A few things; I still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge, not even a corked bottle & I’ve had a number of them. First time having this bottling. I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends but when I do, I prefer Ridge’s style.
96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. Decanted 40 minutes.
Intense nose of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries and hints of blueberries, incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty, dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice, some; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers.
The palate shows; round, lush & juicy fruits of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, liqueured dark cherries. boysenberries, notes of poached strawberries and hints of blueberries. Incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice with some heat, a little; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, finely crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, used iron pan notes, powdered minerals, liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers, excellent round acidity, tall structure & fairly big tension, well balanced and nicely, layered, polished finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds.
Still a bit young to me. Better in 5-7 yrs and will drink well for another 5-7 after that. More new wood use here than I am used to in their Zin & Zin blends.
Paired nicely with my Allen Brothers burger.
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Nice wine, elegant, but not as much fruit as I expected. Tasted next to 2014 Ravenswood Chavet Zin and it really could not compete. Some dark fruit notes, a bit of earth and spice but it didn't wow me. Nice wine to accompany dinner but that's about it. It's not tired, but I'm not sure holding it longer would yield anything more.
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Ridge suggested it will be best over the next five to six years was right. Acidity was spot on and plenty of juicy fruit. I can't wait for my 2018 and 2019s to peak, it is going to be a difficult wait.
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2nd bottle (after a Prosecco start w/ some crudetite) with Thanksgiving dinner. Went better than you would think with the turkey but was more of a bridge bottle to Pinot we had next. Could easily cellar a few more years.
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Decanted for ~1 hour, paired with salad and homemade pizza. I’m a big Ridge fan and would put this ‘middle of the pack’ (tending toward back half of the pack) on a relative basis, ie prefer Geyserville and some of the other zins. Still enjoyable for sure. Drinking well now.
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Rhubarb, molasses, Zin funk and cinnamon. And after that we really didn’t pay attention because it was so much of a step down from the Lytton Springs ‘08 Zin. 96% Zin, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. With leftover London broil (beef). 07.09.20. Recommended. Recommended.
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From just a quick sip: Draper perfume, rhubarb, plum, molasses, with pepper on the finish. Balanced. A blend of 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. Used to cook coq au vin, but tasted before using and found it quite palatable. Butch drank the balance of what was left after cooking and enjoyed it. 02.14.20. Recommended.
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Purple plum at its core with ox blood at the rim. Draper perfume, rhubarb, plum, molasses, brambly Zin funk, with a touch of pepper on the finish. Like the 2013, this Ponzo outperforms earlier bottlings from this vineyard. A wine of balance and pleasure. A blend of 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. With pork sliders (from Yellow Umbrella) and mac ‘n cheese (using the leftover cheeses from our tailgate trays following the Stumble-Bumble Capital Cup game - W&M won in overtime). 09.25.19. Recommended.
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With Chicago pizza (thin crust sausage). Nice ruby, no longer opaque, but pretty. Raspberry, blueberry nose. Palate had some nice bright acid, then the fruit. Good length. Quite enjoyable, gained with a bit of air coming with lounging over the bottle.
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Dedicated as an ingredient to blackberry Zin beef short ribs. A quick taste before dumping the bottle into the pot revealed a very primary wine with Zin funk and bramble berry.
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An extra year in the bottle has helped this wine. The fruit is as succulent as when younger, but the wine is more balanced with a very slowly fading finish. It held up very nicely to a sous vide flank steak with a bit of curry flavor.
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Another nice offering from Ridge, agree with other notes- black cherry, blackberry, hint of plum, a little spice, hint of eucalyptus, good acidity, medium finish.
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Modest upon opening, but has opened up nicely after two hours. Pretty full bodied - blackberry and dry cherry fruit flavored with some spice. Long finish. Well partnered with a steak, although, as it has evolved throughout the evening - give it more time in the cellar or decant prior to the meal. As a relatively new member to the Ridge wine club family - I look forward to more from the Ponzo vineyard in the future.
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At the Santa Cruz mountains winery. Less spice and more acidic than the other ridge zinfandel blends we tried today. Tart and unbalanced, least favorite.
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Rich and full flavored, a bit of cinnamon, bright but round fruit. A bit of dark notes. On the rich side of the scale for Ridge. Almost lush. Really friendly, easy to drink, ready now but will evolve for the medium term.
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Aroma: herbaceous and a bit alcoholic with scents of game meat, garrigue, and black plums. Palate: sharp, spicy and very tannic with flavors of blackberry jam, leather, black cherry and pencil shavings. Good complexity but unsure about the balance. May develop nicely with age but hard to read now. Needs a good 3-5 years of cellaring.
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3/30/2024 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 92 Points
A few things; I still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge, not even a corked bottle & I’ve had a number of them. First time having this bottling. I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends but when I do, I prefer Ridge’s style.
96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. Decanted 40 minutes.
Intense nose of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries and hints of blueberries, incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty, dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice, some; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers.
The palate shows; round, lush & juicy fruits of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, liqueured dark cherries. boysenberries, notes of poached strawberries and hints of blueberries. Incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice with some heat, a little; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, finely crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, used iron pan notes, powdered minerals, liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers, excellent round acidity, tall structure & fairly big tension, well balanced and nicely, layered, polished finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds.
Still a bit young to me. Better in 5-7 yrs and will drink well for another 5-7 after that. More new wood use here than I am used to in their Zin & Zin blends.
Paired nicely with my Allen Brothers burger.
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9/19/2022 - Old School Fan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice wine, elegant, but not as much fruit as I expected. Tasted next to 2014 Ravenswood Chavet Zin and it really could not compete. Some dark fruit notes, a bit of earth and spice but it didn't wow me. Nice wine to accompany dinner but that's about it. It's not tired, but I'm not sure holding it longer would yield anything more.
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7/4/2022 - drp328 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich, blackberry, good acid, mod+ oak, great companion to BBQ'd steak sandwich.
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12/17/2021 - Agunner23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Ridge suggested it will be best over the next five to six years was right. Acidity was spot on and plenty of juicy fruit. I can't wait for my 2018 and 2019s to peak, it is going to be a difficult wait.
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11/9/2021 - Agunner23 wrote: 90 Points
Another good Ridge Zin, I am glad I have one more bottle left to enjoy.
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11/26/2020 - Jjarriel Likes this wine: 90 Points
2nd bottle (after a Prosecco start w/ some crudetite) with Thanksgiving dinner. Went better than you would think with the turkey but was more of a bridge bottle to Pinot we had next. Could easily cellar a few more years.
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11/18/2020 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decanted for ~1 hour, paired with salad and homemade pizza. I’m a big Ridge fan and would put this ‘middle of the pack’ (tending toward back half of the pack) on a relative basis, ie prefer Geyserville and some of the other zins. Still enjoyable for sure. Drinking well now.
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11/8/2020 - MichielV wrote: 89 Points
Sunday night sausage. Nice overall; good fruit, structure and length. Medium body Zin but REAL zin. Drink up because it is good at six years!
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7/9/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
Rhubarb, molasses, Zin funk and cinnamon. And after that we really didn’t pay attention because it was so much of a step down from the Lytton Springs ‘08 Zin. 96% Zin, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. With leftover London broil (beef). 07.09.20. Recommended. Recommended.
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2/14/2020 - timewithwine wrote:
From just a quick sip: Draper perfume, rhubarb, plum, molasses, with pepper on the finish. Balanced. A blend of 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. Used to cook coq au vin, but tasted before using and found it quite palatable. Butch drank the balance of what was left after cooking and enjoyed it. 02.14.20. Recommended.
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11/25/2019 - timewithwine wrote:
Purple plum at its core with ox blood at the rim. Draper perfume, rhubarb, plum, molasses, brambly Zin funk, with a touch of pepper on the finish. Like the 2013, this Ponzo outperforms earlier bottlings from this vineyard. A wine of balance and pleasure. A blend of 96% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah. 14.6% alc. With pork sliders (from Yellow Umbrella) and mac ‘n cheese (using the leftover cheeses from our tailgate trays following the Stumble-Bumble Capital Cup game - W&M won in overtime). 09.25.19. Recommended.
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9/28/2019 - bjschmitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
With Chicago pizza (thin crust sausage).
Nice ruby, no longer opaque, but pretty.
Raspberry, blueberry nose.
Palate had some nice bright acid, then the fruit. Good length.
Quite enjoyable, gained with a bit of air coming with lounging over the bottle.
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1/4/2019 - ogres3 wrote: 95 Points
Missus consumed. Slightly better than average Ridge zin.
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10/21/2018 - Spratt wrote:
Would buy again
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6/21/2018 - Bryan49 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely - lots of red fruit with fresh finish. Tannins resolved.
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3/3/2018 - timewithwine wrote:
Dedicated as an ingredient to blackberry Zin beef short ribs. A quick taste before dumping the bottle into the pot revealed a very primary wine with Zin funk and bramble berry.
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1/31/2018 - mvick wrote: 91 Points
An extra year in the bottle has helped this wine. The fruit is as succulent as when younger, but the wine is more balanced with a very slowly fading finish. It held up very nicely to a sous vide flank steak with a bit of curry flavor.
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12/18/2017 - mdkraft99 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Another nice offering from Ridge, agree with other notes- black cherry, blackberry, hint of plum, a little spice, hint of eucalyptus, good acidity, medium finish.
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7/31/2017 - alimack Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of my favorite Ridge Ponzo's. Ready to drink now.
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2/18/2017 - Opus2010 Likes this wine: 91 Points
give this a good hour to breathe before drinking. the last glass was the best: light bouquet but good taste.
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11/30/2016 - Tahoebrad Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice bottle. A little spice and the petit sirah adds some very nice depth.
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11/26/2016 - Northville wine fan wrote: 91 Points
Modest upon opening, but has opened up nicely after two hours. Pretty full bodied - blackberry and dry cherry fruit flavored with some spice. Long finish. Well partnered with a steak, although, as it has evolved throughout the evening - give it more time in the cellar or decant prior to the meal. As a relatively new member to the Ridge wine club family - I look forward to more from the Ponzo vineyard in the future.
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10/1/2016 - skurtz Does not like this wine: 87 Points
At the Santa Cruz mountains winery. Less spice and more acidic than the other ridge zinfandel blends we tried today. Tart and unbalanced, least favorite.
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9/28/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Rich and full flavored, a bit of cinnamon, bright but round fruit. A bit of dark notes. On the rich side of the scale for Ridge. Almost lush. Really friendly, easy to drink, ready now but will evolve for the medium term.
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8/27/2016 - MRichman wrote:
Twilight on the Terrace at Ridge: Bright, lightish weigh. Black fruit and a bit of tar.
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8/27/2016 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: herbaceous and a bit alcoholic with scents of game meat, garrigue, and black plums.
Palate: sharp, spicy and very tannic with flavors of blackberry jam, leather, black cherry and pencil shavings. Good complexity but unsure about the balance. May develop nicely with age but hard to read now. Needs a good 3-5 years of cellaring.
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