Smooth tannin integration, excellent carry on the finish I'm getting a lot of tomato on the nose here and it's carrying through to the palette as well. Not my cup of tea, personally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent and at a perfect age to enjoy right away. Deep black fruits with a chalky minerality and pleasant touches of wood and secondary notes like leather and tobacco. Still enough structure to age gracefully for another decade, but I thought the wine was in a great place to enjoy today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quick decant. Nose of chalky black fruit, damson/sour purple fruit, and black fig. JPalate shows juicy and brambly black fruit and blueberry with notes of dark chocolate and cappuccino. Piercing acidity leads the finish into blueberry pie, dried oregano, and a long sun-baked raisin and oak finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfect. Smooth, savory, not too much acidity or tannins. Shows what good aging will do - I like the 2020 Pagini Ranch enough but nothing special. Bought this aged from Ridge and what a difference.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Evolved over time, initially showing a lively acidity and light berry fruits (boysenberry) and transitioning into a richer wine with plum and pipe tobacco characteristics. Well-balanced with a layered pleasant finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet and 2% Mataro. Stunning nose of black fruits, baking spices and cocoa. Medium to full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Deep, dark and concentrated. Black cherry, black raspberry, blood orange and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Given the vintage, I would be inclined to drink this wine over the next several years while the gorgeous fruits are still prominent.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
P'n'P, really enjoyed this, another great Zin from Ridge - blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, a little graphite and white pepper, maybe a hint of dark chocolate and leather, nice acidity, medium-long finish, excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gave this 1.5h air, but I don't think it needs it anymore. Notes of blackberry, raspberry, potting soil, pepper, green olive and tobacco. Smooth and medium-bodied, with dark fruit, hint of raspberry and licorice and an earthy streak. Perhaps a bit raisin-y in the finish, but still a solid value that paired well with a Christmas cioppino.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just Poped ‘n poured. This wine is drinking quite nicely now with lots of blackberry fruit, bramble, confiture, raisins, earthiness and good acidity to balance it out. Nice finish too.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cali cabs not usually my thing. (Edit so this wasn’t a Cab. Likely due to how late in the night I wrote this note. Thanks to the commenters below for pointing this out. On a note side, seems like I may prefer Cali Zins over Cabs although the sample size remains small. )
This did have the usual jammy notes described below but overall I felt that it was better integrated than others I’ve tried.
No formal notes, but an absolutely delicious and enjoyable wine. This is drinking really well now. Not decanted, served in GlassVin stems, consumed with grilled hamburgers, which is a great pairing for this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am not usually a fan of wines that are described as "jammy" but Ridge does this well, with great balance. Jammy and sweet (words that would usually make me give a wine a low 80s score) combined with nice structure and acidity make this lip smacking delicious. Drinking very well now, and no sign of deterioration. Drink now, or hold several more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice wine. Long sweet finish with dark jammy fruit. Very well balanced as most Ridge Zin's are. Nice mouthfeel on the palate. I would say it is drinking very nicely and has quite a bit to go before any edges appear. Seemed very youthful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP into a decanter. Nose of pomegranate, iodine, and plum. Plate of Black raspberry, iron ore, blackberry, black pepper, and minerals. Distinct fresh mint note starts the finish, adding black cherry and a l chewy tannins and powerful oak finishing long. Balanced with room to develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of dark fruit and spices, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red blend with blackberry, black cherry, licorice and spices on long finish, needs a short decant. www.winelx.com
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet. Dark berries, ripe strawberry, rhubarb and deep, deep warm spices like cardamon and clove. It's medium+ bodied with good tanins. Leathery, rich and delicious on the finish. It's bold with acidity making it delicious on a rainy day, like today, or any day. I'm always bias towards Ridge wines, and Pagani is one of our favorites.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, frothy, Royal purple in color. Full bodied Jammy blackberry bomb. Some all spice. Sticky, uncutuous, jammy. Medium finish. Tastes like the nose. Although youthful, this is still approachable . Decanted and consumed over six hours. Went great with grilled dinner tonight,
Good stuff.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance - deep minus ruby. Not opaque but...close
Nose - youthful, premature. You get the wood and you get the berries medium intensity. Primary berries. You get the alcohol eye burn. Getting chocolate, cola, Dr Pepper. Mint chocolate chip. Alcohol still dominates on the nose.
Palate - a burst of wow. Still quite young but emerging in flavors. Medium plus intensity, gets bolder mid palate. Finish is medium plus. Body is medium plus, tannins medium plus and after you swallow, they cost the insides of your gums. Wine is dry. Alcohol more integrated on palate than nose. Flavors consistent with nose just mode pronounced and juicy. Berries, pepper finish, taste ripe and pure fruit.
Probably drinking too early but....it was there. Good value for price. Nice blend.
Wonderful balance of tart cherry, strawberry and earth tones with just a touch of spice. Nicely balanced Zin to enjoy with a steak without being overpowering on its own.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color. Aromas of plum, cherry, hints of blueberry and fig, chocolate, Aleppo pepper. Creamy texture, opulent cherry and dark fruit on the palate, hints of vanilla and anise in the finish. Firm, chalky tannins frame everything. Enjoyable, still room to evolve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still youthful and a large wine, but more together, darker fruit, velvety tannins and texture, there is still an abundance of alcohol, but it comes together better on palate. Aside from fruit, getting black licorice, herbal qualities on palate, Italian spice and dill (dry). Dark cherry, black fruits more pronounced. Deep ripe fruit flavors with nice mix of herbal. It needs air at this stage.
————————————
Appearance - medium plus ruby. Clear.
Nose - it’s been open for a couple hours and am pouring through a vinturio. Clean, youthful, alcohol eye burn medium plus. Alcohol has become more prominent with air. Red and black fruits. Very primary fruits the alcohol sting can be a bit overpowering. Some spice basil, bay leaves, dill, and clearly the cinnamon.
Palate - medium plus intensity, you get fruit (fresh, ripe,black and red berry fruit) then burst of acidity, hello, wake you up, berries and some menthol, alcohol is high. Listed at 14.6. You feel it. On finish, which is a POW and then it dies quickly, you oick up the cedar.
It’s too young to drink at the moment. Feels disjointed with lots of potential coming from Different angles but right now each are in competition. With time it will work together.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This Ridge Pagani Ranch zin pours out dark into the glass. The nose is ripe black cherry with a touch of alcohol. There's a lot of black fruit in the mouth with notes of fennel, cranberry and blackberry. The acid is mouth watering and the tannins are fairly tame. Well balanced, smooth and delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zinfandel cut with other varietals. I like this style, and I like Ridge Zins in general. Not particularly complex, but well balanced and easy to drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An unusual (but likable) Zin to me. Odd nose of crabapple that slowly blows off over the course of a few hours but never totally goes away. A skosh of crabapple weaves in on the palate too, joining notes of red cherry and raspberry. Loads of acid, maybe the highest acidity I can recall in a Zin, and fairly tannic as well. Clearly well-made, with great structure, but an odd bird. Might need some time to settle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose is all vanillay American oak (even though only 10% new). But the palate shows a delicious, layered, young red-fruited zin, with good concentration and freshness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely young, but a delicious and balanced Zin. Even with some air it didn't gain as much complexity as hoped, but it's also very young and primary.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the first wine of the evening. Great way to start the wine tasting. On the lighter side of the 5 wines served. Bright fruits. Classic Zinfandel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2020: Top Ten Wines; 1/1/2020-12/31/2020 (Redwood City, CA): Dark purple color. Deeply aromatic, offering cherry and plum, thyme, cut grass and vanilla. Big and robust with great structure from racy acidity and firm fine-grained tannins. Opulent on the palate, with flavors of cherry and dark fruit in equal measure, streaks of vanilla. Probably has room to evolve and for the tannins to mellow, but not sure you want to wait on this one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fascinating bottle, balancing a ton of ripeness with a sense of dialed-back restraint and real structure. And yet another great 2017 Sonoma Valley zin from an allegedly challenging vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little tight - should have let it breathe a longer. A clean, fresh profile of fruit and delicate spice. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Appreciate the care it must take to make such an elegant wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pushing the ripeness like this bottling often does but this one stays behind the line for me. That's because the build is terrific. Very good acidic spine. Not much extraction. just classic, ripe Cali Zin. dark expressive. Complex. Goes down easy. Good. That being said, I think they are really pushing the price point with this bottling. I'm not sure it warrants the same class as Geyserville and Lytton. That is likely a function of past demand I admit.
Black fruits, breambles, a bit of bloysenberry jam. Young, a bit of herbal stink (good), fruit dominates the nose, little pie crust. Mouth follows. Full body, good tannin that lifts a pretty heavy structure. I think this needs a bit more time to "flesh" out, but it is so enjoyable by itself at the moment.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good wine, dark and dense Zinfandel. Smooth drinking. We tasted one and decided to get six more. … Drank one in February 2024. Peak drinking window. Still a 91. I initially wanted to go higher. But there is a slightly bitter and unpleasant taste and a somewhat odd tomato taste, which is a drawback.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice zin, on the bright and fruit forward side. Nice mix of red and blue fruit, raspberry, blue berries with a hint of bitter of chocolate. Mineral finish with edgy tannins. Medium bodied, and quite refined. A little one note, but there's good freshness, drive and purity here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, somewhat hidden nose of spice and blue fruit with smoke accents. Peppery purple fruit with an immediate, mouthfilling spice expansion that coats the tongue. Tacky tannins, tar, fruity acidity and then a long earth layer finish with more oak. This one does seem likely to age and gain complexity. 92+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple color, jammy nose with black currant, cranberry and dried fruits. Balanced in the initial taste, with the fruit flavors coming on the mid palate and finish. Down the middle of the fairway; curious how this develops and whether any secondary flavors develop through the evening or with future bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The purity of fruit here is amazing. Like a bowl of fresh juicy raspberries. Bright brambly fruit, spice, nice acidity, young and tannic. Petite Sirah in the blend for structure and longevity. Ridge is the benchmark for this genre of wine. Consumed over two evenings, on day two it was going strong.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Too young but admirably cheeky. Medium to big fruit and body, not a fruit bomb. Moderate tannin and enough acid to keep a few years. Don’t PNP, air or decant to show well.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fragrant Red fruit and plum on the nose and palate. Medium-full richness, great acidity, and medium tannins. Like all Ridge zins, this is can be a food wine or sipping wine. Wonderful.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2020 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of black berry, huckleberry, day old baked black berry pie, and dry forest floor, same on the palate, big body, lovely, rich fruit, mouth filling fruit, needs 2 years to loose soft tannins present today, might earn a higher score, a long, flavorful finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lots of blueberry, blackberry and less smokiness on the nose. Quite ripe, like fruit preserves. Palate is plump and rich, much less angular than the other Ridge Zinfandels. High toned acid keeps the balance and a moderate finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over two nights. Based on prior reviews, I was expecting a more plush wine that is truly ready to drink. There is density for sure, but in typical Ridge style, it is buttressed by a frame of tannin that I think needs 12-18 months to soften. Great acidity. I will try to keep my hands off my remaining bottles for a bit. A 91 for now, with significant upside potential. Great raw materials here. (91-94)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
N: ATTRACTIVE flowers, wild straws, & a berry I can't quite ID; Intensity lurking
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it transitions into a LONG, BALANCED, poss very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with an alluring, burgeoning swtness to the firming, very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos (or a GOOD dose of air... now), then drinking through '25? NICELY done in a style *I'd* describe as claret™, @ least RIGHT now. My EXC, more likely down the line. [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive price.]
™Having tasted the ’13 (2x), ’14 (1x), ’15 (3x), & ’16 (3x) of this, for my palate at least, perhaps as early as ’15 [& most certainly in ’16] this seemed to turn > towards elegance & a < DETECTABLY unctuous, poss even swt style. :) While that “change” has made it into a wine *I* might now purchase, after having tasted the ’17, I overheard 1 taster [MORE experienced with Ridge than I] comment, “Nice, but light for a Zin.” :(
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great producer of Zinfandel, the Pagani is another solid wine from Ridge. A good amount of plum and black fruit on the nose, the palat is smooth, with some medium acidity and tannins to boot. Good dark fruit here with some black currant. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
84/7/7/2 Zinfandel/Petite Sirah/Alicante Bouschet/Mataro. 11 months 10% new American oak. From a cooler site compared to their Zin field blends, 100+ year old vines. More black fruit in this, plum, sour notes, bigger structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fragrant spice, a note I'd call cologne, tobacco, some black fruit -- but spice leads the way here. Pretty angular on the palate now, tannins feel sharper and need to settle in. More black fruit on the palate, maybe a little less complex on the palate than the nose would make you expect.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sandy clay mustiness straight out of the bottle which quickly settles into mocha, black pepper, capsicum, sweet tobacco, menthol, blackberry cobbler. The palate is quite fruity with rich body, just a touch of acid and smooth tannins. This is very plush, almost sweet throughout. At first I was skeptical of the aging potential, but after an hour of decanting the acid comes out to play and balances the richness quite a bit more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at the winery. 100% zinfandel (I think). This is a part field blend, some vines 125 yo. Fresh, rich fruit, hint of sweetness on the finish. My wife and I were split on this one, she likes the fact that it has lots of up front fruit, I'm not so keen, hence my slightly lower rating.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
deep dark burgundy red, medium clarity, ruby hue Nose: plum, chocolate, cigar, tobacco, black pepper, green herbs, vanilla, dirt, oak Pal: plum, cigar, wet earth, dirt, cigar, tobacco, silver, chocolate, vanilla, green herbs, clove, minerals, oak Feel: medium, full, minerally, acidic Finish: medium, long T8 (could be 9)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2017 Ridge Pagani Ranch is a fun wine to drink. Iodine, perfumed red fruits, and plums. Mother-watering tannins. Let it rest for a couple years and drink anytime over the next decade.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark purple; plum, blackberry jam, licorice, mint, spices; dark berry bramble, good length; blend of 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 2% Mataro; comprised primarily of 100 year-old vines, Ridge has had a bottling since 1991, spends 11 months in American oak only 10% of which is new; $39
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet and 2% Mataro. Brilliant nose of jammy red fruits, peach and baking spices. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Brimming with bright, high toned fruits. Cherries, raspberry liqueur, earth and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. The best young Zinfandel I have had from Pagani Ranch and from Ridge for that matter. Just a stunner. Best over the next 4-6 years.
3/6/2024 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like the Paganis, a bit of a blend, great dark fruit, very pleasant even for an off year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2024 - loj wrote: 88 Points
Smooth tannin integration, excellent carry on the finish
I'm getting a lot of tomato on the nose here and it's carrying through to the palette as well. Not my cup of tea, personally.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2023 - Bjweiss wrote: 92 Points
Excellent and at a perfect age to enjoy right away. Deep black fruits with a chalky minerality and pleasant touches of wood and secondary notes like leather and tobacco. Still enough structure to age gracefully for another decade, but I thought the wine was in a great place to enjoy today.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2023 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 91 Points
Quick decant. Nose of chalky black fruit, damson/sour purple fruit, and black fig. JPalate shows juicy and brambly black fruit and blueberry with notes of dark chocolate and cappuccino. Piercing acidity leads the finish into blueberry pie, dried oregano, and a long sun-baked raisin and oak finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2023 - CavWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect. Smooth, savory, not too much acidity or tannins. Shows what good aging will do - I like the 2020 Pagini Ranch enough but nothing special. Bought this aged from Ridge and what a difference.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2023 - pgb67 wrote: 91 Points
Evolved over time, initially showing a lively acidity and light berry fruits (boysenberry) and transitioning into a richer wine with plum and pipe tobacco characteristics. Well-balanced with a layered pleasant finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2023 - sbern Likes this wine: 92 Points
Austere on opening, but after a short time in the glass was smooth and delicious. Drinking very well right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2023 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Bright crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet and 2% Mataro. Stunning nose of black fruits, baking spices and cocoa. Medium to full bodied with mouth watering acidity. Deep, dark and concentrated. Black cherry, black raspberry, blood orange and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Given the vintage, I would be inclined to drink this wine over the next several years while the gorgeous fruits are still prominent.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2023 - mdkraft99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
P'n'P, really enjoyed this, another great Zin from Ridge - blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, a little graphite and white pepper, maybe a hint of dark chocolate and leather, nice acidity, medium-long finish, excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2022 - daveyk39 wrote: 90 Points
Gave this 1.5h air, but I don't think it needs it anymore. Notes of blackberry, raspberry, potting soil, pepper, green olive and tobacco. Smooth and medium-bodied, with dark fruit, hint of raspberry and licorice and an earthy streak. Perhaps a bit raisin-y in the finish, but still a solid value that paired well with a Christmas cioppino.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2022 - JM_MadTown Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just Poped ‘n poured. This wine is drinking quite nicely now with lots of blackberry fruit, bramble, confiture, raisins, earthiness and good acidity to balance it out. Nice finish too.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2022 - DTK Rockstar Likes this wine: 85 Points
Cali cabs not usually my thing. (Edit so this wasn’t a Cab. Likely due to how late in the night I wrote this note. Thanks to the commenters below for pointing this out. On a note side, seems like I may prefer Cali Zins over Cabs although the sample size remains small. )
This did have the usual jammy notes described below but overall I felt that it was better integrated than others I’ve tried.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
9/18/2022 - BRR wrote:
No formal notes, but an absolutely delicious and enjoyable wine. This is drinking really well now. Not decanted, served in GlassVin stems, consumed with grilled hamburgers, which is a great pairing for this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2022 - klezman wrote:
This was singing and firing on all cylinders. Perfectly balanced, lovely bramble fruit, some earthy notes, and plenty of interest and depth.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - MaineMark Likes this wine: 92 Points
I am not usually a fan of wines that are described as "jammy" but Ridge does this well, with great balance. Jammy and sweet (words that would usually make me give a wine a low 80s score) combined with nice structure and acidity make this lip smacking delicious. Drinking very well now, and no sign of deterioration. Drink now, or hold several more years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice wine. Long sweet finish with dark jammy fruit. Very well balanced as most Ridge Zin's are. Nice mouthfeel on the palate. I would say it is drinking very nicely and has quite a bit to go before any edges appear. Seemed very youthful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2022 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP into a decanter. Nose of pomegranate, iodine, and plum. Plate of Black raspberry, iron ore, blackberry, black pepper, and minerals. Distinct fresh mint note starts the finish, adding black cherry and a l chewy tannins and powerful oak finishing long. Balanced with room to develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2022 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of dark fruit and spices, dark garnet in color. A medium to full bodied red blend with blackberry, black cherry, licorice and spices on long finish, needs a short decant. www.winelx.com
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2021 - cclearningwine wrote: 92 Points
Dark garnet. Dark berries, ripe strawberry, rhubarb and deep, deep warm spices like cardamon and clove. It's medium+ bodied with good tanins. Leathery, rich and delicious on the finish. It's bold with acidity making it delicious on a rainy day, like today, or any day. I'm always bias towards Ridge wines, and Pagani is one of our favorites.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2021 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rich, frothy, Royal purple in color. Full bodied
Jammy blackberry bomb. Some all spice.
Sticky, uncutuous, jammy. Medium finish. Tastes like the nose.
Although youthful, this is still approachable . Decanted and consumed over six hours. Went great with grilled dinner tonight,
Good stuff.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2021 - Ellen5181 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still big but responding well to air.
Appearance - deep minus ruby. Not opaque but...close
Nose - youthful, premature. You get the wood and you get the berries medium intensity. Primary berries. You get the alcohol eye burn. Getting chocolate, cola, Dr Pepper. Mint chocolate chip. Alcohol still dominates on the nose.
Palate - a burst of wow. Still quite young but emerging in flavors. Medium plus intensity, gets bolder mid palate. Finish is medium plus. Body is medium plus, tannins medium plus and after you swallow, they cost the insides of your gums. Wine is dry. Alcohol more integrated on palate than nose. Flavors consistent with nose just mode pronounced and juicy. Berries, pepper finish, taste ripe and pure fruit.
Probably drinking too early but....it was there. Good value for price. Nice blend.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/2/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote: 91 Points
Wonderful balance of tart cherry, strawberry and earth tones with just a touch of spice. Nicely balanced Zin to enjoy with a steak
without being overpowering on its own.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2021 - daveyk39 wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Aromas of plum, cherry, hints of blueberry and fig, chocolate, Aleppo pepper. Creamy texture, opulent cherry and dark fruit on the palate, hints of vanilla and anise in the finish. Firm, chalky tannins frame everything. Enjoyable, still room to evolve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2020 - Ellen5181 wrote: 85 Points
12/31/20. Much better 2nd day wine. Much.
Still youthful and a large wine, but more together, darker fruit, velvety tannins and texture, there is still an abundance of alcohol, but it comes together better on palate. Aside from fruit, getting black licorice, herbal qualities on palate, Italian spice and dill (dry). Dark cherry, black fruits more pronounced. Deep ripe fruit flavors with nice mix of herbal. It needs air at this stage.
————————————
Appearance - medium plus ruby. Clear.
Nose - it’s been open for a couple hours and am pouring through a vinturio. Clean, youthful, alcohol eye burn medium plus. Alcohol has become more prominent with air. Red and black fruits. Very primary fruits the alcohol sting can be a bit overpowering. Some spice basil, bay leaves, dill, and clearly the cinnamon.
Palate - medium plus intensity, you get fruit (fresh, ripe,black and red berry fruit) then burst of acidity, hello, wake you up, berries and some menthol, alcohol is high. Listed at 14.6. You feel it. On finish, which is a POW and then it dies quickly, you oick up the cedar.
It’s too young to drink at the moment. Feels disjointed with lots of potential coming from Different angles but right now each are in competition. With time it will work together.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2020 - WineDoctors Likes this wine: 91 Points
Comfort on pizza night. Definition of jammy. Or grapey
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2020 - vin0vin0 Likes this wine: 89 Points
This Ridge Pagani Ranch zin pours out dark into the glass. The nose is ripe black cherry with a touch of alcohol. There's a lot of black fruit in the mouth with notes of fennel, cranberry and blackberry. The acid is mouth watering and the tannins are fairly tame. Well balanced, smooth and delicious.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2020 - montepulciano man wrote:
Lot of oak on this. Surprising. Maybe integrate better with more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2020 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
Zinfandel cut with other varietals. I like this style, and I like Ridge Zins in general. Not particularly complex, but well balanced and easy to drink.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2020 - ziavino wrote: 90 Points
An unusual (but likable) Zin to me. Odd nose of crabapple that slowly blows off over the course of a few hours but never totally goes away. A skosh of crabapple weaves in on the palate too, joining notes of red cherry and raspberry. Loads of acid, maybe the highest acidity I can recall in a Zin, and fairly tannic as well. Clearly well-made, with great structure, but an odd bird. Might need some time to settle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2020 - Steve & Merri Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great Zin; young, but very nice. Let it breath for an hour. For the price very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2020 - coremill wrote: 90 Points
The nose is all vanillay American oak (even though only 10% new). But the palate shows a delicious, layered, young red-fruited zin, with good concentration and freshness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2020 - westywines Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid, easily drinkable and enjoyable Zin. Was good before dinner and with red sauce pasta and meatballs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2020 - klezman wrote:
Definitely young, but a delicious and balanced Zin. Even with some air it didn't gain as much complexity as hoped, but it's also very young and primary.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2020 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was the first wine of the evening. Great way to start the wine tasting. On the lighter side of the 5 wines served. Bright fruits. Classic Zinfandel.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2020 - BrendanMcS wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Zin. Went great with a bistro burger and truffle fries. Give it plenty of time to open up and then enjoy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2020 - daveyk39 wrote: 92 Points
2020: Top Ten Wines; 1/1/2020-12/31/2020 (Redwood City, CA): Dark purple color. Deeply aromatic, offering cherry and plum, thyme, cut grass and vanilla. Big and robust with great structure from racy acidity and firm fine-grained tannins. Opulent on the palate, with flavors of cherry and dark fruit in equal measure, streaks of vanilla. Probably has room to evolve and for the tannins to mellow, but not sure you want to wait on this one.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2020 - jmull Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fascinating bottle, balancing a ton of ripeness with a sense of dialed-back restraint and real structure. And yet another great 2017 Sonoma Valley zin from an allegedly challenging vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2020 - markymoro Likes this wine: 92 Points
A little tight - should have let it breathe a
longer. A clean, fresh profile of fruit and delicate spice. Nice mouthfeel and finish. Appreciate the care it must take to make such an elegant wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2020 - WetRock wrote:
Pushing the ripeness like this bottling often does but this one stays behind the line for me. That's because the build is terrific. Very good acidic spine. Not much extraction. just classic, ripe Cali Zin. dark expressive. Complex. Goes down easy. Good. That being said, I think they are really pushing the price point with this bottling. I'm not sure it warrants the same class as Geyserville and Lytton. That is likely a function of past demand I admit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/11/2020 - HandmadeHomemade wrote:
Black fruits, breambles, a bit of bloysenberry jam. Young, a bit of herbal stink (good), fruit dominates the nose, little pie crust. Mouth follows. Full body, good tannin that lifts a pretty heavy structure. I think this needs a bit more time to "flesh" out, but it is so enjoyable by itself at the moment.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2020 - HU Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good wine, dark and dense Zinfandel. Smooth drinking. We tasted one and decided to get six more. … Drank one in February 2024. Peak drinking window. Still a 91. I initially wanted to go higher. But there is a slightly bitter and unpleasant taste and a somewhat odd tomato taste, which is a drawback.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - bergkamp10 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice zin, on the bright and fruit forward side. Nice mix of red and blue fruit, raspberry, blue berries with a hint of bitter of chocolate. Mineral finish with edgy tannins. Medium bodied, and quite refined. A little one note, but there's good freshness, drive and purity here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2020 - springdrive wrote:
Jammy blueberry and raspberry, prune, sour cherry. A very bright and richly fruity wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2020 - Jackstraw212 wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied, raspberries, brambles, dark chocolate, minerals, and lavender. Still a little hot, give it another year at least. Nice wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2020 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark, somewhat hidden nose of spice and blue fruit with smoke accents. Peppery purple fruit with an immediate, mouthfilling spice expansion that coats the tongue. Tacky tannins, tar, fruity acidity and then a long earth layer finish with more oak. This one does seem likely to age and gain complexity. 92+ points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2020 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Purple color, jammy nose with black currant, cranberry and dried fruits. Balanced in the initial taste, with the fruit flavors coming on the mid palate and finish. Down the middle of the fairway; curious how this develops and whether any secondary flavors develop through the evening or with future bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2020 - markydecker Likes this wine: 94 Points
The purity of fruit here is amazing. Like a bowl of fresh juicy raspberries. Bright brambly fruit, spice, nice acidity, young and tannic. Petite Sirah in the blend for structure and longevity. Ridge is the benchmark for this genre of wine. Consumed over two evenings, on day two it was going strong.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2020 - affordableCollector wrote: 94 Points
ruby, in color. plum, dark cherry, blueberry, pepper, mineral, forest floor, herbs. plush blue fruit. really loving this wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2020 - daveste Likes this wine: 90 Points
Too young but admirably cheeky. Medium to big fruit and body, not a fruit bomb. Moderate tannin and enough acid to keep a few years. Don’t PNP, air or decant to show well.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2020 - jcassi01 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fragrant Red fruit and plum on the nose and palate. Medium-full richness, great acidity, and medium tannins. Like all Ridge zins, this is can be a food wine or sipping wine. Wonderful.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2020 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
2020 ZAP Trade Tasting, nose of black berry, huckleberry, day old baked black berry pie, and dry forest floor, same on the palate, big body, lovely, rich fruit, mouth filling fruit, needs 2 years to loose soft tannins present today, might earn a higher score, a long, flavorful finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2020 - mrkurtz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots of blueberry, blackberry and less smokiness on the nose. Quite ripe, like fruit preserves. Palate is plump and rich, much less angular than the other Ridge Zinfandels. High toned acid keeps the balance and a moderate finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2020 - PNIELSEN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consumed over two nights. Based on prior reviews, I was expecting a more plush wine that is truly ready to drink. There is density for sure, but in typical Ridge style, it is buttressed by a frame of tannin that I think needs 12-18 months to soften. Great acidity. I will try to keep my hands off my remaining bottles for a bit. A 91 for now, with significant upside potential. Great raw materials here. (91-94)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2019 - fredman wrote: 92 Points
1/2 hour decant. An excellent wine. Made better by its $30.00 price tag. Drink now with confidence or hold for 3-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2019 - srh Likes this wine:
Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 2 *shared* bottles] from 11/15/19 (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: ATTRACTIVE flowers, wild straws, & a berry I can't quite ID; Intensity lurking
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it transitions into a LONG, BALANCED, poss very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with an alluring, burgeoning swtness to the firming, very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos (or a GOOD dose of air... now), then drinking through '25? NICELY done in a style *I'd* describe as claret™, @ least RIGHT now. My EXC, more likely down the line. [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive price.]
™Having tasted the ’13 (2x), ’14 (1x), ’15 (3x), & ’16 (3x) of this, for my palate at least, perhaps as early as ’15 [& most certainly in ’16] this seemed to turn > towards elegance & a < DETECTABLY unctuous, poss even swt style. :) While that “change” has made it into a wine *I* might now purchase, after having tasted the ’17, I overheard 1 taster [MORE experienced with Ridge than I] comment, “Nice, but light for a Zin.” :(
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2019 - BrendanMcS wrote: 92 Points
A great producer of Zinfandel, the Pagani is another solid wine from Ridge. A good amount of plum and black fruit on the nose, the palat is smooth, with some medium acidity and tannins to boot. Good dark fruit here with some black currant. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2019 - GTFreek wrote:
84/7/7/2 Zinfandel/Petite Sirah/Alicante Bouschet/Mataro. 11 months 10% new American oak.
From a cooler site compared to their Zin field blends, 100+ year old vines. More black fruit in this, plum, sour notes, bigger structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2019 - OaktownRush Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fragrant spice, a note I'd call cologne, tobacco, some black fruit -- but spice leads the way here. Pretty angular on the palate now, tannins feel sharper and need to settle in. More black fruit on the palate, maybe a little less complex on the palate than the nose would make you expect.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2019 - jh773 wrote: 92 Points
Sandy clay mustiness straight out of the bottle which quickly settles into mocha, black pepper, capsicum, sweet tobacco, menthol, blackberry cobbler. The palate is quite fruity with rich body, just a touch of acid and smooth tannins. This is very plush, almost sweet throughout. At first I was skeptical of the aging potential, but after an hour of decanting the acid comes out to play and balances the richness quite a bit more.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2019 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 87 Points
Tasted at the winery. 100% zinfandel (I think). This is a part field blend, some vines 125 yo. Fresh, rich fruit, hint of sweetness on the finish. My wife and I were split on this one, she likes the fact that it has lots of up front fruit, I'm not so keen, hence my slightly lower rating.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2019 - Frijole wrote:
deep dark burgundy red, medium clarity, ruby hue
Nose: plum, chocolate, cigar, tobacco, black pepper, green herbs, vanilla, dirt, oak
Pal: plum, cigar, wet earth, dirt, cigar, tobacco, silver, chocolate, vanilla, green herbs, clove, minerals, oak
Feel: medium, full, minerally, acidic
Finish: medium, long
T8 (could be 9)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2019 - jgreco Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2017 Ridge Pagani Ranch is a fun wine to drink. Iodine, perfumed red fruits, and plums. Mother-watering tannins. Let it rest for a couple years and drink anytime over the next decade.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2019 - ashikoh Likes this wine: 92 Points
dark purple; plum, blackberry jam, licorice, mint, spices; dark berry bramble, good length; blend of 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet, 2% Mataro; comprised primarily of 100 year-old vines, Ridge has had a bottling since 1991, spends 11 months in American oak only 10% of which is new; $39
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2019 - tomlee wrote: 96 Points
Purple in color. 14.6% ABV. 84% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah, 7% Alicante Bouschet and 2% Mataro. Brilliant nose of jammy red fruits, peach and baking spices. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Brimming with bright, high toned fruits. Cherries, raspberry liqueur, earth and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. The best young Zinfandel I have had from Pagani Ranch and from Ridge for that matter. Just a stunner. Best over the next 4-6 years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)