WTN: 2001 Ridge California Geyserville

40th anniversary wine
74% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah
14.4% alcohol
Deep, nearly opaque, purple color.
Somewhat stolid and tannic the first evening. Complements broiled tri tips with steak sauce but may improve if cellared 3-4 more years. Impression of dark fruits emerging from savory loam.
Back label says in part: "Zinfandel tannins this year were significant so for the first time since 1996 we held out the two principal lots of Petite Sirah. Aging took place in American oak--1/4 new oak and another 20% one-year-old to complement the level of tannin and intensity of berry fruit. Enjoyable now (12/02) this structured yet sensuous Geyserville will be at its best over the next seven to ten years" (2010-2013). (Guess I should have read the back label before opening it but I was too curious to wait until 2010 or beyond anyway).

It did seem a little less stolid after the first evening.

Hi JC, we opened one of these a few weeks ago. I came to the same conclusion as you did, that 3-4 years would be the time for opening the next one.

I have a couple lurking in the cellar. I think I'll put in a note to hold for a while.

The RRV and Dry Creek wines from '01 seem to generally be coming along slowly, and I thought they were very good when I was tasting and wasting my retirement income on them, a couple of years ago.

Thanks for posting.

I have a bottle of this and I no wwon't openit this Christmas

Hi Peter, hows St A?? This wine is definately one to cellar in my books. I think there was a Geyserville offline in the UK last year?

How quickly time flies - it was in 2004. I can't find the TNs on Tom' site, but David Pope posted them on CellarTracker -- http://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=223

It's mild here in Snorbens --- had some heavy rains and winds are stirring the leaves.

Thanks for the link Peter. Now I'm wishing I had some of the '97 and maybe the '99.