We tasted last week at Pig+Fig Some New Ridge ATP Wines:
1. Ridge Carignane BuchignaniRanch/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (13.4%; OldVines plntd in 1927 + '40's/'50's; bttld 12/22; 55 brls; Drk: 10/22-10/28: SR) 2021: Very dark/near black color; very intense black cherry/Carignane/blackberry/licorice rather dusty/OV bit spicy/chocolaty strong Ridge/vanilla oak bit complex nose; fairly tart/tangy intense black cherry/Carignane/black cherry cola/blackberry rather dusty/OV licorice some earthy/rustic/Languedoc-like some vanilla/Ridge oak bit complex flavor w/ ample rough tannins; very long/lingering intense black cherry cola/blackberry/Carignane finish w/ ample rough tannins; one of the best Buch Carignanes I can recall w/ huge Carignane fruit & a bit rustic/Languedoc character. $36.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Zin BoatmanVnyd/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (14.8%; 97% Zin/3% PetiteSirah; bttld March '22; 57 brls; tartaric acid; Drk: 1/22-1/30: JO) 2020: Med.dark color; strong vanilla/Am.oak pleasant raspberry/blackberry/Zin light earthy pleasant enough nose; soft rather raspberry/blackberry/Zin strong Am.oak/vanilla light earthy bit soupy pleasant flavor w/ light tangy tannins; a fairly typical soft/soupy AlexVlly Zin; a pleasant enough Ridge Zin slightly above the 3Vllys Zin in quality but pretty undistinguished & unthrilling. $36.00 (ATP)
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3. Ridge Zin BuchignaniRanch/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (14.6%; 80% Zin/20% Carignane; bttls 4/20; 59 brls; Drk: 3/20-3/28-3/29: JO) 2018: Very dark color; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/very spicy some dusty/OV strong vanilla/Ridge oak some intense/bit peppery quite attractive nose; lightly tart/tangy strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/bit peppery/fairly spicy some dusty/OV light earthy somewhat structured flavor w/ some tangy tannins; very long rather spicy/blackberry/Zin/raspberry some vanilla/Ridge oak bit complex finish w/ some tangy tannins; a fairly structured Zin that needs some age; a small step below the Ridge LS Zin; another very good Buchagnini Zin. $36.00 (ATP)
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4. Ridge Syrah LyttonEstate/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (15.1%; 93% Syrah/7% Viog; bttld 4/2017; 32 brls; Drk: 3/17-3/27: EB; tartaric acid) 2015: Very dark/near black color w/ little bricking; rather herbal strong blackberry/Syrah/licorice very strong vanilla/Am.oak classic Ridge bit complex nose; some tart/tangy very strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy/licorice/bit herbal strong vanilla/Ridge oak bit hard/tannic very youthful bit complex flavor w/ ample hard tannins; very long some tart/tangy strong blackberry/Syrah/herbal/licorice bit complex finish that needs age; a pretty intense Calif Syrah & a bit atypical of Ridge Syrah; lovely expression of Calif Syrah. $36.00 (ATP)
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5. Ridge Syrah LyttonEstate/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.8%; 89% Syrah/11% Viog xo-frmtd; bttld 6/20; 15 brls; Drk: 4/20-4/32-4/35: EB) 2018: Very dark/near black color for a Ridge Syrah; intense blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/very spicy bit chocolaty strong vanilla/Ridge oak very slight herbal bit complex nose; rather tart/tangy intense blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/ripe/very spicy bit vanilla/Ridge oak slight earthy/Rhonish flavor w/ ample tannins; very long/lingering fairly tart/tangy quite structured intense blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/licorice structured slight Rhonish/earthy fairly complex finish; speaks more of Calif Syrah than another Ridge Syrah; needs age; one of the best Ridge Syrahs I can recall. $45.00 (ATP)
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More quizzlegip from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. The last few vintages of Buchagnani Zin have been first rate. Near the LS in quality.
I was particularly impressed by these two Ridge Syrahs. In the past, their Syrah spoke mostly of Ridge winemaking and less characteristic of Calif Syrah. That was not the case of these two Syrahs. Both very good renditions of Calif Syrah, clearly Ridge wine, but not dominated by the Ridge winemaking.
I remember when DonnReisen brought the first Ridge Syrah, the '96, to show me at the DaveJones Memorial PotLuck at SantaFe Wine&Chile Fiesta. He could tell from my crestfallen look that I was not thrilled by it. It was dominated by the Ridge winemaking and not a whole lot of Calif Syrah character to it.... just another (good) Ridge Zin. In his avuncular manner, he placed his hand on my shoulder & told me to give it some time to age. He was, as always, quite right and it evolved into a very nice old Ridge wine. But not that unlike a good LS or Geyserville, not distinctly Calif Syrah.
Jeez....how I miss that guy. He was one of a kind.
Tom