Tried this last night right off the boat:
1. Ridge PetiteSirah DynamiteHill/YorkCreekVnyd/SpringMtnDist/Calif (7% Zin; 13.7%; 44 brls; Bttld: Jan 2009; Drk: 11/08-11/13-11/18: JO) 2007: Very dark color; some vanilla/Am.oak strong blackberry/PS/peppery/earthy/spicy bit dusty/OV some complex nose; bit soft rather big/rich/lush somewhat dusty/OV strong blackberry/PS/peppery/earthy slight floral/insecticide rather vanilla/oak bit complex flavor w/ soft/smooth/gentle tannins; fairly long strong Am.oak/vanilla some dusty/OV strong blackberry/PS/peppery/earthy/DrPepper textured/rich finish w/ soft/smooth tannins; loads of PS fruit and soft/smooth/graceful tannins that suggests a lack of structure; not as hard & tight & rough as usual for a young DynamiteHill. $32.00 (ATP)
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And a wee BP:
1. There had been a couple of TN's already on this wine that indicated a disappointment in this '07 release. Well...yes & no. I thought this '07 had a lot more lush fruit than they usually do at thiis point in their life. A young DynamiteHill is generally pretty rough/austere/tight and has rather hard tannins. This one did not. It had a lushness & richness to it that is atypical of DH. On the palate, it had plenty of tannins, but they were not hard/rough/austere; they were soft/smooth/round/graceful. So, the wine is structured differently than previous DH's that I recall. So it don't find it either better or worse than previous DH's...just "different" and unlike previous ones.
Of particular note is that this is a JohnOlney YorkCreek, not an EricBaugher or PaulDraper YorkCreek. I would, however, not read anything into that fact. They all three work on this wine and their collegiality at Ridge makes this a product of a team effort.
Tom
