We tried these two Ridges ystrday at Pig+Fig:
1. Ridge DemosteneRanch AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (50% Zin/Carignane; 13.0%; 68 brls; bttld Feb 2020; 95 yr old vnyd; Drk: 8/17-8/23-8/24: JO) 2016: Very dark color; strong spicy/Zin/blackberry/raspberry light Ridge/Am.oak fairly dusty/OV some complex nose; lightly tart fairly strong blackberry/Zin/fairly spicy light vanilla/Ridge oak bit dusty/OV bit complex flavor w/ light tangy tannins; very long strong blackberry/Zin/spicy bit dusty/OV bit complex finish w/ light bit tangy tannins; a fairly classic mature Ridge Zin that can go another few yrs. $35.00/ $31.50 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Zin Guadagni DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.9%; 20% PetiteSirah; 68 brls; bttld: Aug 2018; 1.2% water addition; Drk: 12/19-12/26-12/27: JO) 2017: Very dark color; stronger much more raspberry/blackberry/Zin rather spicy strong dusty/OV light Am.oak/Ridge oak brighter bit complex nose; lightly tart/tangy bright DCV Zin/raspberry/very spicy some vanilla/Am.oak fairly dusty/OV some complex flavor w/ light tannins; very long/lingering rather dusty/OV bright raspberry/blackberry/Zinberry/quite spicy complex finish w/ light bit tangy tannins; not as bright raspberry as some DCV Zins, but quite a lovely Ridge Zin; can use several more yrs. $36.00 (ATP)
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More drickleslop from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. The Demostene Ranch used to produce Zin under the Sausal label. They were pretty typical AlexVlly Zins, a bit on the soft/mushy side. In 2012, SilverOak bought Sausal/Demostene and I understand this stand of old vines has been ripped to plant Cab/Merlot, so Ridge no longer gets these grapes. I had this wine when it was released & was pretty underwhelmed by it, just above the 3Vllys Zin level. It has put on some weight & is quite a lovely Zin, above the Nervo/Mazzoni level. Shows more acidity than most AlexVlly Zins.
The Guadagni is another Zin that has put on a bit of weight & one that I like a lot better than when it was first released.
Two quite attractive Ridge Zins. Not at level of LS or Geyserville, but better than Nervo/Mazzoni ones.
Tom