WTN: Ridge Zin Buchignani '09...(short/boring)
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:56 am
Tried this yesterday w/ John:
1. Ridge Zin BuchignaniRanch/DCV/SonomaCnty (9% Carignane; 13.5%; 46 brls; Bttld: 1/11; 75 yr old vines; Drk: 10/10-10/15-10/16: JO) 2009: Dark color; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/spicy bit peppery light vanilla/smokey/Am.oak rather dusty/OV slight DrPepper/RCCola slight herbal/chive quite attractive nose; lightly tart strong blackberry/Zin/raspberry/very spicy light vanilla/Am.oak/smokey bit peppery/DrPepper/chives balanced flavor w/ modest/smooth tannins; very long lightly tart strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/very spicy light vanilla/oak/smokey slight chive/DrPepper/peppery balanced/polished finish w/ modest tannins; quite an attractive/drinkable Zin at a good price. $28.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I've long been less than thrilled by the Ridge ATP program and used to give DonnReisen a lot of static over it. Over the yrs (followed it from the very start), I've found that some/many of the Zins underperformed...that they were only a slight step above the basic Ridge 3Vllys. They never seemed of the level of the LyttonSprings/Geyserville/Pagani/Dusi. I'd rattle Donn's cage that these limited ATP Zins should..dang it...be something special. True, oftentimes/sometimes, these ATP Zins would be underwhelming on release, but they had this uncanny knack of improving in the btl and rising up and biting you in the a$$ down the road as to how good they'd become.
It's still a program that I struggle a bit with..particularly as to the timing of releases. Ridge is already into release of their '11 Zins...and this is an '09 that's just being released?? What's the wine been doing sitting in btl for over 2 yrs? It's a bit of a puzzle to me how they decide what ATP wine they're going to release each month..seems like no rhyme nor reason.
That said...there seems to be a quiet undertow of improvement in the Ridge ATP Zins. This is probably the best Buchagnani Zin that I've yet tried. Last months Carmichael Zin '10 was the best Carmichael I can recall. Somthin' going on at Ridge?? There seems to be a subtle shift in the style, across the board, of the Ridge Zins. There seems to be a more fruit-forward and greater intensity of fruit than those of yesteryear. There seems to be a bit toning down of the oak treatment and less of the classic "Draper Perfume" in the wines. And not just the ATP Zins...but the regular releases as well. But...then...it all could very well just be my imagination. After all..I've only been drinking Ridge Zins for some 40+ yrs now.
Tom
1. Ridge Zin BuchignaniRanch/DCV/SonomaCnty (9% Carignane; 13.5%; 46 brls; Bttld: 1/11; 75 yr old vines; Drk: 10/10-10/15-10/16: JO) 2009: Dark color; fairly strong blackberry/Zin/spicy bit peppery light vanilla/smokey/Am.oak rather dusty/OV slight DrPepper/RCCola slight herbal/chive quite attractive nose; lightly tart strong blackberry/Zin/raspberry/very spicy light vanilla/Am.oak/smokey bit peppery/DrPepper/chives balanced flavor w/ modest/smooth tannins; very long lightly tart strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/very spicy light vanilla/oak/smokey slight chive/DrPepper/peppery balanced/polished finish w/ modest tannins; quite an attractive/drinkable Zin at a good price. $28.00 (ATP)
____________________________
A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. I've long been less than thrilled by the Ridge ATP program and used to give DonnReisen a lot of static over it. Over the yrs (followed it from the very start), I've found that some/many of the Zins underperformed...that they were only a slight step above the basic Ridge 3Vllys. They never seemed of the level of the LyttonSprings/Geyserville/Pagani/Dusi. I'd rattle Donn's cage that these limited ATP Zins should..dang it...be something special. True, oftentimes/sometimes, these ATP Zins would be underwhelming on release, but they had this uncanny knack of improving in the btl and rising up and biting you in the a$$ down the road as to how good they'd become.
It's still a program that I struggle a bit with..particularly as to the timing of releases. Ridge is already into release of their '11 Zins...and this is an '09 that's just being released?? What's the wine been doing sitting in btl for over 2 yrs? It's a bit of a puzzle to me how they decide what ATP wine they're going to release each month..seems like no rhyme nor reason.
That said...there seems to be a quiet undertow of improvement in the Ridge ATP Zins. This is probably the best Buchagnani Zin that I've yet tried. Last months Carmichael Zin '10 was the best Carmichael I can recall. Somthin' going on at Ridge?? There seems to be a subtle shift in the style, across the board, of the Ridge Zins. There seems to be a more fruit-forward and greater intensity of fruit than those of yesteryear. There seems to be a bit toning down of the oak treatment and less of the classic "Draper Perfume" in the wines. And not just the ATP Zins...but the regular releases as well. But...then...it all could very well just be my imagination. After all..I've only been drinking Ridge Zins for some 40+ yrs now.
Tom