This is usually released in January, but the '08 must be gone, so they must have pushed forward the release date. W/ Susan's meatballs & spaghetti:
1. Ridge Calif SonomaCnty ThreeVllys (70% Zin/10% PS/15% Carignane/2% Mataro; 14.1%; Bttld: Sept 2010; Drk: 7/10-7/13-7/15: EB) 2009: Dark color; strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/spicy/slight peppery some vanilla/Am.oak/buttery slight pungent attractive nose; somewhat tart rather vanilla/Am.oak/buttery slightly tannic spicy/blackberry/Zin pleasant bit simple flavor; fairly long rather vanilla/Am.oak/buttery fairly spicy/blackberry/Zin slight DrPepper/RCCola finish w/ biit of a tannic bite; needs 6 mo. to a year to settle down; seems a bit tighter and more simple than the '07-'08 were upon release, but should probably measure up to those after some time in btl; seems much more buttery/Am.oak than before; fairly priced at $23.00 but probably available for <$20 if you look around.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Spied this on the shelf at retail ystrday and a bit surprised it was out already, but knew I should try it.
This is Ridge's restaurant Zin. When the started making the 3Vllys back in the early '00's, I found it rather quotidian and simple. And, of course, gave DonnReisen a raft of $hit about it. But they must have been listening, because the when the '07 came out, I was rather impressed by it, like most of the Ridge '07's. It matured into a really lovely wine, as good, maybe better, than some of their ATP Zins. The '08 effort was right up there w/ the '07.
This '09 effort seems a bit weaker than the '07/'08 pair, but certainly better than those early ones. It had much more buttery/Am.oak and seemed a bit simpler than the last two. But it was only bttld a month ago, so it may need a few months to come back together. So...bottom line...jury is still out on the '09 right now and will revisit early next year.
Tom