With my Z-List arrival last week, couldn't resist cracking the new '16's. So pulled the '14's & shared w/ Laura ystrday:
1. Ridge Zin Ponzo/RRV/SonomaCnty (96% Zin/4% PetiteSirah; 14.6%; bttld 12/15; Drk: 8/15-8/20-8/21: JO; calcium carbonate Healdsburg 2014: Dark color; strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy bit graphite light earthy light Am.oak quite attractive nose; lightly tart bit herbal/thyme dusty/OV very strong blackberry/Zin/boysenberry very light Am.oak bit complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy/boysenberry some dusty/OV light Am.oak finish w/ light gentle tannins; shows less Ridge winemaking and more complex fruit for a Ponzo.
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2. Ridge Zin PonzoVnyd/RRV/SonomaCnty (14.7%; 3% PetiteSirah; bttld 08/17; Old Vines & Triangle blocks +
Young Vines; Drk: 6/17: JO) Healdsburg 2016: Very dark color; more vanilla/Am.oak/Ridgey less intense blackberry/Zin/bit spicy more subtle/restrained quite attractive nose; less tart/softer bit tight/closed some blackberry/Zin/lightly spicy strong vanilla/Am.oak less dusty/OV more balanced/smooth more Ridgey flavor w/ modest bit tangy tannins; very long stronger Am.oak/vanilla some blackberry/Zin/lightly spicy light dusty/OV finish w/ modest bitey tannins; quite an attractive Ponzo that needs at least a yr yet. $31.50 (Z-List)
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3. Ridge LyttonSprings DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (69% Zin/18% PetiteSirah/11% Carignane/2% Mataro; 14.4%;
bttld Jan 2016; Drk: 9/15-9/25: JO) Healdsburg 2014: Very dark color; quite perfumey very spicy/Zin/raspberry/blackberry/high-toned/bright light vanilla/Am.oak rather dusty/OV some complex lovely classic LS nose; rather tart/tangy very spicy/Zin/raspberry/bright fairly dusty/OV light Am.oak/vanilla bit complex flavor w/ modest slightly tangy tannins; very long very spicy/Zin/raspberry/blackberry some Am.oak fairly dusty/OV complex finish w/ some tannins; a pretty classic LS Zin that's only going to get better.
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4. Ridge LyttonSprings DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (69% Zin/23% PetiteSirah/6% Carignane/2% Mataro; 14.4%;
bttld Dec 2017; Drk: 8/17-8/27: JO; tartaric acid. 0.3% water addition) 2016: Very dark color; bit more vanilla/Am.oak very spicy/bright/raspberry deeper more blackberry/riper classic DCV Zin fairly dusty/OV bit more pungent/licorice/deeper quite foreward some complex very fragrant/perfumed nose; bit softer/rounder/riper some tart/tangy fairly smooth/rich/lush strong raspberry/blackberry/DCV Zin quite spicy light smokey/vanilla/Am.oak some dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ modest brisk/tangy tannins; very long/lingering strong raspberry/blackberry/DCV Zin/very spicy light smokey/Am.oak somewhat complex finish w/ modest tangy tannins; a bit more structured than the '14 but rather forward/approachable for a young LS; a lovely classic LS w/ the spiciness you always get from LS. $39.60 (Z-List)
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More spargschitzel from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Ponzo: Of the vnyd-designate Zins that Ridge makes for national distribution, I've always found the Ponzo to be the weakest and least distinctive of the lot. But that seems to be changing and the last few Ponzos I've had have been quite good. Not at the level of Pagani/LyttonSprings/Geyserville/Jimsomare...but getting closer. Of these two, I much preferred the '14 as having more spicy fruit and being less Ridgey.
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2. Lytton: Both of these were classic/lovely LS Zins w/ loads of high-toned/bright DCV Zin spiciness. I slightly preferred the '16 for its greater complexity and deeper fruit. You wouldn't throw either one of these outta bed.
Tom