Tried these two ystrday w/ John & Blair as I made my old-folks rounds:
1. Ridge Zin Boatman SonomaCnty (96% Zin/4% PS; 14.5%; bttld 12/2015; First release; Plntd: 1980's; Jake's/
WaterTank/Wiley'sTerrace blcks; Drk: 9/15-9/20-9/21: JO; 6.5% water addition, tartaric acid; 44 brls) 2014: Very dark color; strong vanilla/Am.oak rather raspberry/Zin/spicy bit earthy/dusty much stronger Ridge/DraperPerfume nose; rather soft slight tangy/metallic/lean rather simple/Zin/raspberry/blackberry/bit spicy rather vanilla/Am.oak some dusty/earthy/loamy flavor w/ light smooth tannins; med.long soft slight metallic/tangy/sharp simple/raspberry/Zin/slight spicy some vanilla/Am.oak finish w/ light soft/gentle tannins; a pleasant enough Ridge Zin about the level f the EastBench; another somewhat boring AlexVlly Zin w/ little distinguishing character. $32.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Zin Boatman AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (100% Zin; 14.7%; 44 brls; bttld: 12/2016; 35 yr old vines;
2'nd harvest; Wileys/Flag/Graveyard blocks; Drk: 10/16-10/21-10/22: JO; 1.5% water adition; tartaric
acid) Healdsburg 2015: Bit darker color; rather light vanilla/Am.oak strong ripe/blackberry/Zin/rather spicy light earthy/dusty more deep Zin fruit more interesting nose; soft rich/lush/ripe strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/fairly spicy light vanilla/Am.oak much more depth and interesting light earthy/dusty/loamy flavor w/ light bit tangy tannins; very long strong blackberry/ripe/Zin/fairly spicy light vanilla/Am.oak w/ light ripe/soft tannins; more like a RRV Zin than an AlexVlly Zin; quite a nice Zin at the level of the Ponzo or Mazzoni. $33.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. AlexVlly: I've never been a particularly big fan of Zins from the AlexVlly. The seem to have a rather soft character and not much high-toned character nor structure. Probably my favorite was the Sausal Zin back when it was owned by David Demostene. It was purchased by SilverOak in 2012. They pledged to keep the old-vine Zin but planned to plant more Cabernet. I've not had any of their Zins under SilverOak.
Tom