Powerful, succulent , and mature; Ridge, always good, always reliable, but, as here, sometimes the rich and balanced black fruit, szechuan pepoercorn, cassis, and smoky black cherry wood qualities in the nose and in the mouth are delicious but not quite compelling enough to carry. the 14.5% alcohol. There is a little heat and bite mid palate to finish, and a note of piney disinfectant, likely from the Carignane. Maybe the impact of high alcohol seems less overt in 5 years; a 50/50 call, in my book. Ok to drink now, just decant it for an hour or two, and serve it with asian spiced shortribs, or charred lamb (rosemary here works great) or ribeye. I will not be surprised to rate this 2 points higher in 3-5 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 4 hours. Great from the initial, pre-dinner pour, through dinner to post-dinner. Medium weight, integrated svelte tannins. Plum dominates with some blackberry and cassis. Great match with Cambodian grilled chicken (though ours was baked tonight)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. Previous bottles were tight when opened, this one was ready to go. Great aroma with blackberry, cherry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Lots of flavor showing blackberry, cherry, anise, plum, spice, and leather. Smooth tannins in the finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This grabbed my attention tonight. Well integrated, superlative on Day 2. Carignane compliments the blend with savory highlights. Perfumed nuances, & warm fruit leather, adds to dark berry vine tones. Really enjoyed this wine in full stride. Wish there was another tasty bottle for tomorrow night. 2 of 2
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.
It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.
Excellent gourmet burger wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine of the night at a tri-tip dinner. Beautifully stitched together and drinking perfectly right now. Opened about 2 hours prior, with a splash decant. Dark, inky, luscious, red and black fruit on the nose and palette. Still has good life left but this feels like prime drinking right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was beautiful, not nearly showing its age like the previous one a few months ago. Laden with black and blue fruits with touches of sage and menthol. Sweet tannins. A lusty finish. Everything you’d expect out of a Geyserville. Drink now to 2025. Outstanding.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Have to say, this is a fantastic expression of this vineyard bottling, with an incredible blend of varietals from a vintage that I don’t remember being all that memorable. This was compared against couple other Ridge bottlings from later vintages and offered a completely different experience with big Napa Cabernet like power and at the same time mid-palate nuance. Plenty of purple fruit, plum and then great leather and herbal notes. Sad to only have one, but oh what and experience and was fun to share with neighbors who appreciate good wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Notes of black raspberry, cardamom, cumin and pepper. The fruit becomes brighter and more forward as this opens in the glass. Develops clay and mocha elements with additional air. Bright red fruit and raspberry with a spicy/peppery finish. Good, if seemingly simple by comparison to many of the others in the lineup. 88+ pts. (R&D)
My #6, Domino's #3 Group #8, 55 pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
After backfilling a bunch, I've been rather disappointed in how Geyserville ages and been drinking through the older Geyservilles in our collection. Of the older ones we have had so far, this is by far the best example.
Decanted for about 2 hours. Nose is powerful and layered. First starts off with tobacco leaf, then brooding bramble, blackberry, boysenberry with mushrooms, that Draper perfume, and just a mild hint of American oak spices. Heavy bodied, waning acidity, and a ton of power. Palate of bramble, raspberry, stewed strawberries, blackberries, a bit of leather, tobacco, and oak spices. I notice more RS on the palate than I normally do from Geyserville, and I think it really helps the palate. Smooth tannins. Moderate length finish and a bit hot - granite and graphite heavy minerality, tart berry skins, American oak with the spices associated with it, tobacco leaf, a bit of mint, and a pop of violet.
I am not sure there is anything to be gained by waiting longer to consume these. Older Geyservilles have just been disappointing to me. But this one is drinking in a sweet spot. Still has a lot of that Ridge characteristics, but gained a nice balance aged notes to support it.
But I seriously question the ability for this to age 12 more years based on my past experiences.
More Bordeaux than California. The great thing about Geyserville and Lytton is that extended cellar time brings out earthy, herbal, leathery, graphite nuances. This wine has all of those, and is aging beautifully. Slight bricking, good acid, medium body, smooth tannins. From standard bottle over 2 nights, better on the second. Delicious. In a great drinking window, with secondary flavors in force, but well stored bottles will continue to develop. Delicious.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Side by side with 16 Geyserville - this was the group fave, but not for me. Glorious fruit, and very balanced. I thought the 16 just edged it with a smidge more acid and structure.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Earthy nose with oaky and floral notes. Cherry, red raspberry fruit, toasty oak notes, cocoa, light cigar, medium acid, well balanced, long complex finish. Prime drinking window, but good structure that should last a good bit longer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted one hour. Complex aromas of bramble, earth, herbs, plum and a touch of dill. Elegant yet energetic palate of brambleberry, spicy plum jam, and blackberries. Lots of structure and power on the deep-fruited finish indicating a long life. I'll wait a few years for my next bottle, but this is a penultimate, well-balanced version of Geyserville that will reward any Zin fan! 93+
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not sure I’ll sit on these much longer. Wonderful bouquet of antique wood, forest floor, mushroom and plum. Fans out on the palate with plums, apricots, blackberries and oregano. The finish comes up short, but this is still a beautiful bottle of wine. Seems secondary to tertiary. Drink now to 2026. Worth Seeking Out.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stellar. So vibrant, but also silky and rich. Starting to show some tertiary notes. I have one more bottle that I will do my best to forget about for at least 3 years. I want to see what the buzz is all about with aged Geyserville. Seems like a good candidate for that.
Lukket de første 30 minuttene. Deretter åpnes det for solbær, lakris, hint av tobakk og kjeller. Det er også treverk. Dessverre blir eikebruken mer fremtredende etter hvert som temperaturen øker og vinen får luft. Jeg drikker skjelden Zinfandel og ble litt skuffet over at vanillin tar såpass mye plass. Noe alloholsterk med sine 14.5%, men det syntes jeg den bærer bra.
Alt i alt en deilig vin til tørrhengt entrecôte og foran peisen utover kvelden. Har spart litt til i morgen, så får vi se hvordan vinen smaker da. Denne kan fint ligge i mange år til.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very similar notes to the reviewer below me. Practically no nose during the first 15-20 minutes, so give this at least 30 minutes of air. But once it opens up, this is delicious. So many dark berry flavors, yet not brooding. Good secondary flavors coming in to balance against that fruit. So delicious, complex, with a great mouthfeel. I'm an idiot for not buying more.
PnP. Great aroma with blackberry, cherry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Initially slightly closed, but better after 30 minutes. Lots of flavor showing blackberry, cherry, anise, plum, spice, and leather. Smooth tannins in the finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine but definitely has some aging left in it. Nice spice from the Zin but the carignane and petit sirah add to the mouth feel and roundness of this wine.
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Sublime nose of red fruits, peach and anise. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Rich and jammy. Raspberry, plums, pomegranate and pepper on the palate. Exceptional now but this certainly has the structure and fruit to drink well for another decade.
Double decanted eight hours prior to drinking. Pours an opaque, deep purple fading to a medium ruby outer edge. Rather shy with some herbaceous, black plum skin, milk chocolate, and a little heat. With time the riper black fruits start to come to the fore. As for the palate - it’s full, rich, and concentrated but much like the nose there’s a notable lack of complexity and sadly we’re left with a rather generic wine. Compared to the 2016 this is far less approachable and less appealing. The 2016 tasted in 2021 was superb. I’ve always found Ridge capable of performing very well when young and unfortunately, this is the first bottle that bucks the trend. Based on this showing the wine needs to age for several more years before you’d even entertain opening it. Not scored.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was taking care of my son while drinking, and while it was fantastic, especially on the palette, I didn’t make notes. I would probably say a few years from truly ready. But I don’t feel I wasted it. I double decanted and drank roughly seven hours later
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium ruby hue. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, bramble, dried fruit, and pepper. Medium-plus body, with medium tannins and medium acidity. Elegant and lighter in character than other California Zinfandels (or Zin blends). 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 12% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine. Well balanced, soft tannins, dark fruits and some leather. Drinking nicely after a few hours in the decanter. You can't go wrong with Ridge.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side (from magnums): the 15 was singing, markedly older than the 16. But the 16 had more going on, hidden under the youth.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much better on day two but then quickly faded. There was a thinness to it that was surprising, lacked depth. Maybe expectations were too high. My money is on the Pagani Ranch.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted one hour. failed to read my previous notes, which recommended patience. that said, this is an enchanting Geyserville in the developmental stages. fabulously black- & brambleberried, presently it's showing wood, acids & moderate tannins. and potential for sure.
wait. it's in that middle part of its evolution & will be exceptional.
Pnp, started out a little tight. The last bottle was ready to go on opening, this would have benefitted from a short decant. On the nose, cherry, blackberry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Loaded with flavor with cherry, blackberry, spice, plum, leather, anise. Very soft tannins in the finish. Showing really well, but as with all Geyservilles, has years of life to go, if you can keep your hands off them.
Upon plop: A beautiful, dark, brooding elegant wine with a good bit of acidity, well-manicured tannins and superb balance. The composition is flawless in this youngling and much is to be expected in the future.
After a few hours: Becoming more and more sour, sharp and grumpy.
Wonderful wine that shows deep purple in the glass, fruity in the nose and flavors of plum and blackberry on the palette. Went wonderfully with tomato based American chop suey dinner and the wine for better and better as the evening went on and was even excellent sipping with out the food after dinner.
Similar showing to our delicious bottle in March. Great darker fruit profile on the palate and sporting more approachability than some other recent Geyservilles as the same age. Drinking well now, but certain to continue bringing pleasure for years to come.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. Great aroma with cherry, blackberry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Lots of flavor similar to the nose. Soft tannins in the finish. Showing really well, but as with all Geyservilles, has years of life to go.
Really drinking well right now. Clearly Zin dominant, but a beautiful non-traditional blend. Not sure it will get better from this point on, but if it does, that would be great!
Open 24 hours. Lumber and grapefruit, in a good way. It’s important to grasp those elements so the frame can surround its admirable wealth of precise, ripe California grape flavor. This is not jammy nor obese. The proportion of blackening grapes–Alicante, Petite Sirah–and the terroir distance from Dusi and Pagani–allow a regime of structure and organization that suggest benefits from patient aging. It’s linear and sweet, with grave tannic authority. Simple. Mocha and grape jam; pine litter. No frayed edges; nor even any scalloped edges. This wine needs to suffer quite a bit more. Drink in 2029. 89+ points.
Medium bodied, modern style. Bright purple fruit, red apple skins, charred earth, and that particular "peppery spice" you can find in most Ridge wines. In a way it's a simple formula, but also balanced, luscious, and long. Refreshing like a Coke. Will drink four remaining bottles at 3-5 year intervals without worry of fading.
Tanins are still strong but seems to be aging wonderfully. Hints of tobacco and leather with a lingering finish. Hint of apples in typical Geyseyville fashion.
Smooth, dense, complex, a flavor profile that offers entry, mid-range and length. Such a great wine, a great zinfandel blend. 50th Vintage so I knew this would receive special attention to bolster the Ridge brand and I stocked up: I'm so glad I did. This is why I drink wine, why I drink Zinfandel, why Ridge is always welcome in my glass.
I had high hopes, but was disappointed (I seem to be in the minority reading other reviews and this might just be a bad bottle). I did just buy from a wine retailer, so I don't know how this was stored. Poured using Corvain and let it sit in the glass for 90 minutes before having with Christmas dinner (prime rib). Nice typical Geyserville aromas and flavors, but these were a bit muted and the wine was too acidic for me. I would take the other Geyservilles I have had this year (2007, 2013, even 2018) over this. Planning to open the bottle at some point and to give it a good decant, so will update this if my impression changes.
Addendum (12/29/20): I opened this along with a 2015 Lytton Springs. Ian S and srh were spot on - this Geyserville bottle was off. The LS had so much more fruit and fullness on the mid palate. Probably some cork taint. I'll try to track down another bottle of this.
Wonderful. After 1 h decant intense, deep nose of plum, leather and spices. Palate with fragrant mediterranean herbs (rosemary), liquorice, earth and balsamic vinegar. A satisfying, delicious wine.
Good firm fruit, feminine floral notes, dark tobacco. Very nice wine in a very good place right now. Drink now in its young-mid adulthood or hold for years and watch it mature. Can't go wrong. A very good vintage for this wine.
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Stunning nose of black fruits, licorice, earth and white pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Packed with fruit but presented in restrained and elegant style. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, plums and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Tremendous Geyserville that is a worthy representation of the 50th vintage of this wine. Best over the next 5-7 years.
Part of a blind tasting, along with a 2010 Argiano and a 2018 Frog's Leap Zin. I won't embarrass myself by revealing my guess, but let's just say I was a bit off. Nevertheless, this showed very well, with smooth red and black fruit, bramble and dried herbs. This is a wine that I targeted for re-buy some time ago, and never did. Time to change that.
Virtual wine tasing with Terry Kandylis, organized by London's 67 Pall Mall club (non-blind): Wine 5 of 6. A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Bright dark ruby colour. Rip and sweet dark fruit, high-class dark chocolate, coconut, mint and spices, with balancing acidity, well-integrated tannin and superb length. Full and sweet, yet round, balanced and very elegant in light of its high alcohol content. Dense, well-structured and very persistent. Perfect for BBQ. I am usually not a fan of Zinfandel, but I liked this 2015 Geyserville quite a bit!
Open in bottle for 2hrs...to go with some smoked short ribs...70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet...inky dark redberry fruit in color...gorgeous nose of red licorice, dusty barrel spice, wood smoke, raspberry jam, a menthally rich compost. The palate is in perfect balance already...deep and exotic liqueured berry fruits...brambly, yet with a nice sheen polish...dusty white pepper, oak spice tannins...lifted with tarted cherry skin acidity...really LOVE the brightness of the cherries and raspberries in this...nuanced tobacco wrapper...Chateau Rayas came to my mind? One of the best young Geezer's I've had to date...and one that will age out brilliantly for probably the next 20 or so years.
Impromptu (socially distanced) wine on our porch with some friends...great evening. First red of the evening, slow oxed for about an hour before serving
Bright garnet color. Expressive nose showing cherry, plums, spice. Palate of red cherry, pomegranate, smoke, pepper. Medium weight, long finish.
Very early in its evolution, this should continue to improve and probably drink well for another 15 years (best guess). The air time helped, would give this 2 hours decant if possible. Has upside from here, 93+ in time. Reliably great wine from Ridge...
Decanted for two hours. OMG... this was just singing. Such impeccable balance; not too tannic, not too fruity, just a silky, expressive and luscious wine. The tannins were refined and quite accessible, the fruit was just ripe enough and the oak was barely noticeable. I need to buy more.
decanted & enjoyed over several hours, a solid, very balanced Geyserville that shows restraint at this stage, which has often led to longer-lived versions in my experience. 3 - 6 years onward for sheer delight, will last well beyond that.
Opened 2 hours before drinking. This is a great Zinfandel. Beautiful color of deep garnet. Plums and spices are dominant. Cherry and blackberries evident with both vanilla and a hint of chocolate in the background. There is some alcohol heat on the nose but not on the palate. The Ridge team has a European palate and it comes through in this fine effort. I think it will age very well. I have 6 bottles and I am going to wait a year before trying again. I expect it will be even more integrated and smoother.
Having just checked in on the 2013 and it found it surprisingly open, I figured it was worth peeking at the 2015, and it was a really interesting contrast. Whereas the '13 was much softer and approachable, the '15 was much firmer and reserved. Nice nose of course, with plenty of coffee bean, blackberry jam, and cracked pepper. The usual balance and restraint on the palate, but with a nice bit of grip to show you that some more time is needed. Certainly not a crime to open one now, but there's really good upside potential if you let it rest a few more years.
Ripe blackberry, boysenberry, and cherry cordial notes right out of the gate. With time in the glass there is more zin bramble tones, cocoa powder, and crushed rock minerality. Concentrated on the palate, with moderate acidity and gritty tannins. The alcohol, though only 14.5%, is pretty apparent in the back of the throat and lingers. Good pizza zin, not sure I'd save it for long-term aging though.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This vintage is totally unique among those I have tasted for its lively, crunchy palate of under ripe pit fruits and cherries. Vague scents of leather and tobacco on the nose. Still a fair amount of tannic clench. For me, it needs more time to tone down, but I doubt it will ever lose that certain verve. I don't think EB's estimate of a 20 year drinking window is an exaggeration. It seems pretty bullet proof. Fascinating wine.
Brandied cherries, toast, vanilla frosting, spearmint. Creamy mouthfeel. Sensation of sweetness and then that intense, grippy attack that I associate with Ridge.
Medium purple/ruby. Ripe black Alexander valley fruit and cedar notes (with hints of black licorice). Same on palate with the structure to hold it together. On the hedonistic side for a Ridge ('15 vintage? or is that Geyserville) but man is it good.
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
≈65 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then capped. While I noted a potential mustiness, I didn't think a whole lot of it as I'd noted something similar with the previous day's '13 Patrick & Christophe Bonnefond Côte-Rôtie Côte Rozier, & since THAT bottle wound up being memorable/spectacular...
N: Mustiness; Though vigorous swirling did help, it kept returning -- might I even say with a vengeance?
P: A *sharpness* CERTAINLY atypical for Geyserville; :( OBVIOUSLY defective;
∑: Corked/TCA
Note: 1st tasted on 7/29/17
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very pleasurable wine and an impeccably balanced vintage of the Geyserville. These always are a bit glossy and ripe, but that makes this nice with rich meats/BBQ type meals. I suspect this will settle down and improve with age.
Aerated and decanted about 20 min, drank over about an hour. The flavor profile reflects the blend of grapes used (70% zin, 15% carignane, 12% petite sirah, 3% alcante bouschet) - Jammy fruit, blueberry, plum, a little raspberry, hint of semi-sweet chocolate and leather, medium tannins, medium+ finish, really nice and good QPR
2015 Ridge Geyserville is ruby red with initial aromas of black currant, blackberry preserve, sweet tobacco, baking spices, camphor, new leather, orange creamsicle, and fresh rose petals. The palate confirms the aroma with more black currant, baking spices, and tobacco. There is also some licorice, coffee, pomegranate and stoniness. The tannins are soft, and the acidity is low. This is a supple wine with a reasonably long finish that really benefits from 2+ hours in the decanter.
I have always enjoyed this wine and it was my first ah-ha wine! Over the past two years we have gone though a few cases of this, and it seems to be entering a more mature stage now. That being said, we have found significant bottle variability between each bottle, but the vast majority have been great (this being a lesser bottle). We plan to drink more of these in the future as it is definitely in a good spot now.
Very good again, much the same tasting profile as in prior note. Did not decant, and thus was midway through bottle before the floral elements and more nuanced fruit nose and palate blossomed--so more time or decant. That said, overall balanced with lovely layers of darker red fruit, earth, moderate length.
Lovely, expressive fruit, multiple flavor layers going on here. Primary red and black fruits with some dusty tannins and coffee flavors. It’s young and has a long life ahead.
Roasted coffee vies with the more red spectrum fruit, the coffee together with the relatively low acidity gives this a feeling of softness despite some slightly grainy tannins. Good length and the alcohol not poking out.
Enjoyable for sure. Not especially where my tastes are these days, but it would make a very worthwhile change every once in a while.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was in a bad spot, fruit not integrated and kind of strange with a different taste/profile with each sip. No rating since it may have been a bad bottle; just seemed off with no signs of taint at all.
3 hour decant. This is in a very good place now. In the nose plums and olives. Spices. In the mouth very juicy. After 6-7 hours it goes from good to super good. 91-93. Wish I had more.
Drinking well. Be sure to decant for an hour or so. Nice weight on the palate, quite well integrated, tannins are softening, restrained red fruits and spice
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2015 Ridge Geyserville 50:e årgången av det här vinet
70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
Lilaröd i tonen. Men klar.
Doften direkt efter kork ger mycket syltade björnbär, och mullbär men även något hårdare som kanske påminner om färska Aroniabär.
Med en timmes luft försvinner mullbären och ersätts av perfekt mogna svarta körsbär, ingen el - men väl lite vaniljton. Allteftersom kommer även tydliga svarta vinbär, lite ek och inslag av viol och läder.
Smaken - ja, allt det här påminner lite om ca 5 år gammal varsamt hanterad Garnacha med en stänk extra, icke störande, alkohol (14,5% göre sig något påminda).
Inte alls som jag tänkt mig. Bra att man får sätta sina fördomar på prov ibland. Behagligt lätt söta körsbär med en tydlig syra kvar. Fin ek, väldigt lätt vanilj, med något inslag av blåa mogna plommon och färska fikon (innanmätet).
Efter två timmar även något inslag av löstobak, svarta vinbär och lakrits. Ganska mycket av ganska mycket rent utslagsmässigt. Men också väldigt fint invävt i vartannat och absolut i drickfas - men det kommer att bli bättre om några år. Inte tio (säkert bra då också men tror inte man ska/behöver vänta så länge) men tre-fem.
Gillar ju inte Zinfandel/Primitivo. Men det här var/är en väldigt lyckad mix. Jag tror att jag köpt tre flaskor för några år sedan efter lovord bl a härifrån. Köpte tre och tänker att jag öppnar de andra om två respektive fem år.
Och att jag gärna köper några till. Mycket vinförsäljningen pengarna och kul komposition!
91-92 poäng med ett möjligt plus!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear deep garnet with slight rim browning. leather, tobacco, coffee grinds. Medium acids, medium to high tannins. Black licorice. Medium balance finish
Decanted 1.5 hours. Very nice, clean, mostly nicely balanced acidity, tannin and fruit. For all the red fruit, blackberry, black cherry, bit of earth and wood, light spice, there is a lovely floral nose ('perfumed'--per nostrabacchus)-- surpisingly delicate and fresh. Served with bback ribs, braised then grilled with homemade sauce--and though a good match, I found the floral element revealed best own its own. So this has a share of subtlety, which I enjoyed. Be interesting to see how it develops.
Notes of blackberries, sweet dark cherries, plums, sweet spices, some smoke and tobacco leaf. Christmas spices like cinnamon, etc. Medium-full bodied, with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin adding quite some grip. Very good length. Another very pretty and perfumed Geyserville. I still prefer the Lytton Springs for overall freshness and structure... but very impressive.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huh, dickfruchtig. Brombeeren, Brombeeren und Brombeeren in der Nase, etwas Honig, aber dafür sehr gewürzbetont (Gewürznelken, Zimt). Am Gaumen bullig und dicht, wieder bombastische Frucht (blaubeerig) und schöne Säure. Forsche Tannine machen den Wein im Moment zu einem grossartigem Speisenbegleiter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gave in and opened the 2015. Taut, firm tannins but not overpowering. Well balanced, jammy red fruit without being fruit forward. Smooth and velvety. Potential for aging another 5-10 years for more enjoyment!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice, a bit subdued - would have liked to have seen a bit more pepper given it's a Zin, and took a while to open up and much better with food. Not as good as the Dusi Ranch, that one is sensational!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A beautiful Zin with a bouquet of aromas like dark red fruit, white pepper, and boysenberry/raspberry puree. A lovely and elegant wine that is more balanced and pleasurable than the '14. This wine's peppery notes continued to increase significantly with more air and began to dominate the wine (but not overly so). This evolution reminded me of the complexity of a 2006 L'Aventure Optimus I had in 2013, which was my epiphany wine, so this was just a beautiful thing to reminisce over.
Fantastic wine and a truly great effort from Ridge. This is why I'll always be a buyer of their Geyserville.
Good color and clarity. At first the wine was too wound up. Bubbly attacking my toinge. After 15 minutes it was much better. Lots of cranberry flavor - over the top at first. After breathing this was a pleasant wine but not like I remember it from the last.
Solid, but not anything real special. Nice zin blend, smooth ... nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Dark red/blue fruit on the nose and palate ... not as much spice as I would like.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Concentré mais avec un brin d'acidité qui fait passer le tout. De la terre et des épices avec des mures et des bleuets, tannins souples et finale assez longue, bien.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over two days, and also tasted three Bedrock wines on the second day this was open, which allowed for interesting points of comparison. This wine is fruitier, oakier (is that a word?), more modern, and higher pitched than the Bedrock wines, all of which I preferred. This aside, a fine wine, bold, yet within that New World kind of high decibel balance. The back label states it will develop over the next twenty years, which seems a little iffy given the medium acid. It does need three to five years to integrate, and should probably be enjoyed by 2025-2028.
Overall, a little less fruit accentuation, a little lower pitched, and less (distracting) barrel char would have made this better.
Juicy cranberry leads the way. Quite nice as a blend, a bit hot for me though. Needs to calm down. Note to self, when buying red Zinfandel don't buy a blend, get as close to 100% Zin as possible.
Probably jumped the gun on this one. Still primary with a touch of sparkle when first opened. Oh but the potential! With a creamy cranberry bouquet and a zesty raspberry, blackberry palate, this seems spring loaded to offer her best in no less than 10 years. Significant upside potential. Put this one way back into the cellar. Drink 2028-2038. (������= Outstanding)
10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Double blind. Opens with a plasticy chemical note that blows off with a little vigorous swirling. A hint of rhubarb, followed by cherry and mixed fruit,spice and pepper. Pepper, spice and red fruit on the palate. Incense and canided raspberry qualities. Very nice.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours before tasting. Fantastic zin. no jamminess to be found here, lively acidity and ripe, bordering dried fruit flavors. Oak is apparent but not overbearing, some chocolate notes. a joy to smell and drink now, but make sure you hold onto some as well into the future cuz this will keep getting better.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Historic Vineyard Society Tasting, 50th Anniversary of this wine, nose of red and black cherry fruit, and dusty dirt road, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, needs three year to peak drinking time, great ageing potential here as previous vintages tasted after 10 years in the bottle show great, long, flavorful finish.
This is such a great Zinfandel. So aromatic with bright berries leading to deep flavors of raspberry-chocolate ganache and polished tannins with lively acidity. It’s about the only Zinfandel that I would describe as “classy”.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour for a tasting, and it was a huge hit. Ripe blackberry fruit, accented by herbal and earthy notes, get a push from the American oak, but there’s no dill, just an underlying firmness. I really like that balance here. This could be a long aging Geyserville.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting the November 3, 2017 new releases (små partier) at Systembolaget (Stockholm): Fine smelling wine with lots of different berries, leather, oriental spices. Good mixture of sweet blackberries and cool sloe berries on the palate. Great structure and balance. Good now with a grilled cheeseburger, and good fifteen years from now if stored properly. (92-93)
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle. Fairly fruit forward on the palate. On the nose, a lot of the oakiness has fallen off since last year, but still decent amount left though, but much more moderate and integrated. I felt this was much more balanced than a year ago as well. Pretty nice casual young red to enjoy without too much contemplation.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was a disappointment compared to my others. The tannins and acidity were pronounced while the fruit was muted and there was a bit of VA which stuck out.
May have been very lightly corked.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex nose, still young, cherry and old shipwreck - but very drinkable already know. Chewy, with moderate tannins. Good acidity, providing the backbone. Very good.
Den berømte vinen på hovedsak Zinfandel fyller 50 år, og får druene sine fra blant annet imponerende 130 år gamle vinstokker. Det er hentet druer fra 37 plotter som er vinifisert Hver for seg. I denne årgangen er blenden 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah og 3% Alicante Bouschet. Vinen er modnet i 14 måneder på 100% amerikanske eikefat derav 5% nye, 14% ett år, og 81% tre eller fire år gamle fat. Vinen er tappet på flaske i februar 2017. Alkoholnivået er på 14,5% alkohol.
Krystallklar med presis granatrød farge med noe lysere kant. Geyserville! Ah, så forførende på nesen! Noe tydelige superfriske klare bær med preg av moreller, saftige plommer og med noen røde roseblader. Litt alkoholstikk, men det går raskt over.
Vinen er fyldig, maskulin og strukturert men uten å være aggressiv eller i ubalanse. Denne forfører deg med plommer, lær, eik og på kanten noe mørkere sjokolade og vanilje. Middels til lang smattende utgang, med relativt faste tanniner. Biffen vil skrike av glede når den treffer denne rakkaren til sommeren. Geyserville må være verdens beste vin på Zinfandel? Så stor, men allikevel balansert?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Immediately after opening the nose is restrained, the palate tastes of raspberries and sour cherries. It gives the impression of being quite young. After a few hours....Everything mellows out, the fruits go from red to blue/black. Served with braised lamb shanks, the acidity is cut by the fat in the lamb. Nice cassis in the finish that last for a few minutes. Excellent work by Ridge.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Many years of drinking Ridge zinfandels and this is my favorite. Perfect balance of fruit, structure, and acidity loaded with classic zinfandel flavors of red and black berries with restrained oak. I think this has potential to gain complexity with a few years in the bottle.
Enjoyed with grilled ribeye and spaghetti alla puttanesca.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: blackberry, blackberry liquor, a bit of heat. Palate is full throttle, ripe, juicy and almost jammy blackberries, but pulled back from being too much by punchy acid and red currants, and lovely freshness. Secondary notes of savory pie crust, a bit of tobacco/tomato leaf, walnut shells, black pepper, and fine tannins. Good finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
50th vintage. They’ve been at it for a while now at Ridge. This shows a quite pretty nose of blackberry, boysenberry and cherry with some light vanilla and spice. Not too intense. On the palate however its ripe, concentrated and lush with masses of warm, primary fruit. At times getting close to too much but manages to stay in balance at least most of the time. Quite nice, especially with our hosts superb cheeseburgers.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of black berry, roasted meat, earth, and allspice, same on the palate, big body, almost fruit forward, especially the second night, great with burgers, mouth filling fruit, enjoyable now with a decant, long, long finish.
Opened a Zinfandel to watch the World Series Game Seven, nose of black cherry, black berry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, better tasting than the last two bottles, fruit forward, easy to sip and savor, especially with the Astros winning from the start, will reward cellar time but enjoyable now with a decant, and a long, fruity finish.
Powerful and luscious wine with decades of aging potential. A deep, rich wine with great acidity, yet it's also Burgundian, in a sense. While I prefer the 2014 at this stage, I can see why people are so high on this one. Easily one of the greatest Ridge bottles I've had.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of black cherry fruit, black berry, and white pepper, same on the palate, big body, tasty tonight, mouth filling fruit, needs 3 years to peak but delicious now, tsted better the second night, and a long, flavorful finish.
This is an intense Geyserville. A really powerful core of fruit. Concentrated purple with tobacco, tar, plum, perfume. Just bursting with energy. This is terrific and I think it'll just get better in a year or two as the edges mellow. Just jumps out of the glass.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely could use some time in the bottle. If drinking now, you may want copious air - I found an hour in a decanter insufficient, and vastly preferred this on day two after recorking and keeping in the fridge overnight.
On another note, I preferred the 2014 for it's balance and it being slightly more refined and less 'zinny'. The 2015 is still wonderful though!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit closed at first; very purple fruit with cranberry/cherry compote tang in sides of cheeks, but still medium full body and fairly high alcohol. Not showing great tonight. 89-90 blind at Brian's
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sunfish Cellars Fall Tasting (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Tasting pour. Wow, one of the best young Geyservilles I've had, and so approachable now. Really pretty red fruits, the tannins are expressive but gripping and everything screams balance. Excellent.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at a Ridge wine tasting at City Winery in Atlanta. Enjoyed this wine with an excellent pairing of key lime shrimp. This is a lovely wine that is drinking beautifully now with an expressive nose and palate of dark berries, white pepper and a hint of spice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sometimes drinking an extremely young top-end wine is just fun. This had that slightly cloudy look that some very young wines have. Expressive aromas and flavors of boysenberry, spice, blackberry and a hunt of chicory. The tannin is up-front, but doesn't overwhelm the fruit. This is delicious and offers a ton of pleasure right now. I'll take it on faith that these improve with age and will go hands-off on the rest, but don't feel bad about enjoying one now!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Would up a bit tight (especially compared to a 2011 Lytton Springs served immediately prior), but this has tons of stuffing go the distance. It's an interesting blend with more Carignan than usual. Should be fascinating to follow, seeing how it unfolds and develops over time. Early days here.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
92+ Dunkles Rot mit lila Kirschen,leicht pflaumig,Pfeffer,Hauch Tabak,würzig. Konzentriert,dicht,saftig,sehr tief,prägend,auch so gute Balance. Längerer dunkelfruchtiger Abgang. Gefällt mir sehr gut und ist auch erstaunlich zugänglich und schön zu trinken.Klarer Nachkauf.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color is ruby, not super dark. Upon opening and pouring, the nose was fairly expressive, with intense, sharp red and blue fruit. That carries over to the first tastes, as the fruit is very bright and sharp on the front of the tongue. Very spicy also. As the finish moves slowly from mid to back tongue, the sharp fruit gives way to spice, earth, and wood. The heat from the alcohol seems expressed as spiciness. The finish is quite long.
After some time open, some additional richness develops mid-palate. But the fruit is still bright and sharp. After being open for 90 minutes, the heavy sharpness at the front, becomes more relaxed, and the flavors work with all parts of the mouth. The mouthfeel is a bit softer too, not quite as heavy. Still a very long finish.
10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of red and black cherry fruit, allspice, and black berry, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, and a long, flavorful finish.
ZAP Simply Summer Celebration, nose of red and black cherry fruit, allspice, and dusty dirt road, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, great ageing potential here as previous vintages tasted after 10 years in the bottle show great, long, flavorful finish. 92+
Dark ruby color. Nose rich with dark fruits, slight hint of heat. Palate initially with dark fruits and light spice, strong oak, more acidity/red cherries with time. Nice complexity, great depth, think it's still somewhat young and oaky at this time but excited to see this with aging. Good with rich food/barbecued meats. 91 pts at least
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
California Vacation (Sonoma, SF, Monterey); 8/5/2017-8/12/2017: Tasted at winery. Nice light licorice sits on top of black fruit with a less prominent smoke and black pepper than the East Bench. Really great structure and balance. I'm typically a Lytton Springs guy, but damn this was good!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Misc. CA Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): “70% Zin, 15% Carignane, 12% P.S., & 3% Alicante Bouschet, harvested from 8/18-9/15/15 @ 24.3˚ ave Brix; Fermentation: Destemmed, full crush, 100% floating cap; Natural primary & secondary (malolactic) fermentations; Daily pump-overs; Pressed @ 8 days; Aged 14 mos in 100% air-dried AM oak barrels (5% new, 14% one, & 81% three & four years old.) 14.5% ABV;”
N: Slightly closed, but RIPE, jammy; Intensity lurking!
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt met by FINELY tannic pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, ult pleasant finish. DESERVES 18-30 mos for this elegantly styled/balanced wine to TOTALLY strut its stuff! IMPRESSIVELY crafted! :) 95 pts Connoiseurs' Guide, 94 Vinous (Galloni), 93 RJon Wine, 92 Dunnuck, 91 Decanter's Panel, 90 WS, 92 & 87 (2x) winealign.com, and 17/20 Jancis Robinson! [Tasted @ a no longer avail $33.95, as of mid Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources from $38-$50.]
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous ruby violet color with fairly dark core. Aromas of black licorice, sweet charcoal, gravel, DARK black raspberries, plum. Brambly fruit on the palate. Decent structure and significant complexity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Spicy and floral nose, black cherry with moderate brightness on the palate, firm dusty tannin with a juicy finish. Needs time for the tannin to soften.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
375ml. Big blackberry pie, baking spice and oak on the nose, tart and full on the palate. Claret like elegance, the George Foreman of wines.
I imagine there is quite a bit of tannin underneath but the concentration and fruit seem to be hiding it. Lacking much complexity now but with so much stuffing that I will definitely get a few full bottles as it has a track record for showing more with some age. Try again in 5 years when its baby fat is shed.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very aromatic, a touch of pepper, sawdust, potting soil, and loads of fresh blackberries, bing cherry, and spices; mouth is very ripe but elegant, not gooey; excellent concentration, but almost feels light on the tongue; great balance for a zin, and a crazy tangy acid lift in the finish. Really good, delish, but yet serious at the same time. 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour and tasted without food. Dark purple color. This is quite elegant for such a young wine. Good nose of some leather and hint of oak; fruits lean towards dark cherries and blackberries. Nicely balanced by the acidity that keeps this fresh and lively. Good spice element as well. Quite enjoyable. Label states the blend as: 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Underwhelming. At the end of the day I just don't get California wines for the most part. Ridge is sort of the old world drinker's California favorite so I always want to like it, and sometimes even do. A recent taste of the '14 Geyserville was enjoyable, but it was a small pour. Anyway, based on that I grabbed two of these. I found this has a lot of vanilla but not much depth of fruit or anything of particular non-fruit interest. It's very young and that could be the greater part of the problem. I don't like evaluating a wine too young, but I followed this over several hours which is usually a good enough window into even a young wine. I will bury my other bottle and perhaps in a few years I'll laugh at my own folly; or not.
No notes taken, but I recall really enjoying this and thinking it was completely ready now. Paired with red meat, this wine was a perfect match. Big and bold.
Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): Spicy, black fruit, aromatic, plums; palate is medium bodied, tons of black fruit, wonderful medium-plus acid, great freshness, medium balanced tannins; medium finish. Superb geyserville. 92-93
Good, classic Zin nose. Great dark fruit flavors with hints of black pepper and a little heat. Would give it a higher score, but needs a little time in the bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
- Garnet color and aromas of raspberry, black currant and vanilla. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, strawberry and fig with a medium/full body. Smooth texture.
Deep, deep Geyserville. Perhaps less dense than the 2014, but there's a brilliant beam of acid, and a finish that lasts for days. I think this will turn in to something truly special.
Ridge's 50th year producing this wine. 14.5% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. Intense flavors of raspberry, cassis, blueberry and Zin fruit. Very deep, penetrating and long. Delicious now and will continue to improve for years and years. One of the world's wine treasures.
Aroma: Warm baking spice, camphor, olive, blackberry. Palate: Jammy and spicy blackberry fruit with notes of cinnamon and clay. Quite tannic but fruit makes it drinkable young as well. Good structure; could be a little low in acidity. Good but I've had better vintages.
ZAP TRADE TASTING, nose of red and black fruit, allspice, and ink, same on the palate, big body, well blended as its seamless, very tasty, this wine ages very well and improves as it ages, long finish.
12/5/2023 - asparagus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous notes. So enjoyable. This disappeared in no time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2023 - OenoEd wrote: 91 Points
Powerful, succulent , and mature; Ridge, always good, always reliable, but, as here, sometimes the rich and balanced black fruit, szechuan pepoercorn, cassis, and smoky black cherry wood qualities in the nose and in the mouth are delicious but not quite compelling enough to carry. the 14.5% alcohol. There is a little heat and bite mid palate to finish, and a note of piney disinfectant, likely from the Carignane. Maybe the impact of high alcohol seems less overt in 5 years; a 50/50 call, in my book. Ok to drink now, just decant it for an hour or two, and serve it with asian spiced shortribs, or charred lamb (rosemary here works great) or ribeye. I will not be surprised to rate this 2 points higher in 3-5 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2023 - rgujral Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 4 hours. Great from the initial, pre-dinner pour, through dinner to post-dinner. Medium weight, integrated svelte tannins. Plum dominates with some blackberry and cassis. Great match with Cambodian grilled chicken (though ours was baked tonight)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Previous bottles were tight when opened, this one was ready to go.
Great aroma with blackberry, cherry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Lots of flavor showing blackberry, cherry, anise, plum, spice, and leather. Smooth tannins in the finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2023 - jmht wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful wine showing incredible balance, complexity and more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2023 - stokeme wrote: 93 Points
This grabbed my attention tonight. Well integrated, superlative on Day 2. Carignane compliments the blend with savory highlights. Perfumed nuances, & warm fruit leather, adds to dark berry vine tones. Really enjoyed this wine in full stride. Wish there was another tasty bottle for tomorrow night. 2 of 2
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2023 - Somm David T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Its been awhile since I’ve opened a Geyserville. This is the 2015 50th Anniversary. Young for me on this bottling. But, a decent first look. Still shows some astringency. This will age like a Cabernet if stored correctly. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Syrah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. 14.5% ABV. Never opened a bad bottle of Ridge.
It is ready to drink but will improve over time. It will age 15 plus years stored correctly. Black raspberries, blackberries, plum, boysenberries, dark cherries, spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanillin, clay, dark chocolate, forest floor with dry leaves, caramel, malt balls, dry twig, light, soft pepper, dark, mid & purple florals for days-violets, excellent acidity and a pleasant wire to wire finish.
Excellent gourmet burger wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2023 - renwom Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine of the night at a tri-tip dinner. Beautifully stitched together and drinking perfectly right now. Opened about 2 hours prior, with a splash decant. Dark, inky, luscious, red and black fruit on the nose and palette. Still has good life left but this feels like prime drinking right now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2023 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
This bottle was beautiful, not nearly showing its age like the previous one a few months ago. Laden with black and blue fruits with touches of sage and menthol. Sweet tannins. A lusty finish. Everything you’d expect out of a Geyserville. Drink now to 2025. Outstanding.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2023 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
Have to say, this is a fantastic expression of this vineyard bottling, with an incredible blend of varietals from a vintage that I don’t remember being all that memorable. This was compared against couple other Ridge bottlings from later vintages and offered a completely different experience with big Napa Cabernet like power and at the same time mid-palate nuance. Plenty of purple fruit, plum and then great leather and herbal notes. Sad to only have one, but oh what and experience and was fun to share with neighbors who appreciate good wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2023 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
42nd Annual Zinfandel Retrospective - the 2015s (R&D's): Blind. Notes of black raspberry, cardamom, cumin and pepper. The fruit becomes brighter and more forward as this opens in the glass. Develops clay and mocha elements with additional air. Bright red fruit and raspberry with a spicy/peppery finish. Good, if seemingly simple by comparison to many of the others in the lineup. 88+ pts. (R&D)
My #6, Domino's #3
Group #8, 55 pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2023 - ChateauShiny Likes this wine: 93 Points
After backfilling a bunch, I've been rather disappointed in how Geyserville ages and been drinking through the older Geyservilles in our collection. Of the older ones we have had so far, this is by far the best example.
Decanted for about 2 hours. Nose is powerful and layered. First starts off with tobacco leaf, then brooding bramble, blackberry, boysenberry with mushrooms, that Draper perfume, and just a mild hint of American oak spices. Heavy bodied, waning acidity, and a ton of power. Palate of bramble, raspberry, stewed strawberries, blackberries, a bit of leather, tobacco, and oak spices. I notice more RS on the palate than I normally do from Geyserville, and I think it really helps the palate. Smooth tannins. Moderate length finish and a bit hot - granite and graphite heavy minerality, tart berry skins, American oak with the spices associated with it, tobacco leaf, a bit of mint, and a pop of violet.
I am not sure there is anything to be gained by waiting longer to consume these. Older Geyservilles have just been disappointing to me. But this one is drinking in a sweet spot. Still has a lot of that Ridge characteristics, but gained a nice balance aged notes to support it.
But I seriously question the ability for this to age 12 more years based on my past experiences.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
4/30/2023 - markydecker Likes this wine: 92 Points
More Bordeaux than California. The great thing about Geyserville and Lytton is that extended cellar time brings out earthy, herbal, leathery, graphite nuances. This wine has all of those, and is aging beautifully. Slight bricking, good acid, medium body, smooth tannins. From standard bottle over 2 nights, better on the second. Delicious. In a great drinking window, with secondary flavors in force, but well stored bottles will continue to develop. Delicious.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2023 - df1962 wrote: 93 Points
PnD let air for 30mins.
Complex elegant and in a perfect spot. Nice revisit with the amazing Ridge. An American Grand Cru
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2023 - asparagus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Side by side with 16 Geyserville - this was the group fave, but not for me. Glorious fruit, and very balanced. I thought the 16 just edged it with a smidge more acid and structure.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2023 - drmilkweed Likes this wine: 94 Points
Earthy nose with oaky and floral notes. Cherry, red raspberry fruit, toasty oak notes, cocoa, light cigar, medium acid, well balanced, long complex finish. Prime drinking window, but good structure that should last a good bit longer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2023 - BHRH Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted one hour. Complex aromas of bramble, earth, herbs, plum and a touch of dill. Elegant yet energetic palate of brambleberry, spicy plum jam, and blackberries. Lots of structure and power on the deep-fruited finish indicating a long life. I'll wait a few years for my next bottle, but this is a penultimate, well-balanced version of Geyserville that will reward any Zin fan! 93+
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2023 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Not sure I’ll sit on these much longer. Wonderful bouquet of antique wood, forest floor, mushroom and plum. Fans out on the palate with plums, apricots, blackberries and oregano. The finish comes up short, but this is still a beautiful bottle of wine. Seems secondary to tertiary. Drink now to 2026. Worth Seeking Out.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2022 - Slics wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well now. Lots of deep dark fruit and good balance. delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2022 - aero Likes this wine:
Hayes & Ma Potter
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2022 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stellar. So vibrant, but also silky and rich. Starting to show some tertiary notes. I have one more bottle that I will do my best to forget about for at least 3 years. I want to see what the buzz is all about with aged Geyserville. Seems like a good candidate for that.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/19/2022 - MerDemartinis wrote:
Cool blue fruit, currant and soft spice. What a nice wine. As it opened all the pieces softened creating a easy but so very delicious glass. 93.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2022 - GAVK Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lukket de første 30 minuttene. Deretter åpnes det for solbær, lakris, hint av tobakk og kjeller. Det er også treverk. Dessverre blir eikebruken mer fremtredende etter hvert som temperaturen øker og vinen får luft. Jeg drikker skjelden Zinfandel og ble litt skuffet over at vanillin tar såpass mye plass. Noe alloholsterk med sine 14.5%, men det syntes jeg den bærer bra.
Alt i alt en deilig vin til tørrhengt entrecôte og foran peisen utover kvelden. Har spart litt til i morgen, så får vi se hvordan vinen smaker da. Denne kan fint ligge i mange år til.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2022 - Decanthor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very similar notes to the reviewer below me. Practically no nose during the first 15-20 minutes, so give this at least 30 minutes of air. But once it opens up, this is delicious. So many dark berry flavors, yet not brooding. Good secondary flavors coming in to balance against that fruit. So delicious, complex, with a great mouthfeel. I'm an idiot for not buying more.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
11/26/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Great aroma with blackberry, cherry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Initially slightly closed, but better after 30 minutes. Lots of flavor showing blackberry, cherry, anise, plum, spice, and leather. Smooth tannins in the finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2022 - RonYork wrote:
- Brick color with fast forming legs with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2022 - gukarl wrote: 90 Points
Flott vin. En del solbær på nesen. Fin frukt som begynner på modnes. Mangler kanskje noe i avsluninigen. lite tanniner og litt slapp finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2022 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine but definitely has some aging left in it. Nice spice from the Zin but the carignane and petit sirah add to the mouth feel and roundness of this wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6)
8/15/2022 - squiddo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Little corked.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2022 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Sublime nose of red fruits, peach and anise. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Rich and jammy. Raspberry, plums, pomegranate and pepper on the palate. Exceptional now but this certainly has the structure and fruit to drink well for another decade.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/16/2022 - paintinginacave wrote:
Double decanted eight hours prior to drinking. Pours an opaque, deep purple fading to a medium ruby outer edge. Rather shy with some herbaceous, black plum skin, milk chocolate, and a little heat. With time the riper black fruits start to come to the fore. As for the palate - it’s full, rich, and concentrated but much like the nose there’s a notable lack of complexity and sadly we’re left with a rather generic wine. Compared to the 2016 this is far less approachable and less appealing. The 2016 tasted in 2021 was superb. I’ve always found Ridge capable of performing very well when young and unfortunately, this is the first bottle that bucks the trend. Based on this showing the wine needs to age for several more years before you’d even entertain opening it. Not scored.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2022 - Amberissey Likes this wine:
I was taking care of my son while drinking, and while it was fantastic, especially on the palette, I didn’t make notes. I would probably say a few years from truly ready. But I don’t feel I wasted it. I double decanted and drank roughly seven hours later
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2022 - StefanAkiko wrote: 91 Points
Excellent wine!
Still brimming with baby fat.
Acidity in the lower end of the spectrum and tiny tannins.
Extremely delicious 😋
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2022 - VinCA wrote:
A typically great bottling of Geyserville. Black fruit, plum, and black tea on the nose. Fine tannins, medium bodied, and we'll balanced.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2022 - WhooskeyWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Medium ruby hue. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackberry, bramble, dried fruit, and pepper. Medium-plus body, with medium tannins and medium acidity. Elegant and lighter in character than other California Zinfandels (or Zin blends). 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 12% Petite Sirah, and 3% Alicante Bouschet.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2022 - Darbus123 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine. Well balanced, soft tannins, dark fruits and some leather. Drinking nicely after a few hours in the decanter. You can't go wrong with Ridge.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2022 - phandel wrote: 98 Points
Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side (from magnums): the 15 was singing, markedly older than the 16. But the 16 had more going on, hidden under the youth.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2022 - Vinomeglio Likes this wine:
Drinking well, should keep for another 5+ years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2022 - Carib wrote: 89 Points
Much better on day two but then quickly faded. There was a thinness to it that was surprising, lacked depth. Maybe expectations were too high. My money is on the Pagani Ranch.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2022 - pigdaddy wrote: 91 Points
decanted one hour. failed to read my previous notes, which recommended patience. that said, this is an enchanting Geyserville in the developmental stages. fabulously black- & brambleberried, presently it's showing wood, acids & moderate tannins. and potential for sure.
wait. it's in that middle part of its evolution & will be exceptional.
mayacoba bean burritos w/griddled chicken thighs & poblanos
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2022 - Gibbman Likes this wine: 91 Points
2 hour decant. Deep dark fruits, leather and spice Still firm tannins. Really nice.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/29/2022 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pnp, started out a little tight. The last bottle was ready to go on opening, this would have benefitted from a short decant. On the nose, cherry, blackberry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Loaded with flavor with cherry, blackberry, spice, plum, leather, anise. Very soft tannins in the finish. Showing really well, but as with all Geyservilles, has years of life to go, if you can keep your hands off them.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/12/2022 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 93 Points
Upon plop:
A beautiful, dark, brooding elegant wine with a good bit of acidity, well-manicured tannins and superb balance. The composition is flawless in this youngling and much is to be expected in the future.
After a few hours:
Becoming more and more sour, sharp and grumpy.
This bugger needs time!
2 more btls to go, next one in 3-5 years' time.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/31/2021 - CAP Likes this wine:
I agree with Eric. Hold your bottles.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/30/2021 - Eric.S wrote:
PnP. Pretty backwards. Possibly shut down at the moment. 750ml. Give it time or air.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/30/2021 - thehaughleydrinker Likes this wine: 88 Points
I found this underwhelming for the price. Nowhere near as great as I remember……..
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/26/2021 - moxielady wrote: 90 Points
Still young but well structured/ this was a 375 bottle
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2021 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank from magnum and just delicious.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
11/12/2021 - macliii Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful wine that shows deep purple in the glass, fruity in the nose and flavors of plum and blackberry on the palette. Went wonderfully with tomato based American chop suey dinner and the wine for better and better as the evening went on and was even excellent sipping with out the food after dinner.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/3/2021 - ROrmand Likes this wine: 92 Points
Supple and sappy. Luscious core of fruit and a nice touch of earth. Harmonious. A total pleasure from first taste to last.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/19/2021 - EMTAME wrote: 93 Points
Similar showing to our delicious bottle in March. Great darker fruit profile on the palate and sporting more approachability than some other recent Geyservilles as the same age. Drinking well now, but certain to continue bringing pleasure for years to come.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2021 - gharter Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Great aroma with cherry, blackberry, plums, herbs, anise and spice. Lots of flavor similar to the nose. Soft tannins in the finish. Showing really well, but as with all Geyservilles, has years of life to go.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/8/2021 - SLOFred Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really drinking well right now. Clearly Zin dominant, but a beautiful non-traditional blend. Not sure it will get better from this point on, but if it does, that would be great!
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/2/2021 - radumas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needs a few years. Delightful elegant red fruit dark leather blueberry
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/5/2021 - Putnam Weekley wrote: 89 Points
Open 24 hours. Lumber and grapefruit, in a good way. It’s important to grasp those elements so the frame can surround its admirable wealth of precise, ripe California grape flavor. This is not jammy nor obese. The proportion of blackening grapes–Alicante, Petite Sirah–and the terroir distance from Dusi and Pagani–allow a regime of structure and organization that suggest benefits from patient aging. It’s linear and sweet, with grave tannic authority. Simple. Mocha and grape jam; pine litter. No frayed edges; nor even any scalloped edges. This wine needs to suffer quite a bit more. Drink in 2029. 89+ points.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/25/2021 - bjschmitt Likes this wine:
Drinking nicely after a bit of air.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/8/2021 - chanote44 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious, well integrated dark berry fruit and smooth tannins.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/4/2021 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Luscious with tons of spicy character. Delicious, now and over the next decade or more.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/12/2021 - aero Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium bodied, modern style. Bright purple fruit, red apple skins, charred earth, and that particular "peppery spice" you can find in most Ridge wines. In a way it's a simple formula, but also balanced, luscious, and long. Refreshing like a Coke. Will drink four remaining bottles at 3-5 year intervals without worry of fading.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/22/2021 - EMTAME wrote: 93 Points
Just at the front of its drinking window, but this is wonderful. One of my favorite Geyservilles at this age.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
3/15/2021 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour and enjoyed with Lobster pasta
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/4/2021 - Twinkles wrote: 90 Points
Tanins are still strong but seems to be aging wonderfully. Hints of tobacco and leather with a lingering finish. Hint of apples in typical Geyseyville fashion.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/1/2021 - Bodwigg Likes this wine: 93 Points
From 1/2 bottle. Superb sweet red fruit and acid. Long. Great.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/29/2020 - der Schmecker Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth, dense, complex, a flavor profile that offers entry, mid-range and length. Such a great wine, a great zinfandel blend. 50th Vintage so I knew this would receive special attention to bolster the Ridge brand and I stocked up: I'm so glad I did. This is why I drink wine, why I drink Zinfandel, why Ridge is always welcome in my glass.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/25/2020 - Rhwinetracker wrote: flawed
I had high hopes, but was disappointed (I seem to be in the minority reading other reviews and this might just be a bad bottle). I did just buy from a wine retailer, so I don't know how this was stored. Poured using Corvain and let it sit in the glass for 90 minutes before having with Christmas dinner (prime rib). Nice typical Geyserville aromas and flavors, but these were a bit muted and the wine was too acidic for me. I would take the other Geyservilles I have had this year (2007, 2013, even 2018) over this. Planning to open the bottle at some point and to give it a good decant, so will update this if my impression changes.
Addendum (12/29/20): I opened this along with a 2015 Lytton Springs. Ian S and srh were spot on - this Geyserville bottle was off. The LS had so much more fruit and fullness on the mid palate. Probably some cork taint. I'll try to track down another bottle of this.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
12/20/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking quite well at present.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/12/2020 - KC Wine Enthusiast Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ridge Geyserville always satisfies!! 50th vintage. 14.5%ABV. 70% Zin, 15% Carignane, 12% P. Sirah, 3% Alicante Boushet.
On second evening, even better. More aromatic then night one, sign of a great wine!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/4/2020 - now_in_mi Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasant blend that produced a fruit flavor of mainly Zin, but in the overall mix a lot of berry flavors come through.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2020 - PatrickO33 wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful. After 1 h decant intense, deep nose of plum, leather and spices. Palate with fragrant mediterranean herbs (rosemary), liquorice, earth and balsamic vinegar. A satisfying, delicious wine.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/16/2020 - MRichman wrote:
Good firm fruit, feminine floral notes, dark tobacco. Very nice wine in a very good place right now. Drink now in its young-mid adulthood or hold for years and watch it mature. Can't go wrong. A very good vintage for this wine.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/7/2020 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Crimson in color. 14.5% ABV. 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Stunning nose of black fruits, licorice, earth and white pepper. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Packed with fruit but presented in restrained and elegant style. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, plums and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Tremendous Geyserville that is a worthy representation of the 50th vintage of this wine. Best over the next 5-7 years.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
9/30/2020 - JCGuthrie wrote: 93 Points
Part of a blind tasting, along with a 2010 Argiano and a 2018 Frog's Leap Zin. I won't embarrass myself by revealing my guess, but let's just say I was a bit off. Nevertheless, this showed very well, with smooth red and black fruit, bramble and dried herbs. This is a wine that I targeted for re-buy some time ago, and never did. Time to change that.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/23/2020 - PSPatrick wrote: 93 Points
Virtual wine tasing with Terry Kandylis, organized by London's 67 Pall Mall club (non-blind): Wine 5 of 6. A blend of 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet. Bright dark ruby colour. Rip and sweet dark fruit, high-class dark chocolate, coconut, mint and spices, with balancing acidity, well-integrated tannin and superb length. Full and sweet, yet round, balanced and very elegant in light of its high alcohol content. Dense, well-structured and very persistent. Perfect for BBQ. I am usually not a fan of Zinfandel, but I liked this 2015 Geyserville quite a bit!
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
9/10/2020 - Cadby Likes this wine: 94 Points
Voluptuous & racy! Wonderfully balanced with many years left.
++++ $40
https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10220251948642717&set=gm.764629927687401
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/22/2020 - Quarked wrote: 93 Points
Especially profound on the 2nd night.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2020 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 95 Points
Open in bottle for 2hrs...to go with some smoked short ribs...70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet...inky dark redberry fruit in color...gorgeous nose of red licorice, dusty barrel spice, wood smoke, raspberry jam, a menthally rich compost. The palate is in perfect balance already...deep and exotic liqueured berry fruits...brambly, yet with a nice sheen polish...dusty white pepper, oak spice tannins...lifted with tarted cherry skin acidity...really LOVE the brightness of the cherries and raspberries in this...nuanced tobacco wrapper...Chateau Rayas came to my mind? One of the best young Geezer's I've had to date...and one that will age out brilliantly for probably the next 20 or so years.
13 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/9/2020 - ppandian wrote: 90 Points
Intense dark red berries, layers of complexity, spicy with integrated tannins. Good acid and balance.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 Points
Impromptu (socially distanced) wine on our porch with some friends...great evening. First red of the evening, slow oxed for about an hour before serving
Bright garnet color. Expressive nose showing cherry, plums, spice. Palate of red cherry, pomegranate, smoke, pepper. Medium weight, long finish.
Very early in its evolution, this should continue to improve and probably drink well for another 15 years (best guess). The air time helped, would give this 2 hours decant if possible. Has upside from here, 93+ in time. Reliably great wine from Ridge...
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
8/1/2020 - mdefreitas wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours. OMG... this was just singing. Such impeccable balance; not too tannic, not too fruity, just a silky, expressive and luscious wine. The tannins were refined and quite accessible, the fruit was just ripe enough and the oak was barely noticeable. I need to buy more.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/8/2020 - pigdaddy wrote: 90 Points
decanted & enjoyed over several hours, a solid, very balanced Geyserville that shows restraint at this stage, which has often led to longer-lived versions in my experience. 3 - 6 years onward for sheer delight, will last well beyond that.
crispy crushed rosegold potatoes, chorizo, fried eggs, Kellogg breakfast tomato, pimenton aioli
3/24/21 on track for excellence, wait at least 1.5 years 'til next one
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/2/2020 - CHarder wrote: 92 Points
This is pretty nice. Needs at least 2 hr decant. Would leave in the cellar for 2-3 yrs.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/22/2020 - Brian of Mull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 2 hours before drinking. This is a great Zinfandel. Beautiful color of deep garnet. Plums and spices are dominant. Cherry and blackberries evident with both vanilla and a hint of chocolate in the background. There is some alcohol heat on the nose but not on the palate. The Ridge team has a European palate and it comes through in this fine effort. I think it will age very well. I have 6 bottles and I am going to wait a year before trying again. I expect it will be even more integrated and smoother.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/13/2020 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice zin blend. Always a reliable favorite.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/12/2020 - Billigan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Having just checked in on the 2013 and it found it surprisingly open, I figured it was worth peeking at the 2015, and it was a really interesting contrast. Whereas the '13 was much softer and approachable, the '15 was much firmer and reserved. Nice nose of course, with plenty of coffee bean, blackberry jam, and cracked pepper. The usual balance and restraint on the palate, but with a nice bit of grip to show you that some more time is needed. Certainly not a crime to open one now, but there's really good upside potential if you let it rest a few more years.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/12/2020 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ripe blackberry, boysenberry, and cherry cordial notes right out of the gate. With time in the glass there is more zin bramble tones, cocoa powder, and crushed rock minerality. Concentrated on the palate, with moderate acidity and gritty tannins. The alcohol, though only 14.5%, is pretty apparent in the back of the throat and lingers. Good pizza zin, not sure I'd save it for long-term aging though.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2020 - PNIELSEN wrote: 93 Points
This vintage is totally unique among those I have tasted for its lively, crunchy palate of under ripe pit fruits and cherries. Vague scents of leather and tobacco on the nose. Still a fair amount of tannic clench. For me, it needs more time to tone down, but I doubt it will ever lose that certain verve. I don't think EB's estimate of a 20 year drinking window is an exaggeration. It seems pretty bullet proof. Fascinating wine.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/9/2020 - BHP1994 wrote: 92 Points
Pretty big Zin! My wife described it as “jubilant but still very much in balance”. So there you have it - highly recommended! Love Ridge.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2020 - magyarsvensk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Brandied cherries, toast, vanilla frosting, spearmint. Creamy mouthfeel. Sensation of sweetness and then that intense, grippy attack that I associate with Ridge.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/20/2020 - Eugenedinapoli Likes this wine:
Medium purple/ruby. Ripe black Alexander valley fruit and cedar notes (with hints of black licorice). Same on palate with the structure to hold it together. On the hedonistic side for a Ridge ('15 vintage? or is that Geyserville) but man is it good.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/19/2020 - srh wrote: flawed
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
≈65 min decant into a plastic, cylindrical pitcher which was then capped. While I noted a potential mustiness, I didn't think a whole lot of it as I'd noted something similar with the previous day's '13 Patrick & Christophe Bonnefond Côte-Rôtie Côte Rozier, & since THAT bottle wound up being memorable/spectacular...
N: Mustiness; Though vigorous swirling did help, it kept returning -- might I even say with a vengeance?
P: A *sharpness* CERTAINLY atypical for Geyserville; :( OBVIOUSLY defective;
∑: Corked/TCA
Note: 1st tasted on 7/29/17
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 90 Points
Very pleasurable wine and an impeccably balanced vintage of the Geyserville. These always are a bit glossy and ripe, but that makes this nice with rich meats/BBQ type meals. I suspect this will settle down and improve with age.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/29/2020 - mdkraft99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aerated and decanted about 20 min, drank over about an hour. The flavor profile reflects the blend of grapes used (70% zin, 15% carignane, 12% petite sirah, 3% alcante bouschet) - Jammy fruit, blueberry, plum, a little raspberry, hint of semi-sweet chocolate and leather, medium tannins, medium+ finish, really nice and good QPR
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/29/2020 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Jammy, ruby red, bramble, spicy with nice tannins. Excellent QPR.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2020 - Vinewanderers Likes this wine: 80 Points
2015 Ridge Geyserville is ruby red with initial aromas of black currant, blackberry preserve, sweet tobacco, baking spices, camphor, new leather, orange creamsicle, and fresh rose petals. The palate confirms the aroma with more black currant, baking spices, and tobacco. There is also some licorice, coffee, pomegranate and stoniness. The tannins are soft, and the acidity is low. This is a supple wine with a reasonably long finish that really benefits from 2+ hours in the decanter.
I have always enjoyed this wine and it was my first ah-ha wine! Over the past two years we have gone though a few cases of this, and it seems to be entering a more mature stage now. That being said, we have found significant bottle variability between each bottle, but the vast majority have been great (this being a lesser bottle). We plan to drink more of these in the future as it is definitely in a good spot now.
Original Score: 70
Grade: B− (Top 50%)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/24/2020 - Jack wrote: 93 Points
Still young. Better on day 2.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/4/2020 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good again, much the same tasting profile as in prior note. Did not decant, and thus was midway through bottle before the floral elements and more nuanced fruit nose and palate blossomed--so more time or decant. That said, overall balanced with lovely layers of darker red fruit, earth, moderate length.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/25/2019 - ianwesley wrote:
Not yet ready to drink. Needs 5 more years at least.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/22/2019 - td1836 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely, expressive fruit, multiple flavor layers going on here. Primary red and black fruits with some dusty tannins and coffee flavors. It’s young and has a long life ahead.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/20/2019 - Ian S wrote:
Really rather approachable.
Roasted coffee vies with the more red spectrum fruit, the coffee together with the relatively low acidity gives this a feeling of softness despite some slightly grainy tannins. Good length and the alcohol not poking out.
Enjoyable for sure. Not especially where my tastes are these days, but it would make a very worthwhile change every once in a while.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2019 - winejnky wrote:
This bottle was in a bad spot, fruit not integrated and kind of strange with a different taste/profile with each sip. No rating since it may have been a bad bottle; just seemed off with no signs of taint at all.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/22/2019 - adamanko Likes this wine: 93 Points
3 hour decant. This is in a very good place now. In the nose plums and olives. Spices. In the mouth very juicy. After 6-7 hours it goes from good to super good. 91-93. Wish I had more.
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/10/2019 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Intense and aromatic, developing very well.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/23/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rounded in to a nice zin based blend. Tannins have mellowed and softened since my last bottle
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/18/2019 - ppandian wrote: 89 Points
Drinking well. Be sure to decant for an hour or so. Nice weight on the palate, quite well integrated, tannins are softening, restrained red fruits and spice
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Second Sunday Group: Ridge Geyserville Vertical (2008-2015) (R&D's): Double blind. Deep purple garnet color. Plum and red berry fruit and hot. Mixed fruit on the palate; structured and tannic. Herb/dill notes emerge. Acidity is rather pronounced. 86-87 pts.
My #6, Domino's #7
Group #7, 63 pts
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2019 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 91 Points
2015 Ridge Geyserville
50:e årgången av det här vinet
70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
Lilaröd i tonen. Men klar.
Doften direkt efter kork ger mycket syltade björnbär, och mullbär men även något hårdare som kanske påminner om färska Aroniabär.
Med en timmes luft försvinner mullbären och ersätts av perfekt mogna svarta körsbär, ingen el - men väl lite vaniljton. Allteftersom kommer även tydliga svarta vinbär, lite ek och inslag av viol och läder.
Smaken - ja, allt det här påminner lite om ca 5 år gammal varsamt hanterad Garnacha med en stänk extra, icke störande, alkohol (14,5% göre sig något påminda).
Inte alls som jag tänkt mig. Bra att man får sätta sina fördomar på prov ibland.
Behagligt lätt söta körsbär med en tydlig syra kvar. Fin ek, väldigt lätt vanilj, med något inslag av blåa mogna plommon och färska fikon (innanmätet).
Efter två timmar även något inslag av löstobak, svarta vinbär och lakrits. Ganska mycket av ganska mycket rent utslagsmässigt. Men också väldigt fint invävt i vartannat och absolut i drickfas - men det kommer att bli bättre om några år. Inte tio (säkert bra då också men tror inte man ska/behöver vänta så länge) men tre-fem.
Gillar ju inte Zinfandel/Primitivo. Men det här var/är en väldigt lyckad mix. Jag tror att jag köpt tre flaskor för några år sedan efter lovord bl a härifrån. Köpte tre och tänker att jag öppnar de andra om två respektive fem år.
Och att jag gärna köper några till. Mycket vinförsäljningen pengarna och kul komposition!
91-92 poäng med ett möjligt plus!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2019 - CJM wrote: 90 Points
Clear deep garnet with slight rim browning. leather, tobacco, coffee grinds. Medium acids, medium to high tannins. Black licorice. Medium balance finish
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/2/2019 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Max (Carmel CA): Nice spice, good balance, nice Zinfandel.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/31/2019 - wayfarer Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours. Very nice, clean, mostly nicely balanced acidity, tannin and fruit. For all the red fruit, blackberry, black cherry, bit of earth and wood, light spice, there is a lovely floral nose ('perfumed'--per nostrabacchus)-- surpisingly delicate and fresh. Served with bback ribs, braised then grilled with homemade sauce--and though a good match, I found the floral element revealed best own its own. So this has a share of subtlety, which I enjoyed. Be interesting to see how it develops.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/29/2019 - maxima wrote: flawed
Bouchonnée!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/2/2019 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 95 Points
Maybe the best Geyserville ever. Spectacular. Drink now or hold.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/31/2019 - winejnky Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice smooth low key Zinfandel blend, a “classy” Zin.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Notes of blackberries, sweet dark cherries, plums, sweet spices, some smoke and tobacco leaf. Christmas spices like cinnamon, etc. Medium-full bodied, with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin adding quite some grip. Very good length. Another very pretty and perfumed Geyserville. I still prefer the Lytton Springs for overall freshness and structure... but very impressive.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2019 - EMAZurich Likes this wine: 92 Points
Huh, dickfruchtig. Brombeeren, Brombeeren und Brombeeren in der Nase, etwas Honig, aber dafür sehr gewürzbetont (Gewürznelken, Zimt). Am Gaumen bullig und dicht, wieder bombastische Frucht (blaubeerig) und schöne Säure. Forsche Tannine machen den Wein im Moment zu einem grossartigem Speisenbegleiter.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2019 - alimack Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well balanced. Smooth and velvety. Not too much fruit. It will age well for another few years, if I can hold onto a bottle that long.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2019 - CondorKhan wrote: 91 Points
Extremely young. Aggressively tannic.
Still, it displays beautiful velvety texture and crunchy red fruit framed by creamy oak.
I'd try it again in 2 or 3 years.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still young and aggressive tannins. Would hold for another few years.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/8/2019 - ppandian wrote: 88 Points
Gave in and opened the 2015. Taut, firm tannins but not overpowering. Well balanced, jammy red fruit without being fruit forward. Smooth and velvety. Potential for aging another 5-10 years for more enjoyment!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2019 - fuberite Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very nice, a bit subdued - would have liked to have seen a bit more pepper given it's a Zin, and took a while to open up and much better with food. Not as good as the Dusi Ranch, that one is sensational!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2019 - Curtis C Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank with the lovely Lily.
A beautiful Zin with a bouquet of aromas like dark red fruit, white pepper, and boysenberry/raspberry puree. A lovely and elegant wine that is more balanced and pleasurable than the '14. This wine's peppery notes continued to increase significantly with more air and began to dominate the wine (but not overly so). This evolution reminded me of the complexity of a 2006 L'Aventure Optimus I had in 2013, which was my epiphany wine, so this was just a beautiful thing to reminisce over.
Fantastic wine and a truly great effort from Ridge. This is why I'll always be a buyer of their Geyserville.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/1/2019 - unrelenting wrote: 89 Points
Not ready to drink. Super tight. Doesn't even taste like Zin. Hope this improves.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/28/2019 - Chasse_spleen wrote: 91 Points
Murky and blue nose. Long pleasant taste with protuberant acidic spine. Good overall impression, will last almost forever.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2019 - bryon m wrote: 88 Points
Good color and clarity. At first the wine was too wound up. Bubbly attacking my toinge. After 15 minutes it was much better. Lots of cranberry flavor - over the top at first. After breathing this was a pleasant wine but not like I remember it from the last.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/1/2019 - Parnelli Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid, but not anything real special. Nice zin blend, smooth ... nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. Dark red/blue fruit on the nose and palate ... not as much spice as I would like.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2018 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Concentré mais avec un brin d'acidité qui fait passer le tout.
De la terre et des épices avec des mures et
des bleuets, tannins souples et finale assez
longue, bien.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2018 - Rbieber Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still young and fruity. Needs some time to settle
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/10/2018 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 93 Points
Geyserville at its very best. This one will need a bit longer than usual to settle in (a good 2-3 years for my palate).
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2018 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over two days, and also tasted three Bedrock wines on the second day this was open, which allowed for interesting points of comparison. This wine is fruitier, oakier (is that a word?), more modern, and higher pitched than the Bedrock wines, all of which I preferred. This aside, a fine wine, bold, yet within that New World kind of high decibel balance. The back label states it will develop over the next twenty years, which seems a little iffy given the medium acid. It does need three to five years to integrate, and should probably be enjoyed by 2025-2028.
Overall, a little less fruit accentuation, a little lower pitched, and less (distracting) barrel char would have made this better.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
7/15/2018 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Blockbuster. Very dry. Ready now or will age 10+. Will go down in Geyserville history as one of the Top 10 of the first 50. Maybe top 5.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
7/13/2018 - wineotim wrote: 90 Points
Juicy cranberry leads the way. Quite nice as a blend, a bit hot for me though. Needs to calm down. Note to self, when buying red Zinfandel don't buy a blend, get as close to 100% Zin as possible.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/22/2018 - jonahfactor Likes this wine:
Probably jumped the gun on this one. Still primary with a touch of sparkle when first opened. Oh but the potential! With a creamy cranberry bouquet and a zesty raspberry, blackberry palate, this seems spring loaded to offer her best in no less than 10 years. Significant upside potential. Put this one way back into the cellar. Drink 2028-2038. (������= Outstanding)
10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2018 - wabi47 wrote:
juicy and still a bit primary; i would hold this for a while
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2018 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Double blind. Opens with a plasticy chemical note that blows off with a little vigorous swirling. A hint of rhubarb, followed by cherry and mixed fruit,spice and pepper. Pepper, spice and red fruit on the palate. Incense and canided raspberry qualities. Very nice.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2018 - mattstolz11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours before tasting. Fantastic zin. no jamminess to be found here, lively acidity and ripe, bordering dried fruit flavors. Oak is apparent but not overbearing, some chocolate notes. a joy to smell and drink now, but make sure you hold onto some as well into the future cuz this will keep getting better.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2018 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Historic Vineyard Society Tasting, 50th Anniversary of this wine, nose of red and black cherry fruit, and dusty dirt road, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, needs three year to peak drinking time, great ageing potential here as previous vintages tasted after 10 years in the bottle show great, long, flavorful finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/11/2018 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really a great wine with good red fruited flavors and nice depth. Good now but no hurry.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/9/2018 - poppacork Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is such a great Zinfandel. So aromatic with bright berries leading to deep flavors of raspberry-chocolate ganache and polished tannins with lively acidity. It’s about the only Zinfandel that I would describe as “classy”.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2018 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Pop and pour for a tasting, and it was a huge hit. Ripe blackberry fruit, accented by herbal and earthy notes, get a push from the American oak, but there’s no dill, just an underlying firmness. I really like that balance here. This could be a long aging Geyserville.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2018 - VoteferPedro wrote:
good bones
most zin based wines can be enjoyed on release but not this one
still not ready after 2 hours of air, started to budge at 3 but I would wait a few years at least before enjoying
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2018 - Omar Khayyam wrote:
Tasting the November 3, 2017 new releases (små partier) at Systembolaget (Stockholm): Fine smelling wine with lots of different berries, leather, oriental spices. Good mixture of sweet blackberries and cool sloe berries on the palate. Great structure and balance. Good now with a grilled cheeseburger, and good fifteen years from now if stored properly. (92-93)
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2018 - mrbry83 Likes this wine:
From half bottle. Fairly fruit forward on the palate. On the nose, a lot of the oakiness has fallen off since last year, but still decent amount left though, but much more moderate and integrated. I felt this was much more balanced than a year ago as well. Pretty nice casual young red to enjoy without too much contemplation.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2018 - Robert Page Likes this wine:
Still slightly oaky; better after one hour
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2018 - poppacork wrote:
This bottle was a disappointment compared to my others. The tannins and acidity were pronounced while the fruit was muted and there was a bit of VA which stuck out.
May have been very lightly corked.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2018 - Twinkles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spectacular! Hints of rose petals, very delicate upon opening it with oak showing up throughout the night. Very unique.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2018 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 92 Points
My favorite Geyserville since last year��
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/21/2018 - Michal A Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very fragrant and jammy on the nose. Taste of dark cherry fruit, spice and a little bit of vanilla but not too much. Long finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
Nothing like a young Zinfandel. Waves of big fruit that don't seem to end. Drinks well now and for many years. A .375 decanted.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2018 - Chasse_spleen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex nose, still young, cherry and old shipwreck - but very drinkable already know. Chewy, with moderate tannins. Good acidity, providing the backbone. Very good.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/14/2018 - Andre Brattland wrote: 92 Points
Den berømte vinen på hovedsak Zinfandel fyller 50 år, og får druene sine fra blant annet imponerende 130 år gamle vinstokker. Det er hentet druer fra 37 plotter som er vinifisert Hver for seg. I denne årgangen er blenden 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah og 3% Alicante Bouschet. Vinen er modnet i 14 måneder på 100% amerikanske eikefat derav 5% nye, 14% ett år, og 81% tre eller fire år gamle fat. Vinen er tappet på flaske i februar 2017. Alkoholnivået er på 14,5% alkohol.
Krystallklar med presis granatrød farge med noe lysere kant. Geyserville! Ah, så forførende på nesen! Noe tydelige superfriske klare bær med preg av moreller, saftige plommer og med noen røde roseblader. Litt alkoholstikk, men det går raskt over.
Vinen er fyldig, maskulin og strukturert men uten å være aggressiv eller i ubalanse. Denne forfører deg med plommer, lær, eik og på kanten noe mørkere sjokolade og vanilje. Middels til lang smattende utgang, med relativt faste tanniner. Biffen vil skrike av glede når den treffer denne rakkaren til sommeren. Geyserville må være verdens beste vin på Zinfandel? Så stor, men allikevel balansert?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2018 - NAS Likes this wine: 94 Points
Immediately after opening the nose is restrained, the palate tastes of raspberries and sour cherries. It gives the impression of being quite young. After a few hours....Everything mellows out, the fruits go from red to blue/black. Served with braised lamb shanks, the acidity is cut by the fat in the lamb. Nice cassis in the finish that last for a few minutes. Excellent work by Ridge.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2018 - poppacork Likes this wine: 93 Points
Many years of drinking Ridge zinfandels and this is my favorite. Perfect balance of fruit, structure, and acidity loaded with classic zinfandel flavors of red and black berries with restrained oak. I think this has potential to gain complexity with a few years in the bottle.
Enjoyed with grilled ribeye and spaghetti alla puttanesca.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Spectacular. Buy all you can.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/10/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of my favorite Geyserville’s of the past 20. Buy all you can. Thank me later.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/24/2017 - MaineMark wrote: 90 Points
Tasted (non-blind) against Turley Old Vines Zin, and the Turley was mildly preferred. This should integrate and improve with age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/14/2017 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still on the young side with some heat and big fruity finish. Would wait a year or two on the next one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
11/12/2017 - ohne_musik wrote: 91 Points
Nose: blackberry, blackberry liquor, a bit of heat. Palate is full throttle, ripe, juicy and almost jammy blackberries, but pulled back from being too much by punchy acid and red currants, and lovely freshness. Secondary notes of savory pie crust, a bit of tobacco/tomato leaf, walnut shells, black pepper, and fine tannins. Good finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2017 - Puteljen! wrote: 90 Points
50th vintage. They’ve been at it for a while now at Ridge. This shows a quite pretty nose of blackberry, boysenberry and cherry with some light vanilla and spice. Not too intense. On the palate however its ripe, concentrated and lush with masses of warm, primary fruit. At times getting close to too much but manages to stay in balance at least most of the time. Quite nice, especially with our hosts superb cheeseburgers.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of black berry, roasted meat, earth, and allspice, same on the palate, big body, almost fruit forward, especially the second night, great with burgers, mouth filling fruit, enjoyable now with a decant, long, long finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/3/2017 - Mazy wrote: 86 Points
Plus complexe et plus équilibré que le Lytton. Tout de même costaud et lourd après le repas.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Picked up weight in the last few months. Big Wine. Big blue fruits. Ready now or will age.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/1/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened a Zinfandel to watch the World Series Game Seven, nose of black cherry, black berry, and earth, same on the palate, big body, better tasting than the last two bottles, fruit forward, easy to sip and savor, especially with the Astros winning from the start, will reward cellar time but enjoyable now with a decant, and a long, fruity finish.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/31/2017 - Double-A wrote: 85 Points
Cherry and candied currant with rancio notes on the nose. Friendly, ripe berry flavours; well balanced finish.
3/5
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2017 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Really accessible at this young age. Enjoyed with ribs.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Never sucks, including this vintage. Lots of ripe dark fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2017 - AAJR Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had at Morrell's Rockerfeller Center - ripe berry flavors with a touch of spice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2017 - Curtis C Likes this wine: 92 Points
Powerful and luscious wine with decades of aging potential. A deep, rich wine with great acidity, yet it's also Burgundian, in a sense. While I prefer the 2014 at this stage, I can see why people are so high on this one. Easily one of the greatest Ridge bottles I've had.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of black cherry fruit, black berry, and white pepper, same on the palate, big body, tasty tonight, mouth filling fruit, needs 3 years to peak but delicious now, tsted better the second night, and a long, flavorful finish.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/10/2017 - MRichman wrote:
This is an intense Geyserville. A really powerful core of fruit. Concentrated purple with tobacco, tar, plum, perfume. Just bursting with energy. This is terrific and I think it'll just get better in a year or two as the edges mellow. Just jumps out of the glass.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2017 - BarryPaulPrice Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely could use some time in the bottle. If drinking now, you may want copious air - I found an hour in a decanter insufficient, and vastly preferred this on day two after recorking and keeping in the fridge overnight.
On another note, I preferred the 2014 for it's balance and it being slightly more refined and less 'zinny'. The 2015 is still wonderful though!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2017 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
A bit closed at first; very purple fruit with cranberry/cherry compote tang in sides of cheeks, but still medium full body and fairly high alcohol. Not showing great tonight. 89-90 blind at Brian's
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2017 - galewskj wrote:
Sunfish Cellars and Korean food with Charles (Sunfish Cellars / Hoban): Drank a small pour at a tasting. Fun to drink now, fruity and lively. I'll wait 5+ years for more structure.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Sunfish Cellars Fall Tasting (Sunfish Cellars, St. Paul, MN): Tasting pour. Wow, one of the best young Geyservilles I've had, and so approachable now. Really pretty red fruits, the tannins are expressive but gripping and everything screams balance. Excellent.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2017 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
On the nose oodles of cassis, raspberries and American oak.
Raspberries, cassis and cherry supported by lively acidity and balanced by tannin in the background. Spice as well on the palate.
This is much better than the flabby 2011 but the 2013 had more elegance and structure but less acidity.
I give this a 90 now but can see it going to a 94.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/22/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at a Ridge wine tasting at City Winery in Atlanta. Enjoyed this wine with an excellent pairing of key lime shrimp. This is a lovely wine that is drinking beautifully now with an expressive nose and palate of dark berries, white pepper and a hint of spice.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2017 - JWCalhoun Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastically smooth!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2017 - BRR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sometimes drinking an extremely young top-end wine is just fun. This had that slightly cloudy look that some very young wines have. Expressive aromas and flavors of boysenberry, spice, blackberry and a hunt of chicory. The tannin is up-front, but doesn't overwhelm the fruit. This is delicious and offers a ton of pleasure right now. I'll take it on faith that these improve with age and will go hands-off on the rest, but don't feel bad about enjoying one now!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Would up a bit tight (especially compared to a 2011 Lytton Springs served immediately prior), but this has tons of stuffing go the distance. It's an interesting blend with more Carignan than usual. Should be fascinating to follow, seeing how it unfolds and develops over time. Early days here.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2017 - Bax62 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby red color. Rich and mouth filling with notes of blackberries and blueberries. Finish has brisk acidity and some vanilla. Nice finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2017 - winelegends.net Likes this wine: 92 Points
92+
Dunkles Rot mit lila
Kirschen,leicht pflaumig,Pfeffer,Hauch Tabak,würzig.
Konzentriert,dicht,saftig,sehr tief,prägend,auch so gute Balance.
Längerer dunkelfruchtiger Abgang.
Gefällt mir sehr gut und ist auch erstaunlich zugänglich und schön zu trinken.Klarer Nachkauf.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2017 - camdawg Likes this wine: 91 Points
The color is ruby, not super dark. Upon opening and pouring, the nose was fairly expressive, with intense, sharp red and blue fruit. That carries over to the first tastes, as the fruit is very bright and sharp on the front of the tongue. Very spicy also. As the finish moves slowly from mid to back tongue, the sharp fruit gives way to spice, earth, and wood. The heat from the alcohol seems expressed as spiciness. The finish is quite long.
After some time open, some additional richness develops mid-palate. But the fruit is still bright and sharp. After being open for 90 minutes, the heavy sharpness at the front, becomes more relaxed, and the flavors work with all parts of the mouth. The mouthfeel is a bit softer too, not quite as heavy. Still a very long finish.
10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose of red and black cherry fruit, allspice, and black berry, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, and a long, flavorful finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/17/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Darn that is a great vintage of Geyserville. Beautiful pure fruit but tight refined structure. Bright, brilliant.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
ZAP Simply Summer Celebration, nose of red and black cherry fruit, allspice, and dusty dirt road, same on the palate, big body, very tasty today, showing well, slightly fruit forward, great ageing potential here as previous vintages tasted after 10 years in the bottle show great, long, flavorful finish. 92+
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/11/2017 - fred o. Likes this wine:
Dark ruby color. Nose rich with dark fruits, slight hint of heat. Palate initially with dark fruits and light spice, strong oak, more acidity/red cherries with time. Nice complexity, great depth, think it's still somewhat young and oaky at this time but excited to see this with aging. Good with rich food/barbecued meats. 91 pts at least
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2017 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
California Vacation (Sonoma, SF, Monterey); 8/5/2017-8/12/2017: Tasted at winery. Nice light licorice sits on top of black fruit with a less prominent smoke and black pepper than the East Bench. Really great structure and balance. I'm typically a Lytton Springs guy, but damn this was good!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2017 - srh Likes this wine:
Misc. CA Reds (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): “70% Zin, 15% Carignane, 12% P.S., & 3% Alicante Bouschet, harvested from 8/18-9/15/15 @ 24.3˚ ave Brix; Fermentation: Destemmed, full crush, 100% floating cap; Natural primary & secondary (malolactic) fermentations; Daily pump-overs; Pressed @ 8 days; Aged 14 mos in 100% air-dried AM oak barrels (5% new, 14% one, & 81% three & four years old.) 14.5% ABV;”
N: Slightly closed, but RIPE, jammy; Intensity lurking!
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt met by FINELY tannic pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, ult pleasant finish. DESERVES 18-30 mos for this elegantly styled/balanced wine to TOTALLY strut its stuff! IMPRESSIVELY crafted! :) 95 pts Connoiseurs' Guide, 94 Vinous (Galloni), 93 RJon Wine, 92 Dunnuck, 91 Decanter's Panel, 90 WS, 92 & 87 (2x) winealign.com, and 17/20 Jancis Robinson! [Tasted @ a no longer avail $33.95, as of mid Feb '19 wine-searcher still shows U.S. sources from $38-$50.]
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2017 - Ceo wrote: 93 Points
Wow perfect with Lamb Ragu and it was delicious!!! Time to find more!! Cheers to all!!🍷🍷
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2017 - deetz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous ruby violet color with fairly dark core. Aromas of black licorice, sweet charcoal, gravel, DARK black raspberries, plum. Brambly fruit on the palate. Decent structure and significant complexity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2017 - rama Likes this wine:
Spicy and floral nose, black cherry with moderate brightness on the palate, firm dusty tannin with a juicy finish. Needs time for the tannin to soften.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2017 - ex-sommelier Likes this wine:
375ml. Big blackberry pie, baking spice and oak on the nose, tart and full on the palate. Claret like elegance, the George Foreman of wines.
I imagine there is quite a bit of tannin underneath but the concentration and fruit seem to be hiding it. Lacking much complexity now but with so much stuffing that I will definitely get a few full bottles as it has a track record for showing more with some age. Try again in 5 years when its baby fat is shed.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2017 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Very aromatic, a touch of pepper, sawdust, potting soil, and loads of fresh blackberries, bing cherry, and spices; mouth is very ripe but elegant, not gooey; excellent concentration, but almost feels light on the tongue; great balance for a zin, and a crazy tangy acid lift in the finish. Really good, delish, but yet serious at the same time. 92+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2017 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour and tasted without food.
Dark purple color.
This is quite elegant for such a young wine. Good nose of some leather and hint of oak; fruits lean towards dark cherries and blackberries. Nicely balanced by the acidity that keeps this fresh and lively. Good spice element as well.
Quite enjoyable.
Label states the blend as: 70% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2017 - sleepyhaus wrote:
Underwhelming. At the end of the day I just don't get California wines for the most part. Ridge is sort of the old world drinker's California favorite so I always want to like it, and sometimes even do. A recent taste of the '14 Geyserville was enjoyable, but it was a small pour. Anyway, based on that I grabbed two of these. I found this has a lot of vanilla but not much depth of fruit or anything of particular non-fruit interest. It's very young and that could be the greater part of the problem. I don't like evaluating a wine too young, but I followed this over several hours which is usually a good enough window into even a young wine. I will bury my other bottle and perhaps in a few years I'll laugh at my own folly; or not.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
6/15/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Complex red and blue fruits. Perfectly balanced. Another classic Geyserville.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/9/2017 - mats13 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No notes taken, but I recall really enjoying this and thinking it was completely ready now. Paired with red meat, this wine was a perfect match. Big and bold.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
5/27/2017 - Winowhyno Likes this wine: 91 Points
Incredible bargain @ $31. Needs at least 30 minutes to open...well worth the wait....multiple layers of taste bud excitement....
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/14/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): Spicy, black fruit, aromatic, plums; palate is medium bodied, tons of black fruit, wonderful medium-plus acid, great freshness, medium balanced tannins; medium finish. Superb geyserville. 92-93
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/29/2017 - Lee Fining Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good, classic Zin nose. Great dark fruit flavors with hints of black pepper and a little heat. Would give it a higher score, but needs a little time in the bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - winetastingnote Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing wine, best geyserville I've tasted. Smooth and easy drinking but so much structure, complexity, and elegance.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/24/2017 - weisinc wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of raspberry, black currant and vanilla. It's in total harmony and has flavours of blackberry, strawberry and fig with a medium/full body. Smooth texture.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/23/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Ridge Monte Bello Tasting (Ridge Monte Bello, Cupertino): Medium youthful ruby; moderately aromatic, red fruit, cranberry, spice; palate is medium bodied, medium acid, nice spice, nice body; medium finish. Superb. 91-93
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/14/2017 - NickRut wrote: 93 Points
Great Geyserville even as young as it is.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/1/2017 - CJM wrote: 90 Points
Clear garnet. White pepper, black cherry, strawberry. Low acids, medium to low tannins. Plum. Medium to short balanced finish. Tasting at winery.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/27/2017 - Birorganic Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Geyserville fruit. Ready now. Balanced, no heat, delicious.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/22/2017 - caldocane Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, deep Geyserville. Perhaps less dense than the 2014, but there's a brilliant beam of acid, and a finish that lasts for days. I think this will turn in to something truly special.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/14/2017 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ridge's 50th year producing this wine. 14.5% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromatics. Intense flavors of raspberry, cassis, blueberry and Zin fruit. Very deep, penetrating and long. Delicious now and will continue to improve for years and years. One of the world's wine treasures.
10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/11/2017 - kosinski wrote:
Aroma: Warm baking spice, camphor, olive, blackberry.
Palate: Jammy and spicy blackberry fruit with notes of cinnamon and clay. Quite tannic but fruit makes it drinkable young as well. Good structure; could be a little low in acidity. Good but I've had better vintages.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/23/2017 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
ZAP TRADE TASTING, nose of red and black fruit, allspice, and ink, same on the palate, big body, well blended as its seamless, very tasty, this wine ages very well and improves as it ages, long finish.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)