WTN: 1999 Ridge Geyserville

1999 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County (2/8/2009)

Decanted off some sediment.

Primarily a muted red fruit profile with coconut/toasty oak aromas. Straight forward with not a lot of complexity and a bit short on structure. OK wine, but not the most stunning Geyserville I've ever tasted. Last tasted this 2 years ago and essentially had the same impressions. I thought some additional time in the cellar might help, but now I really don't see much of an upside here, and will drink up my remaining bottles by the end of 2009. Expectations have been lowered.

Interesting. I haven't had the 1999 vintage but a couple of us on another forum were impressed with the 2000 Geyserville.

1999 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County (2/8/2009)

Decanted off some sediment.

Primarily a muted red fruit profile with coconut/toasty oak aromas. Straight forward with not a lot of complexity and a bit short on structure. OK wine, but not the most stunning Geyserville I've ever tasted. Last tasted this 2 years ago and essentially had the same impressions. I thought some additional time in the cellar might help, but now I really don't see much of an upside here, and will drink up my remaining bottles by the end of 2009. Expectations have been lowered.

Coincidentally, last night I opened an '00 Lytton Springs with much the same reaction. Looking back at my notes, I found this that I'd written about the '99 Geezer last June:

1999 Ridge Geyserville
nose: oak, berries, minerals
palate: soft, slightly oaky, Zin berry fruit

Not as impressive as most of my previous Geyserville experiences have been. Is it different or am I? This wine had less structure than I expect from a Ridge "Zin" but did have the rich, fruity character that I expect, especially from Geyserville. Still a fine wine, and surprisingly good with the paella.

Mark Lipton

Interesting. I haven't had the 1999 vintage but a couple of us on another forum were impressed with the 2000 Geyserville.

JC-
There are a couple of the 2000 Geezers in the pit. Sounds like a good time to try one.
'Winger

Mark-

Sounds like we were channeling each other on the ' 99 Geezer. Sorry about the 2000 LS, but if it is any consolation, the 1999 Lytton Springs was a delightful bottle of wine when I tasted it last year.

Bill

Thanks for the note. I have a bottle of the 1999 Geyserville and a few other Lytton Springs and Geyservilles waiting for me when I return to California for good, hopefully this summer. Ironically, while I've lived in the Cupertino area for years, I didn't get into Ridge until I lived in Japan. But haven't seen any in China so far, other than in a nice little cafe in Yangshuo.

Mark-

Sounds like we were channeling each other on the ' 99 Geezer. Sorry about the 2000 LS, but if it is any consolation, the 1999 Lytton Springs was a delightful bottle of wine when I tasted it last year.

Bill

Resurrection in a bottle, Bill. I'm a believer again! Last night, I revisited the '00 LS from the previous night and it was a completely different wine: tarry, intensely fruity and structured, no mint in sight. Crazy, wacky stuff, but I'm keeping my hands off the rest for another couple of years.

Mark Lipton