Ridge Monte Bello Estate 2018 Jimsomare Zinfandel

WINE TALK
1

Got his offer from Ridge today. I haven’t tried this before but price is good and user reviews of past releases seem good so went in for a few bottles:

RARE ZIN FROM MONTE BELLO ESTATE
2018 Jimsomare Zinfandel
In years where the weather conditions are just right, we produce a small bottling of zinfandel from the nineteenth century vines at the Jimsomare Ranch on our Monte Bello Estate. This small parcel of low-yielding old zinfandel vines allows us to produce just 10-15 barrels in vintages that merit a Jimsomare bottling. The 2018 growing season produced a rich, intense Jimsomare with complex mountain fruit and firm acidity that will continue to evolve over the next fifteen years.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
“Opaque purple color with nose of baked cherry cobbler, ripe plum, crushed rock and exotic oak spices. Rich and full-bodied with dark bramble fruit and lively acidity.”

2

Speaking of which, because I have a couple of bottles of the 1973, what is the deal with Ridge Monte Bello Zinfandel?

3

Yup, Clayton…most of those old MonteBello Zins came from the lower Jimsomare vnyd, sometimes some from PichettiRanch. There used to be old Zin on the upper MonteBello
ranches, but I think those are pretty much replaced by Bdx varieties now. I would guess your '73 MB Zins are starting to fade, if not dead, as '73 was not a particularly strong vintage for Ridge.
But, of course, I could be wrong. Try one & let us know.
The Jimsomare Zin is a no-brainer purchase for me when they make one. Just bought a hlf-case of this '18 version.
Tom

4

If my cellar wasn’t already bursting, I would jump on this.

5

Thanks for the heads up, I ended up getting 3 of the 2018 Jimsomare Zinfandel, and added a 2018 Klein Cabernet Sauvignon. I’ve not had either before, but feel Ridge is always a quality purchase. Might end up opening one of Zins up in the next few weeks, to see if I want to go back in for a few more.

6

Well, Chris…expect, because it was only 14 brls, these will sell out pretty fast. I usually go long on the Jimsomare because I know I can
always find a home for the excess.
Tom

7

One of the Zins I purchase every year.

8

Thanks guys for the heads up Tom about the likely brisk sell-out! Mike–I’ve read a ton of your tasting notes, and if it’s a buy for you, yearly, it should be pretty good!

9

I think the MBs were always a blend of the two. What I’ve seen of that era the designations went back and forth, so some years had the two SVDs and some had a MB.

We did an extensive vertical of these five or so years ago, with Dave Tong hosting. Attendees included Rich Gibbons and Richard Jennings. Fantastic stuff.