Tried these three from my Ridge stash over the last few days:
1. Ridge Geyserville Calif/SonomaCnty (68% Zin/16% Carignane/16% PetiteSirah; 14.8%; bttld Jan 2001; Drk: 11/2000-11/2007-11/2008: PD) 1999: Very dark color w/ some bricking; strong cedary/pencilly/Am.oak some earthy/blackberry/Zin lightly spicy/cinammon fairly complex slight cedary/old Zin nose; some tart/metallic bit dried out/tangy/metallic some spicy/blackberry/Zin/lightly spicy some earthy/dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ light drying tannins; very long rather dried-out/metallic some spicy/blackberry/Zin strong Am.oak/vanilla/cedary finish w/ light drying tannins; quite an interesting cedary/old Geyserville nose w/ still some blackberry fruit but somewhat tired/dried-out/old Zin on the palate. $35.00
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2. Ridge Zin PasoRobles/SLOCnty/Calif (100% Zin; Dusi Ranch; 14.5%; bttld Dec 2001; Drk: 10/01-10/06-10/07: PD) 2000: Med.dark color w/ some browning; strong jammy/blackberry/PR/ripe quite smokey/vanilla/Am.oak classic PR jammy Zin some complex nose; soft bit tired/dried out strong vanilla/Am.oak some ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/jammy flavor w/ modest tired tannins; long rather tired/dried-out some ripe/PR jammy/Zin finish w/ light drying tannins; a rather interesting PR/jammy nose but rather tired/dried out on the palate; not totally shot but just clinging to life. $25.00
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3. Ridge Zin DusiRanch/SLOCnty/Calif (100% Zin; 14.6%; 42 brls; Bttld Dec 2001; Drk: 10/01-10/06: PD) 2000: Med.dark color w/ some browning; very strong ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/PR jammy Zin/plummy bit chocolaty slight alcoholic less smokey/cedary/vanilla/Am.Ridge oak more interesting/younger nose; soft strong blackberry/boysenberry/PR jammy/licorice/chocolaty bit tired/drying out strong pencilly/Am.oak some complex flavor w/ light bit drying tannins; very long soft bit alcoholic strong blackberry/boysenberry/PR jammy Zin bit complex finish w/ light tired tannins; much more ripe/PR jammy Zin fruit but a bit tired/dried out on the palate; in better shape than the regular & still offers up some real/mature pleasure. $25.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Didn't have really high hopes for these wines, and that's pretty much what they delivered. The noses on all three were quite interesting in a mature sort of way like many of us old-folks are. But they were a bit aged/tired on the palate; just clinging to life.
Tom