WTN: 2007 Ridge Geyserville

Against my proclamation that I wouldn’t open one until 2012, and there are several witnesses, ...I opened one. There is fruit but is way overshadowed by massive, numerous tannins. Even after 5 hours of decant time it didn't open much to reveal what I hope it is to become.

[Jenise]

What a difference from one I opened about a year ago. Mine showed almost alarmingly sappy fruit. Though I realize yours didn't provide you with a great experience, I'm almost a little relieved to hear that it has that mood, too.

I should have elaborated more. I opened one, several, in the late summer of 2009 and found, as you describe, sappy fruit. I was disappointed as I thought the 2006 drank so much better than the 2007 which was touted as a much better wine. I have little experience with Geyserville and maybe it's a phase. I guess the positive side is I have a 1 1/2 cases left.

Drew

[Jenise]

Well, I know Draper said that his 07 is one of his maybe top three vintages ever of the Geeze, and I would trust him on that (or to put it another way, he BETTER be right)--but at the same time, I know I wasn't smitten with my 07 the way I was with that 06 we discussed a few weeks ago.

Have a look at this classic and scroll down too! Dinner at Julia`s with Paul Draper as guest.

http://blog.ridgewine.com/2010/07/23/ju ... ul-draper/

Ridge Geyserville is simply my favorite domestic red wine, period. I have been drinking it since I started enjoying wine and I've done several vertical back to the very early 1970s and others from the 1980s on. I can't think of any Geezer after 1973 that I haven't tried at least once. For the young ones, the 1997 is my favorite of all ... even though I have made my way through nearly 5 cases of the 1995, which was a favorite at one point. I still have a Mag and 3L of the 1995 and several of the 2002s too. I bought heavily into 2007 as well. I have enjoyed them, but you really do need a long decant time. The perfect foil with BBQ Baby Back Ribs! I have a feeling they are just going through an odd stage (haven't had any since early 2010) and you can bet they will be quite something in another few years. When it was first released, I thought it was the best Geezer since 1997 and I am a big fan of a couple of vintages inbetween, but none matches the two ending in "7" ... at least for my palate.

I'm with Roy on this one. I had the 2007 Geyserville back in 2009, and I thought it was outstanding. Bought 2 cases.

This wine takes some time to show its best, especially when the carignane and petite sirah percentages are so high as in 2007. I was at a Lytton Springs vs Geyserville tasting in the Spring 2010 with every vintage from 1990-2001 represented (except the 1992s), and my favorite was the 1993 Geyserville. Overall, most of us preferred the Geyserville, though one or two went for Lytton Springs, but either way, these wines can take 10 years+ to reach their peak, IMHO.

Welcome Patrick, some great folks here! Where are you based? Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Bob/Alberta.

Thanks Drew,

I just bought a 2006 Lytton Springs and a 2007 Geyserville. I was wondering what the drinking window would be for these wines. It sounds like they need a few years in the bottle yet or many hours of decanting to show their stuff.

Tom N,

I've bought Ridge Geyserville and Lytton Springs in every vintage since 1987. They are at their best about 8-12 years after the vintage.

[on soapbox, take with a grain of salt]

I think its a total waste to drink these wines within 5-6 years of the vintage.

[off soapbox]

I wish I had bought more of the 1997 Lytton Springs. I posted a note on it in 2009 noting that Paul Draper recommended a drinking window of 1999-2004 but I thought he was overly conservative and that it was drinking very well at 12 years after harvest. I have some 2007 Geyserville but will not open it for several years.

I've had 100s of bottles of Geyserville and LS and, yes, I think PD's window of drinkability on the back label (or whoever writes them now) are very conservative but there's certainly a matter of personal preference that can't be ignored. That is, maybe I prefer more aged wine than PD (the old British vs. the French argument). Maybe my cellar ages the wine slower than the typical storage location?