Surprised to find this as fresh as it was. The 14.9% abv is a little high for me but it may have helped it hold. Rich; dark red fruit; moderately lingering. A little more complexity than I expected. Overall, a really nice 24 y/o zin. If properly cellared it may last a few more years (one bottle left, so I'll see).
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I decided to decanted and it was the right choice. I thought it might be over the hill but it was great. Slight sulphur note on the nose. Well structured but medium bodies thanks to the syrah. This bottle was very well cellared or it would not have tasted as well.
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I decided not to decant, but should have. Eventually showed some nice red fruit and surprising depth. Very nice finish. The 2007 tasting window was way off at least for this bottle.
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Saturday, June 25, 2005 Zinging Evening of Zin and Sin All wines but for the Ridge Ponzo were consumed single blind at dinner. Hendry Zinfandel Napa 2001 14 Months in French oak (only 35% is new). Definitely young and needing time. More rustic than the others and somewhat bigger. Comments by others: young and good; best/winner; okay; acidic and charcoal (interesting how some liked it and some didn’t!) 15.4% alc. Ridge York Creek Zinfandel ‘98 88% Zin, 12% Petite Sirah. 12 month in new, 1yr, and 4yr old American oak. Comments by others: fruity, not hot; good; rosemary and cherry; cherry and leather. 14.9% alc. Ridge York Creek Zinfandel Late Picked 2000 75% Zin, 25% Petite Sirah. American oak, but don’t know the breakdown. Rich and sweet, yet a tad green something hanging in there. Comments by others: hotter than (Villa App.), pepper; strong; meaty; banana. (Despite some sentiment against this wine, it was one of the first bottles emptied.) 15.8% alc. Ridge Ponzo Zinfandel Russian River Valley 2003 Opened after dinner; not one of the five with dinner. 85% Zin, 14% Petite Sirah, 1% Carignane. 12 months in New American oak. Big juicy and chewy. Loads of bramble berry, vanilla, toast, leather. This will go the distance. Do not touch until ‘08 or ‘09. 13.5% alc. St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma 1999 15 months in new American oak. Comments by others: mellows with air time; ’no go’; poison ivy and tart. This is the wine least liked by the crowd. Half of the bottle remained at the end of the evening .... or whenever it was uncovered. 15.1% alc. Villa Appalaccia Primitivo (Va.)2001 My notes from prior data points instructed that this be held until at least June of this year. My thinking was that this would plump up and be hitting its stride about now. Suspicions confirmed. Spice, pepper and cedar. But a tad bit thinner bodied than the other wines. A hint of pine resin. More old world than the other wines. Maybe a hint of RS, but if so, only a touch. Comments by others: wax, great zin (Stephanie’s fav); bitter; mint, rosemary; walnut, very good, 13% alc. Smoked pulled pork with tangy molasses BBQ sauce. Sides of Emeril’s horseradish coleslaw, chili-cheese corn, roasted potatoes, sugar snap peas. 6.25.05.
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8/5/2022 - jgh123 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Surprised to find this as fresh as it was. The 14.9% abv is a little high for me but it may have helped it hold. Rich; dark red fruit; moderately lingering. A little more complexity than I expected. Overall, a really nice 24 y/o zin. If properly cellared it may last a few more years (one bottle left, so I'll see).
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2/7/2012 - mattkc wrote: 92 Points
I decided to decanted and it was the right choice. I thought it might be over the hill but it was great. Slight sulphur note on the nose. Well structured but medium bodies thanks to the syrah. This bottle was very well cellared or it would not have tasted as well.
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9/11/2009 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 90 Points
I decided not to decant, but should have. Eventually showed some nice red fruit and surprising depth. Very nice finish. The 2007 tasting window was way off at least for this bottle.
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11/19/2006 - buckeye76 wrote: 88 Points
DRIED FRUITS AND SPICE IN THE NOSE. BLACK CHERRIES AND SPICE IN THE FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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11/19/2006 - tmay wrote: 88 Points
Dark berry, leather. Lot's of body, balanced.
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6/25/2005 - timewithwine wrote:
Saturday, June 25, 2005 Zinging Evening of Zin and Sin All wines but for the Ridge Ponzo were consumed single blind at dinner. Hendry Zinfandel Napa 2001 14 Months in French oak (only 35% is new). Definitely young and needing time. More rustic than the others and somewhat bigger. Comments by others: young and good; best/winner; okay; acidic and charcoal (interesting how some liked it and some didn’t!) 15.4% alc. Ridge York Creek Zinfandel ‘98 88% Zin, 12% Petite Sirah. 12 month in new, 1yr, and 4yr old American oak. Comments by others: fruity, not hot; good; rosemary and cherry; cherry and leather. 14.9% alc. Ridge York Creek Zinfandel Late Picked 2000 75% Zin, 25% Petite Sirah. American oak, but don’t know the breakdown. Rich and sweet, yet a tad green something hanging in there. Comments by others: hotter than (Villa App.), pepper; strong; meaty; banana. (Despite some sentiment against this wine, it was one of the first bottles emptied.) 15.8% alc. Ridge Ponzo Zinfandel Russian River Valley 2003 Opened after dinner; not one of the five with dinner. 85% Zin, 14% Petite Sirah, 1% Carignane. 12 months in New American oak. Big juicy and chewy. Loads of bramble berry, vanilla, toast, leather. This will go the distance. Do not touch until ‘08 or ‘09. 13.5% alc. St. Francis Old Vines Zinfandel Sonoma 1999 15 months in new American oak. Comments by others: mellows with air time; ’no go’; poison ivy and tart. This is the wine least liked by the crowd. Half of the bottle remained at the end of the evening .... or whenever it was uncovered. 15.1% alc. Villa Appalaccia Primitivo (Va.)2001 My notes from prior data points instructed that this be held until at least June of this year. My thinking was that this would plump up and be hitting its stride about now. Suspicions confirmed. Spice, pepper and cedar. But a tad bit thinner bodied than the other wines. A hint of pine resin. More old world than the other wines. Maybe a hint of RS, but if so, only a touch. Comments by others: wax, great zin (Stephanie’s fav); bitter; mint, rosemary; walnut, very good, 13% alc. Smoked pulled pork with tangy molasses BBQ sauce. Sides of Emeril’s horseradish coleslaw, chili-cheese corn, roasted potatoes, sugar snap peas. 6.25.05.
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6/2/2004 - veniceslug1 wrote: 88 Points
Spice vanilla & blackberry. Slight sulphur note. Some oak on the finish. Very nice for a '98
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9/1/2000 - Oberhau wrote: 80 Points
Well-structured, medium bodied, ok
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