Tried these two last night:
1. RabbitRidge Zin DryCreekVlly (13.8%) EricRussell/Healdsburg 1992: Med.color w/ some browning; some pencilly/cedary/oldZin light spicy/raspberry/Zin attractive oldZin nose; lightly tart rather pencilly/cedary/cigar box/oldZin light spicy/raspberry/Zin light pencilly/oak flavor w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; med.long rather cedary/pencilly/oldZin light spicy/raspberry/Zin light toasty/oak some complex finish w/ light smooth tannins; a quite pleasant example of old DryCreekVlly Zin that still has fruit but fading into the sunset.
______________
2. Ridge Zin Jimsomare/SantaCruzMtns/Calif (13.1%; 21 brls; Bttld: May 93; Hrvstd: Late Oct; 16 mo in Am.oak; Drk: 4/93-4/98: PD) 1991: Med.color w/ light bricking; strong Am.oak/vanilla bright raspberry/blackberry/Zin/very spicy rather dusty/OV quite complex nose; lightly tart rather dusty/OV/bit earthy fairly pencilly/vanilla/Am.oak rather spicy/raspberry/bright Zin complex oldZin flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long/lingering rather spicy/raspberry/Zin some earthy/dusty/OV some vanilla/Am.oak/pencilly finish w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; still very much alive & plenty of bright fruit 20 yrs out beyond its drink point.
_____________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. EricRussell: Back in the late-'80's, he was making a lot of pretty good/reasonably priced reds. He was partners w/ SusieSelby than and, I believe, got her into the winemaking business. He got run out of town on a rail for some pretty egregious violations of zoning ordinaces as he expanded his wnry w/o the proper permits. He relocated to Paso in 2001 where he continues to focus on value wines. He also produces under the RussellFamily label as well. I've not tasted much of his Paso wines.
______________
2. Tried both wines again this afternoon after sitting out on the counter overnight. The RabbitRidge was starting to show a bit tired, but the Ridge was still in lovely shape.
Tom