Working on my Z-List shipment, I tried last night:
1. Ridge Zin EastBench DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (100% Zin; 14.9%; 0.27% water addition; bttld 12/2015;
Drk: 10/15-10/21-10/22: JO) 2014: Very dark color; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/raspberry/rather spicy light vanilla/oak/smokey slight herbal/leafy/dusty quite attractive nose; lightly tart spicy/blackberry/raspberry/DCV Zin bit earthy/dusty light smokey/vanilla/oak balanced/smooth flavor w/ modest smooth/graceful tannins; very long lightly tart bright fairly spicy/blackberry/raspberry/DCV Zin smooth/velvety/drinkable light earthy/dusty finish w/ light smooth tannins; quite a nice/pretty Zin at a fair price. $27.00 (Z-List)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Continue to be mightly impressed w/ the Ridge '14 Zins. Before, I found the EastBench just one (small) step above the 3Vllys. This one seems a much larger step above and maybe the best EB that I can recall. Not a profound Zin and not as good as the DryCreekVnyds Heritage Zin (at half the price), but still an improvement.
The EastBench is what is also known as LyttonWest, the newer LyttonSprings vnyd that is located up on the benchland on the East side of the DCV, overlooking Nalle & DryCreekVnyds.
Tom