Cracked into a box of older Zins last night, after two Coffaros went down the drain:
1. VillaMtEden Zin MonteRossoVnyd/SonomaVlly GrandReserve (15.4%) StHelena 1994: Dark color w/ slight bricking; fairly fragrant spicy/peppery/raspberry/Zin light toasty/oak bit earthy rather complex/oldZin/pencilly nose; lightly tart earthy/dusty/OV light raspberry/spicy/Zin/bit peppery slight wet wool/mousey light toasty/oak flavor w/ light bit drying tannins; lonf some spicy/peppery/raspberry/Zin some dusty/OV light toasty/oak some complex/oldZin/pencilly finish w/ light bit drying/tangy tannins; speaks of MonteRosso/OV/spicy/high-toned Zin but starting to fade & dry out; still offers up some pleasure.
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2. Rosenblum Zin BrandlinRanch/MtVeeder (14.3%; 90 yr old vines; Drk: '95-'06-'11) Alameda 1995: Dark/murkey color w/ some browning; rather dusty/OV strong toasty/vanilla/Am.oak strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/very spicy quite complex youthful nose; soft ripe/lush strong vanilla/Am.oak/toasty/smokey very spicy/blackberry/raspberry/Zin some dusty/OV bit tangy/metallic quite complex slight pencilly/aged/oldZin flavor w/ light smooth/gentle tannins; very long/lingering strong vanilla/smokey/oak strong very spicy/blackberry/raspberry/Zin dusty/OV complex finish w/ light gentle tannins; a classic fully-mature old Rosenblum that still has plenty of fruit but starting downhill.
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3. Ridge Zin Alegria SonomaCnty/Calif LatePicked (77% Zin/12% PS/11% AlicanteBouschet; 15.7%; 35 brls; bttld: 12/96; SaH: 27.2%; RS: 0.16%) 1995: Very dark/bit murkey slight browning color; very strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/licorice slight overripe/alcoholic strong vanilla/Am.oak/smokey/DraperPerfume rather complex nose; soft very strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/very ripe strong Am.oak/smokey/DP bit dusty/OV classic Ridge flavor w/ light bit drying tannins; very long bit ripe/overripe strong blackberry/Zin/spicy some Am.oak/vanilla/pencilly slight dusty/OV finish w/ light drying tannins; a ripe but not overripe/raisened attractive oldZin that's hanging in there well but probably on the downside.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. When I was up in Healdsburg on Fri, stopped into the Rosenblum tasting room off the square. Didn't find anything that particularly excited me. So sad.
Tom