On par with other vintages I have had. Lavender, violets, svelte, and best after lots of air time. This bottle was like nothing I have ever had before as bottle was covered in sediment. Held it up to light and black as night. Hard to decipher fill levels after pouring. Literally bottom of the barrel I guess. Drank great but have never seen a bottle top to bottom layered with so much sediment.
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Beautifully integrated dark fruit and silky tannins. Had with leg of lamb and was perfect. This wine is in a really good place and should be for a number of years.
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This is a stunner! Thoroughly enjoyable on its own. Perfectly balanced, at the peak of its power. Not a huge fan of Syrah, but this one is truly special. Best on day 1. On Day 2 the nose is a bit subdued.
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My goodness, this is drinking prime right now...had with baby backs, near perfect pairing. Tannins have nicely resolved (mostly), fruit still has sizable backbone. Not rush to consume, but tough to put down. The balance in this wine is fabulous, showing typical Ridge restraint without any compromise. Delicious...
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Inky dark; almost black at the core and opaque at the rim, but it’s a beautiful wine. An effusive nose of eucalyptus, iodine, coffee, plum and blackberry, all of which tracks with precision and abundance on the palate. Integrated tannins, but not yet fully resolved. Pulled as part of the virtual Ridge wine tasting during our global pandemic. Delicious by itself and a real joy with the beef. It wasn’t fair to the Gaillard Cote Rotie to drink this first. I pulled both wines since they are both co-fermented with Viognier. Both delicious, but very different wines. Some sediment being thrown at this point. 14.3% alc. With London broil (beef). Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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Chased a youthful Quivet Kennifick '16 with this powerhouse wrapping presents early Christmas morning. Highly structured, with spice and dark fruit on the nose. This still has a ton of shelf life and might benefit from some more time. That said, thoroughly enjoyed this chalkier take on Syrah, vs. the fruit forward expression of the Quivet. Might have reversed the order if I had it to do over again.
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Not sure what to think here. Maybe this was just slightly shut down. Decent aromatics and palate but not the usual RIDGE abundance of aromatic pleasure they are known for. Drank over a few hours and hints of fruit and tobacco emerged but still closed down in my opinion. Perhaps give this wine a couple more years.
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This is a 94% syrah/6% vigonier made with 100% American oak. Most of the oak is neutral.
It is dark purple with strong aromas of red plum and cured meat. Dry with a medium acidity. High tannins with a fair balance. Flavors of tobacco, bacon fat, red fruits and leather. Short finish. Ok.
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Sonoma County May 29, 2018: Notes of boysenberry, violets, mesquite smoke and sage. Lean and elegant on the palate, with nice depth and density. Bright expressions, fine tannins, moderate finish. Showing well.
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A pleasant wine that currently benefits from a bit of air. Dark purple. Not pleasant when popped but after 90 minutes became a full-bodied purple and blue fruit wine. Relatively complex and smooth. Good finish.
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Aroma: sulfur and mercaptans that blew off somewhat after aggressive swirling. Palate: classic Syrah character with brooding dark fruit, graphite and stone, charred wood and roasted meat. Could easily be taken for a St Joseph or Côte-Rôtie. Very good.
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4/23/2023 - wchrisw Likes this wine:
On par with other vintages I have had. Lavender, violets, svelte, and best after lots of air time. This bottle was like nothing I have ever had before as bottle was covered in sediment. Held it up to light and black as night. Hard to decipher fill levels after pouring. Literally bottom of the barrel I guess. Drank great but have never seen a bottle top to bottom layered with so much sediment.
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6/30/2021 - sdahar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully integrated dark fruit and silky tannins. Had with leg of lamb and was perfect. This wine is in a really good place and should be for a number of years.
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5/29/2021 - jonmartin1520 wrote: 90 Points
Taste of dark fruits and some wild game. Medium to long finish. Drinking solidly right now.
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4/25/2021 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nicely put together!
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4/16/2021 - MRichman wrote:
Silky smooth, seamless. Great mouthfeel. No sharp edges. This is excellent, in a great place right now.
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11/18/2020 - probraided Likes this wine:
This is a stunner! Thoroughly enjoyable on its own. Perfectly balanced, at the peak of its power. Not a huge fan of Syrah, but this one is truly special.
Best on day 1. On Day 2 the nose is a bit subdued.
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9/13/2020 - zoeldar Likes this wine: 93 Points
My goodness, this is drinking prime right now...had with baby backs, near perfect pairing. Tannins have nicely resolved (mostly), fruit still has sizable backbone. Not rush to consume, but tough to put down. The balance in this wine is fabulous, showing typical Ridge restraint without any compromise. Delicious...
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5/13/2020 - Winedude10 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. My advice is drink up what you have in your cellar. Went well with a NY strip steak!
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4/23/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
Inky dark; almost black at the core and opaque at the rim, but it’s a beautiful wine. An effusive nose of eucalyptus, iodine, coffee, plum and blackberry, all of which tracks with precision and abundance on the palate. Integrated tannins, but not yet fully resolved. Pulled as part of the virtual Ridge wine tasting during our global pandemic. Delicious by itself and a real joy with the beef. It wasn’t fair to the Gaillard Cote Rotie to drink this first. I pulled both wines since they are both co-fermented with Viognier. Both delicious, but very different wines. Some sediment being thrown at this point. 14.3% alc. With London broil (beef). Recommended and leaning toward Highly Recommended.
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12/10/2019 - phandel wrote: 91 Points
Very tasty, with an uncharacteristic creaminess.
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9/2/2019 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid. Middle of the road Ridge wine. One of the very few bottles we didn't finish with dinner.
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12/25/2018 - Chitownwino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Chased a youthful Quivet Kennifick '16 with this powerhouse wrapping presents early Christmas morning. Highly structured, with spice and dark fruit on the nose. This still has a ton of shelf life and might benefit from some more time. That said, thoroughly enjoyed this chalkier take on Syrah, vs. the fruit forward expression of the Quivet. Might have reversed the order if I had it to do over again.
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11/4/2018 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful with an earthy risotto.
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10/31/2018 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful rich wine.
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9/15/2018 - ocperu wrote: 93 Points
Even better on Day 2
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9/11/2018 - Winegeek83 wrote: 90 Points
Not sure what to think here. Maybe this was just slightly shut down. Decent aromatics and palate but not the usual RIDGE abundance of aromatic pleasure they are known for. Drank over a few hours and hints of fruit and tobacco emerged but still closed down in my opinion. Perhaps give this wine a couple more years.
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8/12/2018 - insaneblaine Likes this wine:
has more time
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6/28/2018 - ColluraJ Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Tasted at the winery.
This is a 94% syrah/6% vigonier made with 100% American oak. Most of the oak is neutral.
It is dark purple with strong aromas of red plum and cured meat. Dry with a medium acidity. High tannins with a fair balance. Flavors of tobacco, bacon fat, red fruits and leather. Short finish. Ok.
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6/3/2018 - MattMauldin wrote:
Sonoma County May 29, 2018: Notes of boysenberry, violets, mesquite smoke and sage. Lean and elegant on the palate, with nice depth and density. Bright expressions, fine tannins, moderate finish. Showing well.
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4/30/2018 - BigBoy_Sonoma Likes this wine: 85 Points
Blackfruit, pepper, cassis, pepper and Smokey oak B
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3/2/2018 - Renzloh Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bold, dark fruits, some stone/minerality. Very nice Syrah.
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10/26/2017 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A pleasant wine that currently benefits from a bit of air. Dark purple. Not pleasant when popped but after 90 minutes became a full-bodied purple and blue fruit wine. Relatively complex and smooth. Good finish.
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10/21/2017 - Amishdesai93 wrote:
low acidity, smoke/spice, bolder taste, black fruit
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10/8/2017 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Dark scarlet purple,
Pungeant ripe blackberry aromas,
Moderate oak
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8/26/2017 - kosinski Likes this wine:
Aroma: sulfur and mercaptans that blew off somewhat after aggressive swirling.
Palate: classic Syrah character with brooding dark fruit, graphite and stone, charred wood and roasted meat. Could easily be taken for a St Joseph or Côte-Rôtie. Very good.
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