Tried these two Zins last night:
- Ridge Zin EastBEnch/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (15.4%; 92% Zin/8% PetiteSirah; bttld Dec 08; 2’nd vintage; Drk: 8/08-8/13-8/15: JO) 2007: Med.dark color w/ slight bricking; slightly volatile fairly strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/bit spicy slight earthy some smokey/vanilla/Am.oak attractive nose w/ little signs of old age; bit soft somewhat low-key/quiet blackberry/raspberry/Zin bit earthy modest vanilla/Am.oak/smokey rather smooth/velvety bit complex flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long lightly earthy some blackberry/raspberry/spicy Zin some smokay/oak finish w/ light tannins; still in reasonably good shape w/ little signs of tired/drying out but a bit muted & not the fresh brightness you usually find in EastBench.
- Ridge Geyserville SonomaCnty/Calif (58% Zin/22% Carignane/18% PetiteSirah/2% Mataro; 14.4%; bttld Jan 2009; Drk: 10/08-10/18-10/20: EB) 2007: Very dark color w/ little bricking; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/rather spicy bit black cherry/Carignane modest pencilly/cedary/smokey/Am.oak rather dusty/OV quite complex beautiful mature Geyserville nose; lightly tart/tangy very strong blackberry/very spicy/Zin/cherry/Carignane modest smokey/pencilly/oak rather dusty/OV fairly complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering lightly tart fairly smooth/round/elegant strong blackberry/Zin/very sicy/cherry/Carignane quite spicy rather complex finish w/ light smooth tannins;a lovely fully mature Geyserville probably at its peak and will quietly fade into the sunset over the next 5 yrs.
A wee BloodyPulpit:
- The Geyserville was a lovely example of a mature Geezer. It’s lost perhaps a bit of fruit intensity, the tannins are fully resolved, and I don’t see it getting a whole lot better from here on out.
Tom