Dranks over dinner with friends. It has a red fruit, spice, and subtle chaparral character. We thought it’s in a great great place right now - so balanced!
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2.5 hrs decant. Rusty medium dark red. Bit of barnyard and red currant nose. Still plenty of tannins, even though CT drink-by date was 2 years ago. And, nicely balanced with just the right acidic energy. Cherry syrup, red currant, white pepper, aged leather. Long delicious spicy finish. Alcohol heat but doesn’t negatively impact the drinking experience. Over the evening while opening in the decanter, this wine continues to come into its own and not be flat at all. I’m surprised how much I like this given its modest CT grades. Wish I had more in the cellar.
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As I said with the first bottle of this wine, “This is some seriously good Zin!” I pulled this for the Ridge Virtual Tasting featuring organically grown Ridge wines this week. The group was tasting the 2018, but I knew not to pull that wine yet. Heck, I knew this would be a bit young yet! Indeed it was: purple at the core and extending to the rim what a thin, clear rim could be seen. Somewhat jammy on the nose with black pepper, brambles, Zin funk, brown sugar; maybe even some Draper perfume. The nose is both soft and rich. The wine looks and smells young. All the same on the palate, but wiht sweet plum chiming in and a touch of dusty rose beginning to develop. Dark phenols coat the glass. The tannins seem to build and collectively become a bit “puckery” on the sides of the mouth and tongue. The finish is sweet with the plum and maybe a touch of coffee. DDB describes the wine as possessing sweet cherry. The mouth fee is a somewhat “crunchy” as I mentioned in the prior note. Some serious sediment remains in a streak from the bottom to the shoulder. 100% Zin. 14.9% alc. With Coq-au-Zin. 04.30.20. Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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Coravin fun - Ridge range; 1/15/2020-1/17/2020 (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of warm, spiced plums with a herbaceous, slightly green underpin, slightly dusty notes as well, alcohol heat. The palate is much of a muchness with the nose. Overall it's a touch disappointing. Tannins are leathery and tight, alcohol warmth intrudes slightly on the finish but the wine lacks fruit. This has faded considerably since I last tried it. A good decant may help but otherwise drink up.
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Maybe all the 2013 wines are rock stars. Very drinkable but not old. Pleasant dark red fruit with some blue and pepper mixed in. Relatively smooth. Incredible QPR
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This is some seriously good Zin! Ox blood from rim to core; opaque with a shimmer. Draper perfume, brown sugar, coffee, molasses, sweet cherry, Zin funk, brambles, and orange peel. The palate is crunchy red fruits with tannins softening but still giving some edginess. Crunch fruit gives way to molasses and herbs de Provence with a sip of coffee on the finish. A shadow of sediment is forming on the shoulder. 100% Zin. 14.9% alc. With mushroom, pepperoni and sausage pizza. Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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Served with margarita pizza with prosciutto.. Dark crimson, consistent to rim, a bit brooding. Nice nose, great dark red fruit (raspberry or black raspberry), a touch of blueberry. Good balance, acid nice, light tannin, good finish. 100% Zin and it shows. Agree with Chbeaumont's comments.
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Dark, crimson rim; exuberant nose, a mass of dark fruits, lifted by a dash of red fruit; bold, fulsome, full throttle, unapologetic Zinf; fresh & lively finish. Lacks guile. No rush to drink up.
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Purple red with high optical density and reflectivity. The nose is immediately appealing, with dark fruits (plum, forest berries), sage brush, and some light balsamic. Good intensity and moderate complexity here. The palate is full bodied, medium acidity, and has a plush texture with melted integrated tannins. Flavours of plum and sweet cherry on the attack, with berries and some sage spice. The midpalate picks up some oak spices and some tobacco notes, with some balsamic supporting things. The finish shows a savory and sweet kick, with some lingering sweet tobacco for good length. Medium intensity and moderate complexity throughout. This is an elegant and well made Zin, which withholds some power for a more thoughtful character. While not the most complex Ridge Zin, it provides nice value and an interesting experience none-the-less. Opens up a good bit with some air, adding complexity and some lightly stewed fruits, along with a floral aspect that blends with everything else seamlessly.... really nice!
This is a really nice, easy going and fun to drink wine. Made very well, and the oak has integrated nicely here. Ready to drink now! A touch of age, but also plenty fresh, there is no compelling reason to wait.
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Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Biscuit, herbaceous, cherry, sweet and peppery spice. In the mouth cherry fruit initially then masses of sweet and savoury, peppery, spice and big, drying tannins. Quite juicy as well. Big.
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A very nice wine that was enjoyed on a great Friday night date night with Italian take-out. A little different than the few zins we have tried and liked, but this was very nice. Spice and berry notes, medium body, light tannin, with the mouth experiencing showing off twigs, leafs, blue berries, cassis and maybe something like a gooseberry.
Canadian pricing might represent okay value, but still a really nice bottle for the money. In the US, this is insane value at $20ish per bottle.
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Tasted at Pnp and it was fantastic. Easily a 93-94pt wine for me. Super silky and tasty with a high-end cultish feel. However, after 1-2 hrs of decanting it tasted a bit like soda, bit of spritz perhaps. Not sure. Like a medium body Zin with the tiniest pour of Sunkist.
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Robust lush ripe wine with purple and dark fruit. Certainly needs to breathe a bit. Teeth staining munchable. Full finish. Not for the bashful but a wine you think about when drinking.
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Double decanted for 3 hours. Aromatic red berry and clove nose. Delicious berry, white pepper and cassis on the palate with a lengthy finish. Yum. Happy New Year.
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Mid weight, nice balance of sweet and heavy. Light finish. Fruit and pepper well balanced. Tastes nice and restrained, no wild notes which is good or bad based on preference or mood.
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Big hit of red fruit—cherry—on entry. Much more than I get from other Ridge bottlings. Still stiff tannin provides nice backbone. Good acid. A good wine, but I think I like my Zins to be a tad less “civilized.” This one seems to be “reined in.”
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Another interesting Coravin development; tasting from a closed bottle several months ago presented a good deal of vanilla and alcohol, without much in the way of balance. Once opened up, however, the wine absolutely showed its true form - that little bit of oxygen did the trick! Ripe, Zin-style fruit intertwined with licorice, herbs, and spice galore. Cigar, cedar, and hickory came forth in turn; the strong oak presence mellowed and provided delicious pastry notes on the palate and through to the finish. Baking spices, though not prominent, provided a pleasant bridge between the sweet and savoury. Ridge has proved to be synonymous with quality, time and time again, and this wine was no exception. The bottle felt on point and in a good place - I suppose you could give it a few more years, but I'm not sure how much further development you'd get. Best to get this while the getting's good!
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Deep red in the glass. Black currant in the nose. Some pepper with the fruit on the palate. Dry peppery finish. Really nice with short ribs and mushrooms.
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+2 Zinfandel: lucent ruby with a medium vague rim and a purple tint. meaty, sour cherry and bitter chocolate, very hot alcohol and sawdust and vanilla( light toasted): beautiful plum and pure dark tea and vanilla. Boxwood in the finish with vanilla sweetness and bayleaves. Medium acidity, high alcohol, medium body, medium- ripe tannin. Dry. Good balance, good length, good intensity, very good transiting complexity. With a saltiness in the finish showing the origin.
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Blackberries, raspberries, cedar, dill, and liquor on the nose. Oaky, peppery, berry on the palate. Rich; medium acid, very fine tannin. Drying finish, Needs time for oak to integrate. Good. Perhaps will improve, though I could see it lacking the fruit to age, as well.
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Big, ripe and dense. On the palate, thick, syrupy raspberry jam, black cherry and licorice, finishing with the supple tannins that I always enjoy with Ridge wines. Now, it's almost too big for me. Compared to the supposed crap vintage of 2011 which I greatly enjoyed. Really likes air. Acquires more "lift" after a while.
Generous fruit, very pure, blackberries and raspberries straight from the bush rather than jam. A healthy dash of oak to complement. Fine tannins, pleasant acidity.
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As big as 12 but more fruit so it makes them easier to drink I am being told. 12 was a very stout vintage. And that is very open Nd ready for business.
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aromas of big red fruit and raspberry iced tea, balanced and elegant, a soft entry leads to a pepper, vanilla, cherry and juicy strawberry filled palate, good complexity, even better drinkablity factor given it had the weight to match up with a hearty beef chili meal, drinking well now and should continue to for the next five years or more
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Excellent Christmas wine (goes well with Swedish Christmas pork dishes as well as with the extravagant cheese platter we embarked upon and still have not seen the end of).
Full circle, both on Christmas Eve as well as on day two I see both the fresh and elegant fruity wine we enjoyed a couple of days ago, slightly chilled, as well as the more forward&sweet (but balanced) - and outright delicious - wine I tried on earlier this year.
Great value for money and as I have said on several occasions now, beats the heck out of more ordinary zins.
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Lovely stuff! Fresh, fruity, structured, not overly complex, short to medium finish with some pepper and heat. Relatively light on its feet.
The kind of Zinfandel you could usefully serve to people who are too snobbish to even try a Zinfandel, and just as well to people who like the heavy, syrupy alcohol laden zin style but who are still ignorant of what the grape can really do for you if treated with love and care, and finally, perfect for the occasion that you run into to some friendly people with a couple of juicy burgers on the grill.
Very good bang for the buck.
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This bottle seemed a bit less open and giving than a bottle consumed in October. Still, a nice mid-weight zinfandel for early consumption and a good food companion, as well.
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Certainly not what I expected; this wine was much more old-world-styled than I would have anticipated from a California zin--earthy, rustic and very little fruit. Calling this wine terroir driven might be a bit generous though, as I found this wine overall uninspired and reticent. I tend to be a big fan of Ridge but this wine was a big let down. I wish I could say I was optimistic that this wine would open up with some bottle age but I don't think it has the backbone or structure to last more than a few years.
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Very nice dark ruby with high optical density. The tears show some staining, and are quite slow. The nose shows really nice intensity, with medium complexity; aromas of blueberry, plum, dried fruit, and aromatic acetate-like notes with floral and spicy undertones. Nearly bracing acid on the attack, with really nice blue fruits and medium body. The firm mid-palate starts to show spices and chalky tannins, but the fruit remains firm before transitioning to brambly earth and some light savory meaty flavours. The finish is firm and long, and the wine is dry but easy drinking. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming. Overall, a nice fruit-forward Zin that has elements of spice and earth to provide balance. Really nice and a great value!
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Relatively straightforward zin, with plenty of sweet black raspberry fruit that shows some scorched earth notes and a slightly astringent edge. There are some floral touches along the way, before finishing with a little savoriness. Seems to have lost the intensity and exotic spice of previous vintages and drinks more like the Three Valleys.
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Red fruit on the nose and the palate. Medium bodied with some spice with just enough chalky tannins and a lively acidity to carry the finish. While perhaps a somewhat more simple wine it is nonetheless enjoyable and another wonderful offering from Ridge.
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I think ELUEBCHOW's comments hit the nail on the head, although I'll be a bit more generous with my score. Everything seems in balance for my palate and, as usual, there is beautiful purity of Dry Creek Valley fruit here. Good QPR in relation to the more expensive zins in the Ridge portfolio. (90-92)
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Definitely on the ripe and generous side, with a big palate of sweet blackberries and vanilla, but remains in balance with some firm acidity and tannins; An easy-drinker that I enjoyed which may pick up some complexity over the next few years
tasted at winery 4/22/15. Least favorite of the 3 shipping spring 15 (favorite: 13 Paso, next 13 Geyserville) - so I disagree with most of the reviews to date. Flat, unstructured and our notes don't have anything else to say beyond "ok," as no flavors stood out. Did not strike as high in alcohol.
Aroma: reticent nose suggesting violets and rose petals. Palate: Rich blackberry compote with grippy wood spice. Hints of soil and loam. Good acidity. Low to moderate complexity and good structure. Moderate tannin. Drink now or hold to mellow the tannic grip.
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A Tasting at Ridge (Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Estate): Barrel sample. Cherry, raspberry and violet aromas with subtle spice tones. Medium-bodied with boysenberry and red fruit on the palate, ending with hints of pepper. Good underlying acidity; balanced.
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12/30/2023 - Martin Redmond wrote: 91 Points
Dranks over dinner with friends. It has a red fruit, spice, and subtle chaparral character. We thought it’s in a great great place right now - so balanced!
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3/23/2022 - peruvianprince Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still standing strong after 10 years
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4/10/2021 - btwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
2.5 hrs decant. Rusty medium dark red. Bit of barnyard and red currant nose. Still plenty of tannins, even though CT drink-by date was 2 years ago. And, nicely balanced with just the right acidic energy. Cherry syrup, red currant, white pepper, aged leather. Long delicious spicy finish. Alcohol heat but doesn’t negatively impact the drinking experience.
Over the evening while opening in the decanter, this wine continues to come into its own and not be flat at all.
I’m surprised how much I like this given its modest CT grades. Wish I had more in the cellar.
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4/3/2021 - Jjarriel wrote:
Not bad, and not over the hill. Would have benefitted from an hour or so of decant I think but held up nicely against the filet we paired it with.
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6/5/2020 - Martin Ferland Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow !!!
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4/30/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
As I said with the first bottle of this wine, “This is some seriously good Zin!” I pulled this for the Ridge Virtual Tasting featuring organically grown Ridge wines this week. The group was tasting the 2018, but I knew not to pull that wine yet. Heck, I knew this would be a bit young yet! Indeed it was: purple at the core and extending to the rim what a thin, clear rim could be seen. Somewhat jammy on the nose with black pepper, brambles, Zin funk, brown sugar; maybe even some Draper perfume. The nose is both soft and rich. The wine looks and smells young. All the same on the palate, but wiht sweet plum chiming in and a touch of dusty rose beginning to develop. Dark phenols coat the glass. The tannins seem to build and collectively become a bit “puckery” on the sides of the mouth and tongue. The finish is sweet with the plum and maybe a touch of coffee. DDB describes the wine as possessing sweet cherry. The mouth fee is a somewhat “crunchy” as I mentioned in the prior note. Some serious sediment remains in a streak from the bottom to the shoulder. 100% Zin. 14.9% alc. With Coq-au-Zin. 04.30.20. Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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1/17/2020 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ridge range; 1/15/2020-1/17/2020 (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Medium minus intensity aromas of warm, spiced plums with a herbaceous, slightly green underpin, slightly dusty notes as well, alcohol heat. The palate is much of a muchness with the nose. Overall it's a touch disappointing. Tannins are leathery and tight, alcohol warmth intrudes slightly on the finish but the wine lacks fruit. This has faded considerably since I last tried it. A good decant may help but otherwise drink up.
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8/4/2019 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Maybe all the 2013 wines are rock stars. Very drinkable but not old. Pleasant dark red fruit with some blue and pepper mixed in. Relatively smooth. Incredible QPR
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5/29/2019 - KC Wine Enthusiast Likes this wine: 91 Points
Always consistent
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3/19/2019 - timewithwine wrote:
This is some seriously good Zin! Ox blood from rim to core; opaque with a shimmer. Draper perfume, brown sugar, coffee, molasses, sweet cherry, Zin funk, brambles, and orange peel. The palate is crunchy red fruits with tannins softening but still giving some edginess. Crunch fruit gives way to molasses and herbs de Provence with a sip of coffee on the finish. A shadow of sediment is forming on the shoulder. 100% Zin. 14.9% alc. With mushroom, pepperoni and sausage pizza. Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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3/15/2019 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served with margarita pizza with prosciutto..
Dark crimson, consistent to rim, a bit brooding.
Nice nose, great dark red fruit (raspberry or black raspberry), a touch of blueberry.
Good balance, acid nice, light tannin, good finish. 100% Zin and it shows.
Agree with Chbeaumont's comments.
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1/31/2019 - chbeaumont wrote: 89 Points
Dark, crimson rim; exuberant nose, a mass of dark fruits, lifted by a dash of red fruit; bold, fulsome, full throttle, unapologetic Zinf; fresh & lively finish. Lacks guile. No rush to drink up.
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8/5/2018 - Mtnbkrmark wrote: 90 Points
Rich and dense on the palate. Not real peppery and this may be a good thing. Just great balance.
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5/25/2018 - ajbergren wrote: 89 Points
Purple red with high optical density and reflectivity. The nose is immediately appealing, with dark fruits (plum, forest berries), sage brush, and some light balsamic. Good intensity and moderate complexity here. The palate is full bodied, medium acidity, and has a plush texture with melted integrated tannins. Flavours of plum and sweet cherry on the attack, with berries and some sage spice. The midpalate picks up some oak spices and some tobacco notes, with some balsamic supporting things. The finish shows a savory and sweet kick, with some lingering sweet tobacco for good length. Medium intensity and moderate complexity throughout. This is an elegant and well made Zin, which withholds some power for a more thoughtful character. While not the most complex Ridge Zin, it provides nice value and an interesting experience none-the-less. Opens up a good bit with some air, adding complexity and some lightly stewed fruits, along with a floral aspect that blends with everything else seamlessly.... really nice!
This is a really nice, easy going and fun to drink wine. Made very well, and the oak has integrated nicely here. Ready to drink now! A touch of age, but also plenty fresh, there is no compelling reason to wait.
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5/8/2018 - Gece Likes this wine:
Floral, red and blue fruit, fine tannins. Has aged well, oak is very well integrated now, but still tastes young. Should've bought more of these!
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4/8/2018 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Ridge range (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Biscuit, herbaceous, cherry, sweet and peppery spice. In the mouth cherry fruit initially then masses of sweet and savoury, peppery, spice and big, drying tannins. Quite juicy as well. Big.
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3/25/2018 - HueBreCellars Likes this wine: 87 Points
A very nice wine that was enjoyed on a great Friday night date night with Italian take-out. A little different than the few zins we have tried and liked, but this was very nice. Spice and berry notes, medium body, light tannin, with the mouth experiencing showing off twigs, leafs, blue berries, cassis and maybe something like a gooseberry.
Canadian pricing might represent okay value, but still a really nice bottle for the money. In the US, this is insane value at $20ish per bottle.
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2/12/2018 - Keeping It Real wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at Pnp and it was fantastic. Easily a 93-94pt wine for me. Super silky and tasty with a high-end cultish feel. However, after 1-2 hrs of decanting it tasted a bit like soda, bit of spritz perhaps. Not sure. Like a medium body Zin with the tiniest pour of Sunkist.
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1/24/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Robust lush ripe wine with purple and dark fruit. Certainly needs to breathe a bit. Teeth staining munchable. Full finish. Not for the bashful but a wine you think about when drinking.
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1/8/2018 - EMichels wrote:
(Old note - tasting date not accurate) Strong fruit; Less grip, better balance than Paso Robles
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1/6/2018 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Same as prior notes.
Medium bodied on the front end, zesty and full bodied on the back. Red and blue fruit. Not overly complex.
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12/31/2017 - gkentm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanted for 3 hours. Aromatic red berry and clove nose. Delicious berry, white pepper and cassis on the palate with a lengthy finish. Yum. Happy New Year.
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12/29/2017 - Dluman Likes this wine: 81 Points
Mid weight, nice balance of sweet and heavy. Light finish. Fruit and pepper well balanced. Tastes nice and restrained, no wild notes which is good or bad based on preference or mood.
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10/5/2017 - EMark Likes this wine:
Big hit of red fruit—cherry—on entry. Much more than I get from other Ridge bottlings. Still stiff tannin provides nice backbone. Good acid. A good wine, but I think I like my Zins to be a tad less “civilized.” This one seems to be “reined in.”
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8/19/2017 - chatters wrote:
3rd Annual 7 Deadly Zins - Reprise (about 14 this time) (Wayne's place in Darlinghurst): From Coravin. Spiced, muted slightly sour red plum, gamey notes, biscuit/toast, juicy but jammy fruit, still a little savoury, fine tannins. Nice.
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7/29/2017 - PSUSteve wrote: 89 Points
PnP off a restaurant list. No formal notes. Decent entry level Zin that seemed to better with some air.
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7/24/2017 - Wine Ratings Likes this wine: 89 Points
Another interesting Coravin development; tasting from a closed bottle several months ago presented a good deal of vanilla and alcohol, without much in the way of balance. Once opened up, however, the wine absolutely showed its true form - that little bit of oxygen did the trick! Ripe, Zin-style fruit intertwined with licorice, herbs, and spice galore. Cigar, cedar, and hickory came forth in turn; the strong oak presence mellowed and provided delicious pastry notes on the palate and through to the finish. Baking spices, though not prominent, provided a pleasant bridge between the sweet and savoury. Ridge has proved to be synonymous with quality, time and time again, and this wine was no exception. The bottle felt on point and in a good place - I suppose you could give it a few more years, but I'm not sure how much further development you'd get. Best to get this while the getting's good!
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6/5/2017 - Gece Likes this wine:
Quite good, not too jammy and a very nice florality.
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6/4/2017 - chatters wrote:
3rd Annual 7 Deadly Zins (well, about 15 this time) (Wayne's place in Darlinghurst): From Coravin. Slightly farmyard, quite spicy and earthy, very slight herbaceous notes all blow off with time, the fruit ripens revealing cherry notes. Juicy, tight though silky tannic grip and cherry fruit carries long. Yum.
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5/9/2017 - Doblk Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hard to go wrong here. Clear Zin fruit with a lot of interesting secondary notes - cassis, camphor, pepper and spice.
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5/7/2017 - Mordent Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep red in the glass. Black currant in the nose. Some pepper with the fruit on the palate. Dry peppery finish. Really nice with short ribs and mushrooms.
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5/1/2017 - MichielV wrote: 88 Points
Standalone. Not bad. Very fresh. Good fruit and decent body, just a bit straightforward. This would be good with cheese.
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4/29/2017 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 90 Points
dark fruit driven but with enough complexity and smoke. great with steak
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3/18/2017 - pipetree Likes this wine: 91 Points
+2 Zinfandel: lucent ruby with a medium vague rim and a purple tint. meaty, sour cherry and bitter chocolate, very hot alcohol and sawdust and vanilla( light toasted): beautiful plum and pure dark tea and vanilla. Boxwood in the finish with vanilla sweetness and bayleaves. Medium acidity, high alcohol, medium body, medium- ripe tannin. Dry. Good balance, good length, good intensity, very good transiting complexity. With a saltiness in the finish showing the origin.
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2/11/2017 - Cmainardi wrote: 90 Points
Continues to please a crowd.
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1/15/2017 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 87 Points
Blackberries, raspberries, cedar, dill, and liquor on the nose. Oaky, peppery, berry on the palate. Rich; medium acid, very fine tannin. Drying finish, Needs time for oak to integrate. Good. Perhaps will improve, though I could see it lacking the fruit to age, as well.
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1/14/2017 - pcwoz wrote: 90 Points
Lovely. Smooth. Nice deep red fruits and spice. Really well made
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1/11/2017 - CondorKhan wrote: 90 Points
Big, ripe and dense. On the palate, thick, syrupy raspberry jam, black cherry and licorice, finishing with the supple tannins that I always enjoy with Ridge wines. Now, it's almost too big for me. Compared to the supposed crap vintage of 2011 which I greatly enjoyed. Really likes air. Acquires more "lift" after a while.
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12/29/2016 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium full, earth, long
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11/5/2016 - mark.gularte@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
intense fruit flavors, more tannins than I expected (in a good way), well balanced, finish a touch dry and maybe even chalky
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9/23/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really enjoyed. Decanted about 90 minutes. Lots of full bodied purple and blue fruit. Pleasant but not overpowering. Integrated. Good finish.
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9/16/2016 - Brockster303 wrote: 86 Points
Don't like this one as much as the Paso Robles zin from Ridge. Surprisingly tannic for a zinfandel.
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8/7/2016 - Cmainardi wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Served with cheese before dinner. Classical zinc ready to go. Crowd pleaser.
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7/17/2016 - Gece Likes this wine:
Generous fruit, very pure, blackberries and raspberries straight from the bush rather than jam. A healthy dash of oak to complement. Fine tannins, pleasant acidity.
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5/14/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
OK from the missus. She has high standards and favors the new world bold fruit.
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5/9/2016 - M. D. Van Norman Likes this wine: 88 Points
Almost delicate but still quite good.
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3/22/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
As big as 12 but more fruit so it makes them easier to drink I am being told. 12 was a very stout vintage. And that is very open Nd ready for business.
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3/18/2016 - Cohenb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great pairing with cheese
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3/18/2016 - Opus2010 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful full fresh mouth. Developed nicely as it warmed up in the glass and bottle
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3/16/2016 - whits Likes this wine: 90 Points
aromas of big red fruit and raspberry iced tea, balanced and elegant, a soft entry leads to a pepper, vanilla, cherry and juicy strawberry filled palate, good complexity, even better drinkablity factor given it had the weight to match up with a hearty beef chili meal, drinking well now and should continue to for the next five years or more
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12/25/2015 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Christmas wine (goes well with Swedish Christmas pork dishes as well as with the extravagant cheese platter we embarked upon and still have not seen the end of).
Full circle, both on Christmas Eve as well as on day two I see both the fresh and elegant fruity wine we enjoyed a couple of days ago, slightly chilled, as well as the more forward&sweet (but balanced) - and outright delicious - wine I tried on earlier this year.
Great value for money and as I have said on several occasions now, beats the heck out of more ordinary zins.
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12/22/2015 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely stuff! Fresh, fruity, structured, not overly complex, short to medium finish with some pepper and heat. Relatively light on its feet.
The kind of Zinfandel you could usefully serve to people who are too snobbish to even try a Zinfandel, and just as well to people who like the heavy, syrupy alcohol laden zin style but who are still ignorant of what the grape can really do for you if treated with love and care, and finally, perfect for the occasion that you run into to some friendly people with a couple of juicy burgers on the grill.
Very good bang for the buck.
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12/9/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 90 Points
This bottle seemed a bit less open and giving than a bottle consumed in October. Still, a nice mid-weight zinfandel for early consumption and a good food companion, as well.
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12/8/2015 - deetz Does not like this wine: 81 Points
Certainly not what I expected; this wine was much more old-world-styled than I would have anticipated from a California zin--earthy, rustic and very little fruit. Calling this wine terroir driven might be a bit generous though, as I found this wine overall uninspired and reticent. I tend to be a big fan of Ridge but this wine was a big let down. I wish I could say I was optimistic that this wine would open up with some bottle age but I don't think it has the backbone or structure to last more than a few years.
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11/28/2015 - ajbergren wrote: 91 Points
Very nice dark ruby with high optical density. The tears show some staining, and are quite slow. The nose shows really nice intensity, with medium complexity; aromas of blueberry, plum, dried fruit, and aromatic acetate-like notes with floral and spicy undertones. Nearly bracing acid on the attack, with really nice blue fruits and medium body. The firm mid-palate starts to show spices and chalky tannins, but the fruit remains firm before transitioning to brambly earth and some light savory meaty flavours. The finish is firm and long, and the wine is dry but easy drinking. The alcohol is present but not overwhelming. Overall, a nice fruit-forward Zin that has elements of spice and earth to provide balance. Really nice and a great value!
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10/31/2015 - fabwine wrote: 89 Points
A decent Zin for the price point. Dark fruits, a little spicy, and modest tannin on the finish. Not particularly complex.
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10/16/2015 - Al Doughty wrote: 89 Points
Relatively straightforward zin, with plenty of sweet black raspberry fruit that shows some scorched earth notes and a slightly astringent edge. There are some floral touches along the way, before finishing with a little savoriness. Seems to have lost the intensity and exotic spice of previous vintages and drinks more like the Three Valleys.
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10/11/2015 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
The East Bench is never the most complex zinfandel, but it sure is tasty!
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9/7/2015 - Anthonut Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red fruit on the nose and the palate. Medium bodied with some spice with just enough chalky tannins and a lively acidity to carry the finish. While perhaps a somewhat more simple wine it is nonetheless enjoyable and another wonderful offering from Ridge.
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8/14/2015 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Wine tasting in Healdsburg; 8/14/2015-8/15/2015: Tasty red fruit, pepper, needs time. $28 at winery
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7/4/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful. Great QPR. needs time. Tannic. Good fruit. Well balanced.
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5/31/2015 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 90 Points
I think ELUEBCHOW's comments hit the nail on the head, although I'll be a bit more generous with my score. Everything seems in balance for my palate and, as usual, there is beautiful purity of Dry Creek Valley fruit here. Good QPR in relation to the more expensive zins in the Ridge portfolio. (90-92)
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5/28/2015 - eluebchow wrote: 88 Points
Definitely on the ripe and generous side, with a big palate of sweet blackberries and vanilla, but remains in balance with some firm acidity and tannins; An easy-drinker that I enjoyed which may pick up some complexity over the next few years
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4/22/2015 - JM_IS wrote:
tasted at winery 4/22/15. Least favorite of the 3 shipping spring 15 (favorite: 13 Paso, next 13 Geyserville) - so I disagree with most of the reviews to date. Flat, unstructured and our notes don't have anything else to say beyond "ok," as no flavors stood out. Did not strike as high in alcohol.
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3/15/2015 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Go West tasting march 13 2015 (sheraton, stockholm, sweden): rich and forward zinfandel, complex and layered with classic zin characteristics and I like it but perhaps just a tad too much alcohol and jammy fruit for me.
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3/6/2015 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: reticent nose suggesting violets and rose petals.
Palate: Rich blackberry compote with grippy wood spice. Hints of soil and loam. Good acidity. Low to moderate complexity and good structure. Moderate tannin. Drink now or hold to mellow the tannic grip.
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5/7/2014 - thelostverse wrote: 91 Points
Barrel sample at winery. Red cherry notes with a spicy undertone. This should be nice.
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5/7/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
A Tasting at Ridge (Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Estate): Barrel sample. Cherry, raspberry and violet aromas with subtle spice tones. Medium-bodied with boysenberry and red fruit on the palate, ending with hints of pepper. Good underlying acidity; balanced.
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