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+--- Thread: 2003 Ridge Zinfandel Geyserville Sonoma (/thread-9550.html)
- TheEngineer - 11-25-2008
This one has a bit of age on it and I don't have much experience with aged zins. This one has certainly made it gracefully. More like a dusty aged burgundy, but more advanced than its five years would suggest. Nice but needs drinking.
KC, I'll bring this in after the holidays (unless you guys are open) so that you can try this. Got one more bottle left.
- Kcwhippet - 11-25-2008
We're closed on Thursday, but I'm in every day after - including Sunday.
- Thomas - 11-25-2008
Engineer,
These days, five years on a good Zinfandel is about as much to expect.
In the first place, the variety isn't known for aging; in the second place, the styles are forward and youthful.
- wondersofwine - 11-25-2008
However Ridge Zins tend to age better than most. I knew I posted on a Ridge Geyserville earlier this year and looked back. Drew and I both posted on the 2000 vintage in 2008 and found it drinking very well. The 2003 may age faster because of a hot vintage. Some of the Ridge Lytton Springs can also age for eight to ten years or more.
- TheEngineer - 11-26-2008
Thanks Foodie and WoW. I'm looking forward to KC trying it and comparing some notes!
- TheEngineer - 11-30-2008
Well, took one to KC's and DAvyJone's store and Dave was there. Sorry KC. Notes are exactly the same as above. Time ta drink these up!
- Daveyjones1 - 12-01-2008
This was dusty at first and not showing a great deal of fruit when it was first opened. I did smell a great load of fresh new oak. I opened it again a few hours later to see what happened. I found zins probably can age but into something I can say I love probably not. It became rich and very heavy lacking acidity, not old and dried out, just big syrupy loaded but not balance with dark fruit prunes and cocoa. Answered a big question; is there ever to much hang time and toasted French oak? YES
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D. Jones
- winoweenie - 12-02-2008
Found an orphan of this from the 77 or 78 vintage several years ago and it knocked all of our socks off. Know I posted on it. Also found an old bottle of the original Lytton Sprigs that was over 10 and it too was killer, IMHO the better zins can handle aging. I've had a bunch of Fred Scherrers' zins that had some serious whiskers that were delicioso. WW
- Thomas - 12-02-2008
WW, it depends on what one looks for in a Zinfandel (or in any wine, for that matter).
To my taste, when a Zinfandel approaches the qualities of a thick Cabernet Sauvignon, it is outside what I look for (bramble, solid acidity, on the rustic side of life, and certainly not too big). Those wines don't age as gracefully as one would like, but I don't care...
- winoweenie - 12-02-2008
Food-ster the wines I drank were definately more Claret-like than Calif-brambly-fruitbombs. The profile was soft, luxurious, refined and with maturity I find in most of my older Bordeaux and far more complexity than the regular zins ever have when young. AGAIN....these are atypical and from some seriously old and well-made producers. WW
- Thomas - 12-03-2008
WW, that's what I suspected.
I ain't as old as you--yet--but old enough to remember the difference (between a lot of things [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img])
- dananne - 12-03-2008
Also, it seems to me that, along with youthful balance, Zins that age have something else in common -- they often come from old vines in old vineyards, vineyards that may include some other stuff like PS, Alicante, etc. that all end up in something that is akin to a field blend. Including those other grapes from old vines, even if it only makes up a small percentage of the final blend, may help it age a bit, too. Thoughts?
- Thomas - 12-03-2008
Interesting point, and I have no particular opinion on it, 'cause I don't know the answer. How's that for an anti-wine geek response??? [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]
I should say, however, that one of my everyday Zinfandels is the Bogle Old Vine. I doubt the wine has much in the way of longevity/age-ability. But I also have no idea what they mean by "old vine."
- winoweenie - 12-03-2008
Old means ANCIENT like vines over 80-90-100 yars old. 'Kaint for the life of me see how enny-one done' no ancient. WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img] (I helped plant meeny of them suckerz.)