We tried these the other Sunday:
1. Feudi di SanGregorio Dd'OC: Falanghina del Sannio (13%; TerlatoWineImports; http://www.Feudi.It) Feudi di SanGregorio/Sorbo Serpico 2017: Light gold color; quite fragrant floral/carnations bit grapefruit bit stony/chalky slight mineral almost R-like quite pretty nose; fairly tart/tangy quite floral/carnations light chalky/stony/mineral slight metallic quite aromatic flavor; very long perfumed/floral/carnations light chalky/stony lightly rich/lush finish; a lightweight very aromatic white w/ light minerality; a bit on the simple side but a quite pretty expression of Falanghina. $23.50 (KK)
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2. Ridge Falganhina AlderSpringsVnyd/MendoCnty (2% Picpoul; 13.2%; SS & clay amphora frmtd ; 9 brls; bttld Feb 2020; Drk: 12/19-12/21: JO) 2019: Med.light yellow color; quite stony/mineral/chalky light pencilly/oak slight herbal bit floral/haymow/dandelions slight spicy rather subtle/quiet more complex nose; quite tart/tangy/bit grapefruity light pencilly/oak bit lean/tight light floral/Falanghina/carnations flavor; very long/lingering lean/tart/tangy/grapefruity light floral/carnations; a rather tight/spare expression of Falanghina but more mineral/herbal like you'd expect from AlderSprings; very different/unusual style for a Ridge; the Ridge winemaking doesn't dominate & a more pure expression of Falanghina & AlderSprings. $30.00 (ATP)
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3. Ridge Zin GuadagniVnyd/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (85% Zin/15% PS; 14.9%; 52 brls; bttld Aug 2018: Drk: 5/18-5/24-5/25: JO) 2017: Very dark/near black color; very strong blackberry/raspberry/very spicy light vanilla/pencilly/Am.oak very perfumed/fragrant classic DCV Zin lovely nose; fairly tart/tangy strong blackberry/raspberry/very spicy classic DCV spicy/zippy some pencilly/Am.oak bit complex flavor w/ light brisk tannins; very long/lingering bright/raspberry/blackberry/very spicy/Zin some vanilla/Am.oak finish; loads of spicy DCV Zin fruit; of the good EastSide level; still needs age. $35.00 (ATP)
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4. Ridge Zin Heart'sDesire GeyservilleVnyd/SonomaCnty (14.3%; 42 brls; bttld 2/13; Drk: 12/12-12/17: EB )2011: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; some earthy/dusty rather cedary/pencilly/oak light blackberry/Zin/spicy/earthy some tired/dried out nose; lightly tart light blackberry/Zin some cedary/pencilly/Am.oak/old Zin bit tired flavor w/ light smooth/drying tannins; long some blackberry/Zin/spicy fairly cedary/pencilly/old Zin/oak slight earthy some tired/dried out finish w/ light gentle tannins; lost a lot of its fruit and show a bit tired around the edges. $56.00 (ATP)
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5. Ridge Zin HeritageVnyd/Oakville/NapaVlly (14.8%; 17 brls; bttld 12/2016; Drk: 8/16- ; tartaric acid) 2015: Very dark color; very strong very spicy/blackberry/Zin/quite fragrant some vanilla/Ridge oak some complex nose; rather tart/tangy very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy some Ridge oak/vanilla bit complex flavorw/ modest brisk tannins; very long/lingering very spicy/blackberry/Zin some vanilla/Am.oak bit complex finish w/ modest tannins; almost of LS level of quality but not the bright fruit or the intensity of the LS; reflects the NapaVlly terroir probably which gives it a slight dullness that's reminiscent of of the dull & plodding character of NapaVlly Cabernet; still, much better than the YorkCreek Zin ever was. $34.00 (ATP)
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6. Ridge Zin HeritageVnyd/Oakville/NapaVlly (100% Zin; 16 brls; bttld Feb 2019; 19 Zin slctns; Drk: 1/19-1/24: JO; 0.8% water addition) 2017: Very dark/near black color; very intense licorice/very spicy/blackberry Zin/slight peppery light vanilla/Ridge oak quite perfumed bit complex beautiful nose; fairly tart/tangy very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy some vanilla/Am.oak flavor w/ some brisk hard tannins; very long/lingering perfumed intense very spicy/blackberry/Zin/bit peppery some complex finish w/ modest hard tannins; both of LS Zin in quality but speaks more of NapaVlly Zin than DCV; lovely young Zin. $36.00 (ATP)
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7. Ridge Rockpile BotticelliVnyd/SonomaCnty (66% Zin/34% PS; 14.2%; 54 brls; bttld: Aug 2018; Drk: 8/17-8/23-8/24: JO; 3.2% water addition; tartaric acid) 2017: Very dark color; rather earthy/dusty/graphite some blackberry/Zin/very spicy bit rustic some vanilla/Am.oak rather rugged/peppery very interesting nose; rather tart/tangy fairly hard/tannic/structured strong blackberry/Zin/peppery/quite spicy light vanilla/Am.oak bit complex flavor w/ ample hard tannins; very long/lingering fairly tart/tangy strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/peppery very spicy some vanilla/Ridge oak bit complex finish w/ ample hard tannins; a rather rugged structured Zin that needs more age; great potential. $36.00 (ATP)
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8. Ridge Zin Rockpile BotticelliVnyd/SonomaCnty (88% Zin/12% PS; 61 brls; bttld Dec 2019; Drk: 10/19-10/25-10/26: JO; tartaric acid) 2018: Very dark/near black color; intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/peppery/black pepper some vanilla/Ridge oak complex nose; rather tart/tangy intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/peppery some vanilla/Am.oak rather rugged/structure bit complex flavor w/ ample hard/rugged tannins; very long/lingering rathe tart/tangy/hard/tannic quite structured intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/black pepper/slight licorice finish w/ ample hard tannins; not a whole lot different but more intense and more black pepper; a big/hard/structured Zin that needs age. $36.00 (ATP)
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9. Ridge Primitivo LyttonEstate/SonomaCnty (89% Primitivo/6% PS/5% Carignane; 14.9%; 28 brls; bttld: 01/13; Plntd: 2004; Aged: air-dried Am.oak for 13 mo; Drk: 12/12-12/17-12/19: JO) 2011: Dark color; beautiful very spicy/raspberry/blackberry some vanilla/Am.oak very perfumed/aromatic/high-tonedbeautiful very spicy nose; lightly tart bright/high-toned very spicy/blackberry/raspberry/Zin/quite spicy slight earthy modest Am.oak/vanilla some complex flavor w/ light gentle tannins; very long bright/high-toned/very spicy strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin light vanilla/oak finish w/ light gentle tannins; shows the classic LS spicines but more bright/high-toned character than LS Zin; shows more DCV bright raspberry character than the actual LS Zin; guess we can therefore conclude with this data point of one that Primitivo reflects its terroir more than any other grape!! Didn't find anything that I could find that Primitivo is distinctively different from Zin. $36.00 (ATP)
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10. Ridge LyttonSprings/DryCreekVlly (67% Zin/23% PS/7% Carignane/3% Mataro; 14.4%; bttld 3/12; brl aged 14 mo.; Drk: 10/11-10/21-10/26: JO) 2010: Very dark color w/ light bricking; some cedary/cigar box/pencilly strong blackberry/raspberry/LS spicy Zin slight peppery/licoricefairly complex/aromatic nose; lightly tart/tangy some cedary/pencilly/Am.oak classic LS spicy/Zin/blackberry/raspberry/slight peppery fairly complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering rather complex cedary/pencilly/cigar box/Am.oak very spicy LS Zin finish w/ light gentle tannins; lots of complex cigar box character and that classic LS spiciness; probably in a perfect place right now; beautiful Ridge LS Zin. Costigan mystery wine
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11. Ridge Zin JimsomareVnyd/MonteBelloVnyd/SCM (100% Zin; 15.1%; 7 brls; bttld May 2018; Drk: 3/18-3/26-3/28: EB; calcium carbonate) 2016: Very dark/near black color; some earthy/dusty/OV quite fragrant/blackberry/raspberry/fairly bright light vanilla/Ridge oa rather spicy/peppery bit complex lovely nose; lightly tart/tangy strong blackberry/Zin/raspberry rather rugged/mtn Zin/dusty/OV/earthy some Ridge oak/vanilla fairly structured flavor w/ ample rugged tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin very spicy/bit peppery light vanilla/Am.oak bit complex finish w/ ample hard tannins; needs more age; will be an excellent Zin w/ a few more yrs. $36.00 (ATP)
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12. Ridge Zin Jimsomare vnyd/MonteBelloVnyd/SCM (100% Zin; 15.3%; 13 brls; bttld May'19; Drk: 3/19-3/34:EB 2017: Very dark near black color; somewhat deeper bit licorice/herbal very strong blackberry/Zin/spicy/peppery rather dusty/OV light Ridge/Am.oak lovely nose; rather tart/tangy bit richer/lusher very strong blackberry/spicy Zin/raspberry rather dusty/OV more base notes bit herbal/licorice quite structured rather rugged/mtn Zin some complex flavor w/ ample rugged tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy/peppery/bit raspberry some vanilla/Ridge oak structured finish w/ ample tannins; needs age; a bit more complex intense interesting than the '16; will be a good one. $36.00 (ATP)
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13. Ridge Tribidrag LyttonEstate/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (100% Zin; 13.7%; 3 brls; bttld Feb 2019: Plntd: 2014; First hrvst; Drk: 1/19-1/25-1/26: JO) 2017: Dark color; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/classic LS spiceness slight black pepper slight earthy light pencilly/Ridge oaksomewhat complex nose; rather tart/tangy bit angular/tannic strong peppery/blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/very LS spicy light pencillay/Ridge oak bit complex flavor w/ ample polished tannins; very long/lingering very LS spicy/black pepper/blackberry/ripe/boysenberry structured some Ridge/Am.oak bit complex finish w/ ample ripe tannins; much like & the level of the LS Zin but a bit more structured/angular/hard than LS; not strikingly different and nothing that stands up & shouts "I am Tribidrag and not Zin" but a great addition to the Ridge Zin lineup; not as Ridgey as I was expecting. $38.00 (ATP)
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14. Lagier-Meredith Tribidrag Mt.Veeder/NapaVlly RW( ) 2015: Very dark/near black color; very intense black pepper/cold-climate Zin/blackberry Zin classic MtVeeder spicines slight toasty/Fr.oak beautiful aromatic nose; lightly tart/tangy quite rich/lush/mouthfilling strong c-c/black pepper/MtV spiciness intense blackberry/ripe Zin/boysenberry light toasty/Fr.oak complex flavor w/ ample ripe tannins; very long/lingering black pepper/MtV spicy very strong blackberry/ripe Zin/boysenberry light Fr.oak structured complex finish w/ ample ripe tannins; loads of classic MtV spicy/c-c black pepper character; one of Calif's best Zins and reminds a lot of the early Ravenswoods in structure; needs 4-8 yrs yet. $36.00
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15. I/G Wnry Alicante Madera/Lodi (14.50%; http://www.IGWinery.com) DougMcCombs V/C&B by IGWinery/CedarCity/Utah 2014: Black/inky color w/ slight bricking; very intense very ripe/boysenberry/licorice/earthy dusty/OV some toasty/Fr.oak bit rustic very interestig nose; soft/fat/porky bit alcoholic very intense boysenberry/licorice/AB/earthy/bit loamy some rustic/coarse some toasty/Fr.oak flavor w/ ample coarse/rough tannins; very long soft/fat rich/lush strong boysenberry/ripe/AB/licoricefairly earthy/loamy coarse/rustic finish; loads of ripe fruit but classic AB/coarse character reminds a bit of a Sudtirol Lagrein; the Fr.oak is like putting lipstick on a pig; quite a good AB though.
Sterbenz Mystery wine
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More sissypuss from TheBloodyPulpit::
1. Wow...whatta surprise this Ridge was. When it's release was anounced a month ago, it was a real puzzle to me. First Falanghina and first AlderSprings from Ridge. Most people preferred the SanGregorio for its stronger aromatics. I actually found the Ridge a far more interesting, if quieter, wine. It's a huge departure from the usual style of Ridge whites. Mostly, they (Chard/Viog/GrenacheBlanc) are noticeably Ridge, rather rich/lush, noticeable oak, a bit on the soft side. Served blind, I'd have never guessed this to be a Ridge. Would have guessed an Arnot-Roberts most likely. It showed a herbal/mineral character that I'd not seen in a Ridge white since those early SCM Riesling/Sylvaner/Chards of DaveBennion in the late '60's. Most Ridge fans will not appreciate this wine. I liked it quite a lot for its departure from the usual Ridge style. Much more interesting a white wine and one that will probably put on weight w/ age.
But the wine left me scratching my head in puzzlement. The first Ridge wine from AlderSprings, a spectacular vnyd in the far reaches of MendoCnty, of StuBewley's. And they now have clay amphorae it Ridge?? News to me. So what's up at Ridge?? At any rate, JohnOlney did quite a fine job w/ this first Falanghina.
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2. Heritage: This is a UC/Davis FPS vnyd over in Oakville planted to a bunch of different Heritage Zin clones selected throughout Calif. ZAP was an important figure behind its planting. Clearly a Zin planting in the high-rent district. Each yr, a different wnry gets to harvest the grapes and make the wine. The '17 was Ridge's year and the last year of the Heritage Zin vnyd. Not sure what it was grafted over to or replanted with.
Both of these Heritage Zins were very similar in character, bit I slightly preferred the '17 for a greater intensity and brightness of Zin fruit.
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3. Over a month ago, Ridge released a 3-pak of the Heart'sDesire '11, the Heritage '17, and their first Tribidrag '17. It sold out within the day (only 3 brls of the Tribidrag, so tiny production). I dawddled and missed out when I tried to order a day later. Ohhhh, well...just more Ridge Zins. But then I watched their tasting round table/Webinar w/ Carole Meredith and the Ridge principals (a Webinar worth viewing on their Site) & realized I really did want to taste these wines. So I went straight to the top of Ridge & pleaded my case for them to dig up a 3-pak for me. When I didn't hear back immediately, I then threw a hissy-fit and threatened them w/ going directly to DaveBennion (Dave.Bennion@Heaven.Org), which must have done the trick. A few days later, I got an e-mail from Allison (those of you who remember Mary Devine, Allison is the new Mary...she's very/very good) if it was OK to ship the 3-pak. So, here they are.
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4. Zinfandel/Primitivo/ChurlynackKastellanski/Tribidrag: These are all, DNA-wise, the same grape. Zinfandel manifests itself in a number of clones/selections in Calif. Came over (from Croatia) in the mid-1800's. Primitivo was the first identified Zin in Europe in the Apulia region of Italy. That plant material was brought in & cleaned up at FPS almost 30 yrs ago by my recall. Although the same as Zinfandel, the side-by-side plantings I've seen at BenZeitman's look distinctly different...the Primitivo rather more spindly in character. Supposedly, Primitivo is a more even ripener and there was a lot of excitement over Primitivo originally, but that seems to have waned somewhat. I believe those Zin producers that label their Primitivo are working with at plant material from Apulia. GeorgeHendry does a Zin & a Primitivo bttlg from his vnyd. I should try them side by side.
Churlyknack was the first variety in Croatia to be identified as Zinfandel. For some reason, that name has never caught on in Calif...don't understand why, though!! From plant material in an herbarium, when they could finally do DNA on dead plant material, Carole & her Croatian co-workers identified an ancient Croatian variety called Tribidrag as Zinfandel. They eventually identified some (badly virus infected) Tribidrag vines growing in Croatia. The plant material was eventually imported to FPS and cleaned up & virus-free Tribidrag returned to Croatia. DaveGates/Ridge was instrumental in getting the Tribidrag to FPS and, therefore got the first shot of growing Tribidrag in Calif.
Steve & Carole planted Zin on their Lagier-Meredith property and have been producing Zin for a number of yrs now. It is, to my judgement, world-class Zin. In honor of Zin's ancient origins, they have labeled their Zin as Tribidrag. The TTB hasn't a clue that Tribidrag is a grape variety name and has let the label stand. Dave planted the first of the virus-free Croatian plant material on LyttonWest and this '17 is the first Calif Tribidrag/Zin produced from the Croatian material. Steve & Carole readily agreed to allow Ridge to use "their" Tribidrag name on the Ridge label. I don't believe their are any other plantings of Tribidrag in Calif, but I'm sure there will be eventually. And, of course, somebody will undoubtedly market an Old-Vine Tribidrag in the sweet by&by.
Of the two Tribidrags, both are outstanding & I would have a hard time choosing one over the other. Perhaps a slight edge to the L-M because of its classic MtV spiciness and a bit more structured. But both are outstanding Zins.
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5. Rockpile: These are the first two Ridge Zins from the Rockpile AVA high above Lake Sonoma and the first I've tried. I was impressed. They are rather hard/structured Zins that need age and have a distinct mountain Zin character. They remind me a bit of the old Ridge HowellMtn/BeattyRanch NapaVlly Zins in their rugged/mountain character but not the herbal/earthy character those showed. A great addition to the Ridge lineup and (eventually) of LS quality I suspect.
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6. Jimsomare: This is the vnyd on the lower reaches of MonteBelloRidge just as you turn up the road to follow the MBVnyd to the tasting room. I think there has been some replanting at Jimsomare but I believe it's substantially OV Zin. It is one of the smaller vnyd-designate Zins Ridge makes and usually always 100% Zin. Always one of my Ridge no-brainer buys. It's a rugged mtn Zin a bit like the old Ridge HowellMtn/BeattyRanch Zins in structure but less earthy/mushroomy in character and more high-toned/aromatic/bright raspberry in character.
Tom