We tried last week at Pig+Fig four Ridge PetiteSirahs:
1. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/NapaVlly (15.1%; 59 brls; bttld 2/16; Drk: 10/20-10/30: JO; tartaric acid) 2014: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; strong very peppery/blackberry/PS fairly dusty/OV rather spicy/bit licorice light vanilla/oak pretty classic YC PS some complex lovely nose; lightly tangy/metallic slightly dried out some peppery/PS/licorice/bit blackberry some toasty/vanilla/oak bit lean/hard/dried out bit complex flavor w/ light rough tannins; long bit dried out spicy/peppery/PS/blackberry some complex finish w/ light drying tannins; a pretty classic YC PS but starting to show its age & not going to improve any. $37.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/SpringMtnDist/NapaVlly (14.1%; 48 brls; bttld: 2/17; Drk: 12/16-12/26: JO) 2015: Very dark color; a bit more subdued more fruity lightly PS/peppery/blackberry light vanilla/oak less complex nose; bit soft some hard/tannic some blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice some vanilla/oak rather rugged/structured bit complex flavor w/ modest rough tannins; very long some blackberry/PS/licorice some vanilla/oak finish w/ some rough tannins; showing no signs of any age; a bit more subdued than the '14 but more varietally correct; a pretty structured/rugged PS that needs more age. $37.00/$32.40 (ATP)
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3. Ridge PetiteSirah LyttonEstate DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (100% PS; 13.8%; bttld Dec 2017; Drk: 8/17-8/27: JO) 2016: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/PS/spicy bit Zin-like strong vanilla/Ridge oak not as spicy/peppery more simple/straightforward more blackberry/fruity nose; bit soft/ripe strong blackberry/PS more fruity/Zin-like/spicy some vanilla/oak rathe simple flavor w/ modest ripe tannis; long strong blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice some vanilla/oak finish w/ modest soft tannins; more straightforward PS/fruity but not nearly as spicy as the YC's; pleasant enough PS but just that. $40.00/ $36.00 (ATP)
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4. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/SpringMtnDist/NapVlly (100% PS; 13.6%; 56 brls; bttld 12/17; Final YorkCreek release; Drk: 8/17-8/32: JO) 2016: Very dark color; strong blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice very spicy some vanilla/Ridge oak classic YC PS some complex nose; lightly tart/tangy/bit metallic strong blackberry/Syrah/licorice very spicy/peppery light toasty/vanilla/Ridge oak some dusty/OV quite structured bit rugged flavor w/ ample hard tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/PS/licorice very spicy/peppery some dusty/OV some vanilla/Ridge oak rather structured/rugged bit complex finish w/ ample rugged/chewey tannins; a very classic/YC very spicy PS a bit on the rugged side still; badly needs age. $38.00 (ATP)
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More fifflebatter from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. YorkCreek is definitely the premier PS from Ridge & really shows its pedigree. The LyttonSprings PS have always not been particularly impressive; just 4-square/straight-forward PS's & bit on the oafish side and much simpler.
To me, many PS's seem to age rather erractically. Oftentimes they never seem to age out their oafish character & develop the complexity you get in Zin or Syrah. I find that particularly true of the Ridges. That being said, the Ridge YorkCreek PS '71, tasted in the mid-'90's, was maybe the greatest Calif red wine that I've ever had. In its youth, it was a massive wine w/ tons of oak. But it evolved into a beautiful complex red wine the likes I've seldom found in Calif.
Alas, the 2016 is the last hurrah for Ridge YC PS. Fritz Maytag was selling the grapes to his college-buddy, Paul Draper, for a song. So Ridge voluntarily gave up YC as a source for their PS. It was my favorite of these PS's and Ridge went out on a high-note.
Tom