We tasted ystrday at Pig+Fig 8 vintages of Ridge Mazzoni:
1. Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch SonomaCnty/Calif (13.8%; 60% Zin+ 35% Carignane/5% PetiteSirah; 35 brls; bttld Feb 99; Drk: 1/99-1/04: PD) 1997: Dark color w/ some browning; some cedary/pencilly/oldZin light spicy/blackberry/Zin/raspberry bit earthy light vanilla/Am.oak some dusty/OV rather complex fairly fragrant quite attractive nose; rather tart/tangy bit bitter/dried out/tired light spicy/blackberry/Zin/earthy light vanilla/oak slight cedary/pencilly/oldZin some complex flavor w/ light metallic tannins; long bit bitter/dried out/tired some vanilla/oak slight blackberry/spicy/Zin/raspberry bit complex finish w/ light tannins; still offers up some pleasure on the nose but somewhat tired on the palate; better than it has any right to be. $22.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Mazzoni HomeRanch/SonomaCnty (67% Zin/31% Carignane/2% PS; 14.6%; 46 brls; Bttld: 5/11; Drk: 3/11-3/17-3/19: EB) 2009: Dark color w/ slight browning; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/raspberry/some spicy light vanilla/Ridge oak some dusty/OVquite complex lovely nose; soft slightly dried out fairly strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/rather spicy fairly smooth light vanilla/Am.oak rather complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long some blackberry/raspberry/spicy/Zin light Am.oak/vanilla fairly complex finish w/ light tannins; shows a bit of a loss of fruit & a slight drying on the palate but a lovely fully mature Zin & probably a bit beyond its peak. $28.00 (ATP)
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3. Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch/SonomaCnty (58% Carignane/41% Zin/1% PS; 14.2%; 46 brls; bttld 3/14; Drk: 1/14-1/19-1/20: EB) 2012: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; very attractive rather spicy/blackberry/Zin/raspberry light vanilla/Ridge oak fairly complex lovely nose; bit tart/tangy perfumed fairly strong blackberry/raspberry/cherry/Zin/spicy some Am.oak/vanilla quite smooth/balanced fairly complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; drying out slightly on the palate but just about in perfect condition and near or slightly beyond its peak. $32.00 (ATP)
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4. Ridge Mazzoni HomeRanch/SonomaCnty (70% Zin/28% Carignane; 43 brls; 14.3%; Drk: 1/15-1/20-1/21: EB)
Cupertino 2013: Dark color w/ slight bricking; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/raspberry/very spicy/slight licorice quite perfumed/aromatic beautiful nose; lightly tart quite smooth/lush/polished strong blackberry/Zin/quite spicy/bit licorice light vanilla/oak slight dusty/OV fairly complex flavor w/ modest smooth tannins; very long/lingering finish with modest smooth/polished tannins; a lovely balanced elegant somewhat mature Zin smooth/complex and probably right about it peak. $28.80 (ATP)
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5. Ridge MazzoniHomeRanch/SonomaCnty (62% Zin/36% Carignane/2% PS; 14.6%; 53 brls; bttls Feb 2016;
Aged: 3-6 yr old brls; Drk: 11/15-11/20-11/22: EB) 2014: Dark color w/ little bricking; very strong blackberry/ripe Zin/raspberry bit licorice/peppery some vanilla/oak quite perfumed complex nose; lightly tart/tangy strong blackberry/ripe/raspberry/very spicy some dusty/OV some vanilla/Am.oak some complex quite lovely/balanced flavor w/ modest smooth tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/very spicy light vanilla/oak light dusty/OV smooth/balanced complex finish w/ modest tannins; a beautiful fully mature Ridge Zin & just about perfect; not quite of the status of a mature LS, but pretty close. $33.00 (ATP)
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6. Ridge MazzoniHomeRanch Alex/Vlly/SonomaCnty (72% Zin/22% Carignane/6% PS; 14.2%; 49 brls; bttld April 2017; Drk: 2/17-2/23: EB; tartaric acid) 2015: Dark color w/ no bricking; slightly old-timey Ridge more advanced some vanilla/Ridge oak lighter less intense blackberry/Zin/very slightly spicy bit tired underwhelming nose; lightly tangy light blackberry/raspberry/Zin/slightly spicy bit tired/old-timey flavor w/ light tannins; a bit on the tired side & much further along & probably starting downhill. $35.00/ $31.50 (ATP)
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7. Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (14.5%; 59% Zin/36% Carignane/5% PetiteSirah; 57 brls;
bttld May 2018; Drk: 3/18-3/25-3/26: EB) 2016: Very dark color; very strong/intense blackberry/boysenberry/very spicy/licorice/slight peppery some dusty/OV quite lovely fairly youthful nose; fairly tart/tangy very strong ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/very spicy some dusty/OV some vanilla/oak rather structured fairly intense/youthful flavor w/ ample bit chewey tannins; needs another 2-4 yrs yet; reminds some of a LS but not as intense or spicy; lovely youthful Zin. $35.00/ $31.50 (ATP)
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8. Ridge Mazzoni Home Ranch/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (53% Zin/45% Carignane/2% PetiteSirah; 13.9%; 49 brls; bttld 4/21; Drk: 1/21-1/31: EB) 2019: Very dark color; bit more subtle/mature some blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/bit spicy stronger Am.oak/vanilla slight old-timey/more mature lightly perfumed nose; bit soft pleasant blackberry/Zin/boysenberry/lightly spicy strong vanilla/Ridge oak light dusty/OV bit quiet/restrained slightly complex flavor w/ ample chewey tannins; a bit more boring & subtle than the '16 and not as structured; may benefit w/ some age but not nearly as intense/youthful as the '16. $37.00 (ATP)
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More mazzeroski from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I've always sorta dismissed the Mazzoni Zins a lesser Zins because I'm not fond of AlexVlly Zins & I usually taste them w/ the big Ridge Zins & they don't show as well. However, a week ago, I was soundly scolded on the InterNet because I was not giving the Mazzonis the lofty reverence he thought they deserved (thanks, Wes), so I put together this tasting of Mazzonis from my stash.
I guess this tasting gave me a new-found added respect for Mazzoni Zins. They reminded me more of the LS Zins than anything. But they didn't have intensity & the distinct spiciness that you find in LS. I guess I would still put the Mazzonis in the 2'nd tier of Ridge Zins below the LS/Pagani/Geyserville. But at the top of this 2'nd tier above Nervo/Boatman/Buchagnani. But I plan to pay closer attention to the Mazzonis & no longer dismiss them out of hand.
Tom