good food wine.
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