WTN: Ridge East Bench Zinfandel 2016

Lockdown Wine #51. With some steaks at lunch. A fair amount of volatility coming off of this when I popped the cork. Didn't notice that in earlier bottles. Aside from that, red fruit - raspberry and strawberry on the nose. Dried herbs and just a little sweet oak and chocolate. Raspberry and sour cherry on the palate. Acid on the high side. Quite dry, although salty food brings out the sweetness. A little bit of smoke and some spice. Soft tannins. The acid provides the backbone. I don't think this is going to develop much more. Good to go now.

Thanks for that, Jay. I've got one bottle of that vintage (also 2 x 2015 and 1 x 2014)

You recommend having the 2016 now rather than aging it any more?

I had one 2014 at the beginning of this moth and TBH I didn't find much of anything in it.

Hi Peter,

Yes, in my opinion, I don't really see any benefit to additional aging.

[David M. Bueker]

Not a particularly good cuvee for Ridge. Not at all.

It apparently has some pretty high points from the usual suspects, which I don't get.

[David M. Bueker]

The usual suspects are suspect.

We had the 2016 Ridge East Bench last night with roast beef etc and really enjoyed it.

It was spicy and mouthfilling, tasting really fresh and lively. A most enjoyable wine. Unfortunately my only bottle.

We'll never know, but I think Jay's analysis was right. It would develop with agining, but I don't think it would have got better, rather it'd lose the freshness and spice. So I'm glad I opened it. Thanks, Jay!

Glad you liked it, Peter!

[Jenise]

Not a particularly good cuvee for Ridge. Not at all.

+1

We liked it.

I look at the Ridge site with envy - all those different interesting wines. Never seen them here.

[David M. Bueker]

Given the easy access to Ridge’s flagship Geyserville and Lytton Springs bottlings in the USA it is quite easy to dismiss the lower level wines.