We tried these ystrday afternoon at Pig+Fig:
1. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloRidge/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 14.5%; 19 brls; bttld 3/14; Drk: 1/14-1/24-1/26: EB) 2012: Very dark color w/ no bricking; intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/bit peppery modest vanilla/Ridge Am.oak huge fruit but not overripe beautiful nose; rather tart/tangy intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/peppery light Am.oak very primary quite structured flavor w/ ample grippy tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/peppery huge fruit modest Am.oak structured finish w/ ample tannins; loads of very spicy blackberry/Zin pure/primary fruit; still quite youthful & needs more age; a beautiful Jimsomare. $28.00
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2. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloRidge/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 13.8%; 15 brls; bttld 4/15; 16 mo. in Am.oak; Drk: 2/15-2/22-2/23: EB) 2013: Very dark color w/ no bricking; bit more subtle/restrained strong blackberry/Zin/spicy bit more vanilla/Am.oak bit more complex lovely perfumed nose; bit softer/leaner/more restrained strong blackberry/Zin/spicy/bit peppery more Ridge/oak less primary & a bit more subtle/complex flavor w/ lighter softer/riper tannins; very long/lingering bit softer slightly less blackberry/Zin/spicy/slight peppery more vanilla/Am.oak bit more complex finish w/ lighter ripe tannins; a bit less brash primary Zin fruit than the '12 but still a beautiful Jimsomare. $30.00
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3. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloRidge/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 15.2%; 15 brls; bttld April 2016; 16 mo. in Am.oak; Drk: 2/16-2/23-2/24: EB) 2014: Very dark color; rather corked/musty/TCA very light blackberry/Zin quite beaten down nose; lightly tart some musty/TCA very slight Zin/blackberry flavor w/ light tannins; pretty much killed by the TCA. $30.00
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4. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloVnyd/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 15.1%; 7 brls; bttld May 2018; 17 mo in 50% new Am.oak; Drk:3/18-3/26-3/28 : EB) 2016: Very dark/near black color; very intense blackberry/Zin/ripe/very spicy huge fruit modest vanilla/Am.oak beautiful some complex nose; quite tart/tangy intense very blackberry/ripe/boysenberry/very spicy/light peppery light Ridge/Am.oak quite structured complex flavor w/ modest chewey tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/ripe/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy rather structured light Am.oak finish w/ ample chewey tannins; loads of primary fruit; needs more age; another beautiful Jimsomare. $30.00 (vSC)
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5. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloVnyd/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 15.4%; 14 brls; bttld 5/2020; Drk: 3/20-3/35: EB) 2018: Black color; less up-front/ripe fruit very black pepper/very spicy intense blackberry/Zin/ripe but not overripe or jammy modest Am.Ridge oak more complex slight dusty/OV/earthy beautiful perfumed nose; rather tart/tangy very strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy/very black pepper/boysenberry modest Ridge/Am.oak some dusty/OV bit complex flavor w/ ample chewey tannins; very long/lingering fairly tart/tangy intense black pepper/very spicy/blackberry/ripe/boysenberry very structured modest Am.oak quite structured some complex finish w/ ample tannins; a very peppery/intense Zin fruit bit more complex Jimsomare; my easy favorite of these 4 Zins; a very special expression of Jimsomare. $36.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. This vnyd, known as the KleinVnyd, was originally planted in 1888 by an Alsatian man named PierreKlein. He developed a reputation for his Cabs from this vnyd. The vnyd was purchased about 1938 by the Swabacher family & renamed Jimsomare, after the names of the father & two daughters. The Bdx varieties had died out due to the phylloxera but the parcel of Zin survived. Ridge persuaded them to replant the Bdx varieties and also some Chard. The Bdxs go into the MonteBello blend are sometimes a KleinRanch Cabernet blend is made. The bulk of the MonteBello Chard comes from Klein. In the late '90's, Ridge took over from the family the management of the vnyd.
The Jimsomare Zin is always a must-purchase every yr they make it. The '18 was just released & I decided to pull a few older ones from my archives to taste with it ystrday. Laura & Dustin hosted us at Pig+Fig.
I particularly like the Jimsomare Zin and find it particularly intense in a peppery Zin fruit. It's a bit of a throw-back Ridge Zin and reminds me a lot of the Bennion era and early Draper-era Zins w/ its intense fruit and slightly rustic/old-timey Ridge character. The oak is kept in check for a Ridge Zin.
Of these 4 Jimsomares, I mostly preferred the '18, closely followed by the '12. All of the 4 will benefit from more age.
The '18 is still available. Alas, you have to belong to all three of the Ridge clubs to purchase.
Tom