1973 Ridge Geyserville

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 93.2 points

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  2/16/2024 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 95 Points

  Now this.....was really special!   I know that the 1973 is said to be Paul Drapers favorite Geyserville vintage so my expectations were fairly high, and I'm happy to report that the wine did not disappoint.  The cork was saturated to the top but no seepage, and it poured a dark maroon color with some bricking at the edges and a lovely nose of cinnamon,  violets, red fruits and a hint of carmel (in a good way).  On the palate this is fresh and lively with Deep dark black fruits, baking spice, and a little bit of leather which is all lifted by the acidity creating a medium bodied mouthfeel and a long, finish filled with cherries, a hint of dark chocolate and amaretto.  It's still evolving on my palate for a good 30 seconds after each sip, and continues to open up and improve in the glass.  Wow.  A legendary wine that is worthy of its reputation.  I was lucky enough to grab 5 of these at auction recently for what I felt was a great price, and this first bottle had by far the lowest fill out of all of them.  Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to the rest, because if they somehow manage to show better than this one did, I'll be in for one helluva ride!

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  6/28/2016 - mike l. Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Terrific concentration and depth while remaining soft and tamed from the bottle age.

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  3/17/2014 - cooberp wrote: 91 Points

  Started out very stewed/roasted smelling; I suspected heat damage. But with an hour of air this cleaned up into a very surprising drink. Blind, I'd have thought this was Northern Rhone for its peppercorn and meaty character and very dark fruit, though with a little California sweetness. Very fresh and medium bodied.

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  10/23/2013 - dream Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Dinner With Paul Draper in NYC - older vintages of Ridge (Cafe Boulud): Of all the wonderful Ridge wines we drank tonight, this was the most amazing. A 40-year old Zinfandel?? I would've never believed it but the wine was so perfectly balanced and still with plenty of richness although the red fruit flavors while ripe are softened by age. The finish is quite complex with lovely notes of red spices and soft red earth. It was paired with a wild mushroom risotto with foie gras and cripsy duck prosciutto which was a marvelous food/wine combination. One of the most remarkable and shocking wines I've ever tasted.

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