My latest Ridge ATP arrived Fri, so pobega'd this weekend:
1. Ridge Zin Boatman SonomaCnty (96% Zin/4% PS; 14.5%; bttld 12/2015; First release; Plntd: early 1980's; Jake's/
WaterTank/Wiley'sTerrace blcks; Drk: 9/15-9/20-9/21: JO; 6.5% water addition, tarttaric acid) 2014: Very dark color; strong blackberry/boysenberry/fairly ripe/Zin/some spicy light Am.oak nose; somewhat tart/tangy/lean strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/Zin/lightly spicy light vanilla/Am.oak slight dusty/earthy fairly ripe but not alcoholic flavor w/ modest tangy/angular tannins; very long bit tart/tangy/lean strong ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/lightly spicy light earthy/loamy light vanilla/Am.oak finish w/ modest sharp tannins; needs several yrs yet to soften a bit; fairly tart & structured; reminds a bit of the HookerCreek w/o the strong dusty/OV signature; a quite pleasant Ridge Zin. $32.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Zin Carmichael AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (82% Zin/18% PS; 14.2%; 52 brls; bttld 2/2016; Drk: 11/15-11/20-11/21: EB; tartaric acid) 2014: Med.dark color; very strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/quite spicy bit dusty/OV light peppery very light pencilly/Am.oak slight complex nose; bit soft ripe/blackberry/raspberry/spicy slight tangy/metallic some pencilly/Am.oak flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long spicy/raspberry/blackberry/Zin/rather spicy bit soft lish/ripe light Am.oak/pencilly slight earthy/loamy finish w/ light smooth/ripe tannins; a step above Boatman and about the level of the HookerCreek; an attractive/pretty classic/quotidian/straightforward Ridge Zin. $32.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Boatman is a new vnyd for Ridge and this '14 is their first release. It is located between their LyttonSprings and Geyserville vnyds, on the western side of the AlexVlly. The wine was not particularly distinctive from other Ridge ATP Zins. The 6.5% water addition is one of the largest I've seen for a Ridge Zin, indicating that the grapes came in a bit on the overripe side. Yet the wine didn't seem particularly overripe.
The Carmichael vnyd is right next to their Geyserville property, in the western AlexVlly. I've had a couple of Carmichael's that I thought were of the level of LyttonSprings/Pagani. This one fell a little short of that.
I slightly preferred the Carmichael to the Boatman. These were both good/solid/classic Ridge Zins, but not particularly distinctive one from the other. Neither one was sufficiently compelling to make me want to buy additional btls. That said, these two Zins left me just a little wanting for more. A little more depth & extraction, a little more distinctiveness. The Carlisle Papera over on the sideboard chirping out "Drink me/drink me" was very/very tempting...but I refrained. I have little doubt that these two will develop into more compelling Zins and show more distinctiveness. But, for now, these are good Ridge Zins but just that. I almost never get that reaction when I drink a young Carlisle or Bedrock. Is Ridge losing it?? Nope, I don't think so. There still among the best Zins in Calif. Still...I just wish for a little more.
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2. I see from the Ridge WebSite that they have a new Zin w/ the 2015 vintage...the BlasiVnyd. Located on the old RanchoSotyome grant in the ChalkHill AVA East of Windsor. Looking forward to trying it. Not yet released.
Tom