Cracked into a box of '88 Zins last night. Two were pretty shot. These three were survivors:
1. Ridge Zin Geyserville Calif/SonomaCnty (82% Zin/13% Carignane/5% PS; 13.9%; bttld March 90; Drk: 3/90-3/??: PD) 1988: Med.dark w/ light bricking; strong vanilla/Am.oak/DraperPerfume/smokey quite pencilly/cedary/oldZin bit earthy/blackberry/Zin quite complex nose; soft rather cedary/pencilly/smokey/oldZin rather vanilla/Ridge oak/DP some fruity/raspberry/Zin some dusty/OV very complex oldZin flavor w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; very long/lingering quite cedary/pencilly/oldZin/Ridge oak/smokey/DP light raspberry/Zin/dusty/OV slight drying/tired finish w/ light gentle tannins; a classy old lady fading off into the sunset; still offer up some gentle pleasures; distinctively an old Ridge Zin. $10.00 (A)
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2. LaJotaVnyd Zin HowellMtn/NapaVlly (13.5%) Angwin 1988: Dark color w/ some browning; strong earthy/dusty/mtnZin bit mushroomy/loamy some blackberry/Zin/spicy slight volatile some cedary/pencilly/oldBdx some perfumed/fragrant fairly complex nose; rather tart/hard some earthy/loamy/mushroomy some vanilla/cedary/oak/oldBdx light blackberry/Zin/spicy complex flavor w/ light bit rough/drying tannins; very long earthy/dusty/loamy/mushroomy some blackberry/mtnZin some cedary/vanilla/oak finish w/ light rough/hard tannins; starting to dry out a bit bit still a pretty classic HowellMtn old Zin. $13.70 (AJ)
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3. LambornFamilyVnyds Zin HowellMtn/NapaVlly (1375 cs; 13.2%) RobertLamborn/Angwin 1988: Med.light rather browning color; some oxidized/wet wool/wet Army blanket tired oldZin very earthy/mushroomy strong Am.oak/smokey/toasty very slight blackberry/spicy somewhat complex/oldZin nose; bit tart quite earthy/loamy/mushroomy/wet wool oldZin/cedary/pencilly bit tired flavor w/ light astringent/drying tannins; long earthy/loamy/mushroomy/wet Army blanket some cedary/pencilly/oldZin finish w/ light drying tannins; still some interesting things left therein but pretty much on its last legs. $10.75 (K)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Of these three Zins, the Ridge was an easy favorite. Very smooth/drinkable and quietly fading into the sunset. The LaJota still had some life left in it and also a pleasure to drink, speaking strongly of HowellMtn Zin. The Lamborn was interesting but getting pretty shakey.
Tom
