Tried this ATP wine last night:
1. Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch/SonomaCnty (58% Carignane/41% Zin/1% PS; 14.2%; 46 brls; bttld 3/14; Drk: 1/14-1/19-1/20: EB) 2012: Med.dark color; rather earthy/dusty/OV some vanilla/oak strong cherry/Carignane bit raspberry/Zin/lightly spicy slight framboise attractive Ridge nose; rather tart/lean/tight/hard some cherry/black cherry/Carignane slight raspberry/Zin light vanilla/oak flavor w/ ample hard/edgey tannins; med.long rather dusty/OV hard/tight/lean/austere some cherry/Carignane/black cherry light raspberry/blackberry/Zin light vanilla/oak finish w/ ample bitey/edgey tannins; rather attractive nose of the EastBench Zin level, but hard/unyielding Carignane character on the palate; may benefit from some age but seems a crap-shoot; may speak of Mazzoni terroir but it's not a voice I'd like to hear. $32.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This was the 2'nd wine from the last ATP shipment I've tried. Last up is the Buchignani Carignane '14....pray for me!! Actually, I've been mightly impressed by the Ridge '14's...so there is some hope..maybe.
I've had plenty of Mazzoni ATP's over the yrs. It's not a vnyd that I'm very endeared to. However, like many Ridge ATP's, they're not particularly attractive on release and have this knack of rising up & biting you o the a$$ w/ some age.
Carignane is a variety that I struggle with. They have, to me, a cherry/black cherry fragrance to them that's rather attractive. But on the palate, they often show an acid/tannic mean streak that I've not learned to like. I've had any number of OV Carignanes from Priorat and Languedoc/Roussillon that didn't have that hard/tannic edge to them and that I've liked.
This '12 Mazzoni is more Carignane-dominated than any in the past. I hope this means that there's a Mazzoni Zin coming down the pike.
But, for now, don't touch this wine for the 3-4 yrs that Eric recommends. You may be surprised. Or you may not.
Tom