We tried the new Ridge Z-List release at our Pig+Fig tasting last night:
1. Ridge Zin Ponzo RRV (14.3%; 96% Zin/4% PetiteSirah; bttld 01/25; Drk: 12/24-12/30: SR) 2023: Dark color; some vanilla/Am.Ridge oak spicy/Zinberry/blackberry bit dusty/OV rather attractive spicy nose; lightly tart fairly strong blackberry/Zinberry/spicy light vanilla/Ridge oak fairly dusty/OV fairly classic Ridge Zin flavor; long Ridge/oak blackberry/Zinberry finish that tracks flavor; quite an attractive classic Ridge Zin; one of the better Ponzos of late. $42.00 (Z-List)
__________________
2. Ridge LyttonSprings DryCreekVlly (14.4%; 76% Zin/14% PetiteSirah/7% Carignane/2% AlicanteBouschet/1% Mataro; bttld Jan 2025; Drk: 12/24-12/34: SR) 2023: Dark color; classic LS/spicy/blackberry some dusty/OV light Am.Ridge oak/vanilla/pencilly bit light classic Ridge LS nose; lightly tart fairly spicy/LS Zin/blackberry some vanilla/Am.oak rather dusty/OV quite nice but just that flavor w/ modest tannins; very long classic LS/spicy finish that tracks flavor; an attractive if a bit lighter LS Zin. $56.00 (Z-List)
__________________
3. Ridge Zin PaganiRanch SonomaVlly (14.4%; 79% Zin/10% AlicanteBouschet/9% PetiteSirah/2% Mataro; bttld Feb 2025; Drk: 1/25-1/32-1/33: SR) 2023: Very dark color; very strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin slight sauvage quite dusty/OV strong Am.oak light earthy bit complex nose; bit soft rich/lush quite dusty/OV strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/spicy strong Ridge/oak bit structured bit structured flavor w/ modest rustic tannins; very long strong Ridge/oak strong blackberry/boysenberry/Zin finish w/ modest tannins; a pretty classic Pagani Zin but a bit lighter than previous ones. $46.00 (Z-List)
___________________________________
More zeezerfurt from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. The last few Ponzo releases from Ridge have been a real step up for them. I've always regarded Ponzo (and Mazzoni) as an underperforming wine for such a great OV Zin vnyd. Only a small step above the East Bench Zin. But the last few have been a big improvement & a big step above EastBench. Maybe that's Shauna's doing. But this Ponzo continues that trend.
Usually the Pagani is my favorite of the Ridge Zins because of its greater intensity and more rustic/sauvage character from the Alicante. Of these three, the Pagani was the slight favorite. That said, this Z-list release struck me as a bit weaker than previous releases. This just came off the boat last week & that might have made them seem somewhat weaker. But thy are all three good/solid Ridge Zins.
Tom