This is drinking really nice right now. Bought from a reputable source in the last few years. Stored at 55 degrees. Heavy, heavy mocha after 30 or 40 minutes and continued to develop over the night. Really luxurious and velvety.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bricking at the edge of this dark garnet wine. Mocha and cherry flavors, though not as deep as the color indicates. Balanced in flavors but there is a too-sweet finish that lingers on the palate. Similar to a vintage port, without the pleasing complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finally opened this bottle and it's still doing quite well after 14 years. Nose was super sweet - almost felt like a sticky-sweet pinot. Lots of fruit on the nose. Palate was OK. I'm personally not a big fan of zinfandel, but this wine was good. Will be interesting to see how it fares after a day in the bottle.
Day two. Wine seemed to become more zinfandel-like. Still holding up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened 4 hours before service. Poured an initial taste and it was real hot and sharp. After the air time it really blossomed. We served it with Braised Flannery Short Ribs and Port Reduction. I thought it was a perfect match with the sweet port reduction. Nose was fruity and intense. In the mouth it was big, jammy, sweet, viscous and luscious. The heat was there but as masked by the wonderful fruit. Was hesitant to serve a 750 of late harvest with an entrée but found us all tipping an empty bottle looking for more. Might have used a touch of spice in the meal to counter the sweetness but in the end it didn't matter. So glad I opened this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pure jam on the nose, raspberry and blackberry. More of the same jam on the palate, but it is amazingly light in body for the alcohol and sweet jammy fruit. Very nimble. The finish is very baking spicey, mulled jammy cider-like, and shows a touch of heat. Very interesting stuff, probably much beefier and more port like in its youth, but interesting and probably more dinner friendly now. I agree, asian beef dishes would do well here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Shockingly sweet, but nice acid. Still some youth. Nice flavors of oak (vanilla), but well in balance with the fruit. Blackberry fruit is still strong. Would be good with kung pao beef.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big jammy fruit dominate with primary overtones of raspberry and hints of strawberry. Surprising tannins appear across the mid palate and the wine has a long spicy finish. It's not too sweet nor syrupy as previous reviewer noted.
Day 2: I simply re-corked the bottle and left it on the counter overnight. WOW! This is so much better The fruit is moderated a bit bringing things much more in balance, the tannins are velvety smooth and that long spicy finish goes for a good 30-40 seconds. Originally rated this an 89, now giving it a 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lytton Springs Offline (RJs, London): Concentrated nose, almost a little synthtic - 'essence of late harvest Zin'. Sweet but not overly so on the palate. Pleasant and far nicer than the half of 2003 Ridge Essence I took to the Clos des Papes/St John offline fairly recently. Reminded me a bit of a Recioto Valpolicella. Good. With cheese maybe? ***
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very disappointing bottle. Know that late harvest is supposed to be very fruity but this wine was neither fish nor fowl. It was almost syrupy and tasted like a cheap "port". None of the good qualities of either Zin or port were present just an overripe, heavy syrupy wine. The second bottle is relegated to cooking wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/20/2020 - Kloseframe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is drinking really nice right now. Bought from a reputable source in the last few years. Stored at 55 degrees. Heavy, heavy mocha after 30 or 40 minutes and continued to develop over the night. Really luxurious and velvety.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2015 - Lipsman wrote: 88 Points
Bricking at the edge of this dark garnet wine. Mocha and cherry flavors, though not as deep as the color indicates. Balanced in flavors but there is a too-sweet finish that lingers on the palate. Similar to a vintage port, without the pleasing complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2014 - wythes Likes this wine: 89 Points
Finally opened this bottle and it's still doing quite well after 14 years. Nose was super sweet - almost felt like a sticky-sweet pinot. Lots of fruit on the nose. Palate was OK. I'm personally not a big fan of zinfandel, but this wine was good. Will be interesting to see how it fares after a day in the bottle.
Day two. Wine seemed to become more zinfandel-like. Still holding up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2014 - CT2012 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking great now, decanted for 3+ hours
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2011 - River Rat wrote: 91 Points
Opened 4 hours before service. Poured an initial taste and it was real hot and sharp. After the air time it really blossomed. We served it with Braised Flannery Short Ribs and Port Reduction.
I thought it was a perfect match with the sweet port reduction. Nose was fruity and intense. In the mouth it was big, jammy, sweet, viscous and luscious. The heat was there but as masked by the wonderful fruit. Was hesitant to serve a 750 of late harvest with an entrée but found us all tipping an empty bottle looking for more. Might have used a touch of spice in the meal to counter the sweetness but in the end it didn't matter. So glad I opened this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2011 - BradboBaggins wrote:
Pure jam on the nose, raspberry and blackberry. More of the same jam on the palate, but it is amazingly light in body for the alcohol and sweet jammy fruit. Very nimble. The finish is very baking spicey, mulled jammy cider-like, and shows a touch of heat. Very interesting stuff, probably much beefier and more port like in its youth, but interesting and probably more dinner friendly now. I agree, asian beef dishes would do well here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2009 - veniceslug1 wrote: 89 Points
Shockingly sweet, but nice acid. Still some youth. Nice flavors of oak (vanilla), but well in balance with the fruit. Blackberry fruit is still strong. Would be good with kung pao beef.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2009 - RossR wrote: 92 Points
Big jammy fruit dominate with primary overtones of raspberry and hints of strawberry. Surprising tannins appear across the mid palate and the wine has a long spicy finish. It's not too sweet nor syrupy as previous reviewer noted.
Day 2: I simply re-corked the bottle and left it on the counter overnight. WOW! This is so much better The fruit is moderated a bit bringing things much more in balance, the tannins are velvety smooth and that long spicy finish goes for a good 30-40 seconds. Originally rated this an 89, now giving it a 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2008 - SimonG wrote:
Lytton Springs Offline (RJs, London): Concentrated nose, almost a little synthtic - 'essence of late harvest Zin'. Sweet but not overly so on the palate. Pleasant and far nicer than the half of 2003 Ridge Essence I took to the Clos des Papes/St John offline fairly recently. Reminded me a bit of a Recioto Valpolicella. Good. With cheese maybe? ***
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2008 - mellison wrote: 85 Points
Very disappointing bottle. Know that late harvest is supposed to be very fruity but this wine was neither fish nor fowl. It was almost syrupy and tasted like a cheap "port". None of the good qualities of either Zin or port were present just an overripe, heavy syrupy wine. The second bottle is relegated to cooking wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2006 - Colima74 wrote:
To Frank's for Zin tasting, 9/9/06...notes to follow
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2002 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Sweet jammy nose. Raisiny. Very light sweetness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment