97% zinfandel, 3% petite sirah. Chalk Hill, Sonoma. 14.7% abv. Bottled August 2017. “A warm, mild summer extended the growing season allowing flavors to fully develop. We hand harvested on September 14. During fermentation the juice was pumped over the skins twice daily. Limiting new oak to only 15% minimized its effect on the pure fruit expression typical of this vineyard. Enjoyable on release, it will evolve beautifully over the next five-to-six years. JO (6/17)”
Dark ruby color. Nose chocolatey dark fruit. A bit of raisins. Some anise. Palate dark fruited with some tannic spine.
Would be good with a tangy-sauced bbq. Riper than my overall preference but can see the appeal. Drink now
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Not expecting much as the wine will be "at is best over the next 5 to 6 years". But, a variety of fruit, improves with some air, but has a slight acidic note on the back end.
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Wasn't sure what to expect. Have been a fan of Chalk Hill. JO says enjoyable on release. Popped and poured, and it was nasty. After about 90 minutes to two hours became a much more pleasant full-bodied ripe fruit/minimal oak wine.
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We purchased two bottles of this back in 2018, drank one in early 2019 and one tonight. I've got to say, this has barely changed in the last year in bottle. The fruit is still extremely bright and a touch hot on pop-and-pour, but, just as it did last year, this opened up to peak drinking after about 2 hours, at which point it was smooth, savory, gorgeously violet-floral, but still with plenty of playful ripe zin fruit of the bright-red variety, not at all overripe, and a long, savory almond finish. The oak on this is very nicely restrained (15% new) but in part that means it drinks a little harsh at first because this is not yet at its peak. Drink now with an hour's decant and enjoy over the following few hours, or wait another couple years. 97% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah. 14.7%, $33.
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With Chicago style home-made pizza. Medium depth ruby, showing a touch of purple at the rim. Sweet bruit on the nose (raspberry and sweet cherry), almost floral. Acid is present but controlled. Nice but not a lot of depth, would drink early rather than late.
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This took a while to open up - 4 hours for me - initially had a bit of a sour, astringent taste - but later it evened out into a very pleasant, cherry-tinged delight
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97% zinfandel, 3% petite Syrah Chalky, Sweet wood, noticeable alcohol - 14.7% It was dark and rich but that chalky sweet wood taste was offputting and the high alcohol put it over-the-top for me
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translucent dark ruby color. Nose red cherries, hint of candied fruit flavor. Palate bright cherries, rounded fruit with some baking spice; hint of tannin on the finish. Very nice at this young stage. 91 pts
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Second vintage of this wine from one of Ridge's contract vineyards. 97% zinfandel, 3% petite sirah, 60-yr-old vines. Good chalky tannins. Not too jammy, gorgeous balance, impressive restraint. 1000 cases, no retail release. 14.7%, $35.
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Clear deep garnet with no rim browning. Black pepper, eucalyptus, pomegranate. Medium acids, medium acids. Grapefruit. Shirt balanced finish. Tasting Event.
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12/6/2022 - Swimbikerundrink Likes this wine: 95 Points
Coravin’d
Nicely balanced.
Jammy fruit.
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8/20/2021 - fred o. Likes this wine: 90 Points
97% zinfandel, 3% petite sirah.
Chalk Hill, Sonoma. 14.7% abv.
Bottled August 2017.
“A warm, mild summer extended the growing season allowing flavors to fully develop. We hand harvested on September 14. During fermentation the juice was pumped over the skins twice daily. Limiting new oak to only 15% minimized its effect on the pure fruit expression typical of this vineyard. Enjoyable on release, it will evolve beautifully over the next five-to-six years. JO (6/17)”
Dark ruby color.
Nose chocolatey dark fruit. A bit of raisins. Some anise.
Palate dark fruited with some tannic spine.
Would be good with a tangy-sauced bbq. Riper than my overall preference but can see the appeal. Drink now
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1/12/2021 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not expecting much as the wine will be "at is best over the next 5 to 6 years". But, a variety of fruit, improves with some air, but has a slight acidic note on the back end.
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12/25/2020 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Could be the vintage, could be that I was just in a good mood, but this was quite good by Ridge standards.
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11/20/2020 - andysiek wrote: 87 Points
Nice nose of ripe cherry, raspberry, some spice. Structure is fine, tidy, and flavor gets a little flabby as the acid fades. Good without much depth
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11/18/2020 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wasn't sure what to expect. Have been a fan of Chalk Hill. JO says enjoyable on release. Popped and poured, and it was nasty. After about 90 minutes to two hours became a much more pleasant full-bodied ripe fruit/minimal oak wine.
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2/24/2020 - Benj wrote: 90 Points
We purchased two bottles of this back in 2018, drank one in early 2019 and one tonight. I've got to say, this has barely changed in the last year in bottle. The fruit is still extremely bright and a touch hot on pop-and-pour, but, just as it did last year, this opened up to peak drinking after about 2 hours, at which point it was smooth, savory, gorgeously violet-floral, but still with plenty of playful ripe zin fruit of the bright-red variety, not at all overripe, and a long, savory almond finish. The oak on this is very nicely restrained (15% new) but in part that means it drinks a little harsh at first because this is not yet at its peak. Drink now with an hour's decant and enjoy over the following few hours, or wait another couple years. 97% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah. 14.7%, $33.
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12/20/2019 - bjschmitt wrote: 88 Points
With Chicago style home-made pizza.
Medium depth ruby, showing a touch of purple at the rim.
Sweet bruit on the nose (raspberry and sweet cherry), almost floral.
Acid is present but controlled.
Nice but not a lot of depth, would drink early rather than late.
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6/8/2019 - sean7711 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Up the PCH; 6/4/2019-6/16/2019 (Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez, Paso Robles, Napa, and Willamette): Bright ruby red, red fruit in your face. Much less subtle than the other wines tasted in this flight. Not bad, not great
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12/30/2018 - ptm wrote:
This took a while to open up - 4 hours for me - initially had a bit of a sour, astringent taste - but later it evened out into a very pleasant, cherry-tinged delight
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12/30/2018 - BlancdeBlanc Does not like this wine: 85 Points
97% zinfandel, 3% petite Syrah
Chalky, Sweet wood, noticeable alcohol - 14.7%
It was dark and rich but that chalky sweet wood taste was offputting and the high alcohol put it over-the-top for me
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12/15/2018 - nihraguk Likes this wine:
Pleasant; balanced and with a hint of pepper on the finish. Very drinkable.
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11/24/2018 - affordableCollector wrote: 92 Points
garnet, brilliant, in color. rose, cranberry, raspberry, cherry, eucalyptus, black pepper, cedar. young, fresh, lively acid on a sweet fruit finish.
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11/10/2018 - MRichman wrote:
Sappy, strong, dark & powerful. Smokey & black. Good
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10/22/2018 - EMichels wrote: 89 Points
Nice nose; Strong red/purple fruit; Slight spice; Very long; Strong acid; Very nice; Adds caramel on the nose in the glass
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10/22/2018 - fred o. Likes this wine:
translucent dark ruby color. Nose red cherries, hint of candied fruit flavor. Palate bright cherries, rounded fruit with some baking spice; hint of tannin on the finish. Very nice at this young stage. 91 pts
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10/20/2018 - Benj wrote:
Second vintage of this wine from one of Ridge's contract vineyards. 97% zinfandel, 3% petite sirah, 60-yr-old vines. Good chalky tannins. Not too jammy, gorgeous balance, impressive restraint. 1000 cases, no retail release. 14.7%, $35.
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9/8/2018 - CJM wrote: 89 Points
Clear deep garnet with no rim browning. Black pepper, eucalyptus, pomegranate. Medium acids, medium acids. Grapefruit. Shirt balanced finish. Tasting Event.
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