WTN: What a difference a decade makes (Ravenswood Gregory)

2000 Ravenswood Red Table Wine Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (11/29/2010)
What a difference a decade makes. This cab/merlot blend from the winery whose motto was and is, "No wimpy wines" clocks in at 13.2% alcohol, which seems almost quaint today. This is not in the model of the opulent cassis-drenched cabernet, but a redder, more herbal, and tremendously satisfying mouthful. The tannins are truly silky, there is sufficient acidity to pair with a range of food, and the complexity is adequate for a wine of this age. The whole package is really impressive. Very Good+.


Posted from CellarTracker

I realize I have failed to mention that this library release is $50. Per case. See your local Grocery Outlet today!

[David M. Bueker]

I liked the Gregory vineyard wines in the '90s. Sadly they fell off my radar when Ravenswood got religion about not shipping. I've never gone back.

I realize I have failed to mention that this library release is $50. Per case. See your local Grocery Outlet today!

Whoa! I'll stop by the local Outlet tomorrow!

David, they stopped making wines from there in 2003, so you didn't miss many vintages. This is the first I've come across. A quick googling didn't turn up anything from that vineyard, so it might have succumbed to phylloxera or been bought.

Mike, I don't think you'll be sorry if you pick up a bottle to try. They also had the 2007 Sonoma Cty. Chardonnay for $6. The carignane is decent, but I didn't care for the Sonoma Zin. Maybe there will be others, please report back.

While I'm rambling about the G.O., I tried the 1992 Renaissance Late Harvest Riesling, after having tremendous luck with their botrytized sauvignon blanc. The second time is not a charm, as the sulphur practically choked me.

Walt

Picked up a few bottles of that Gregory on the way home and it is exactly as you say, Walt. (I popped one open for dinner with my wife as soon as I got it back home.) Quite a nice bottle of wine irrespective of the price. It struck me as a little flat on opening but picked up complexity and balance as it sat. By the end of the bottle, I was sorely tempted to open another.

Also grabbed a bottle of the '07 Ramsay cab, a bottle of a South African chenin and an Australian botrytized sauv blanc. I'll see if we can roll any other sevens at GO....