Archive for the ‘Vintage Wine Labels’ Category

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Around The Word With Ridge Wine -or- How A 1989 Bradford Mountain Traveled From Maui, to Washington, to Texas, and to Tennessee, And How It’s Tasting Now! (Hint: Great!)

October 28, 2009

I’ve received another one of THOSE e-mails again, one of those great, wonderful, touching, inspiring, gratifying e-mails in which someone shares an amazing story about one of our wines. These time, a lovely customer by the name of Marti is the sender, and here is what she wrote:

“Several years ago, we had been given as gifts, a 1989 Ridge California Cabernet Bradford Mountain and a 1992 Ridge California Cabernet York Creek. We always meant to open these wines but somehow, never did so. Over the years, these bottles moved with us to Maui, Washington, Texas and now, Tennessee. Last night, thinking that the 1989 Cab was now surely vinegar we opened it and in a word, it was marvelous. Full-bodied, berry and oak infused, it was delicious. Thought you would like to know.”

You’re darn right we’d like to know! What a wonderful story! And I have to say, this is particularly gratifying to hear, given the existence of some past critical assessments of this wine that were slightly less than favorable regarding this offering’s potential for longevity. Take that, wine critics! 20 years later, and it’s “marvelous”! I love it! (Even Paul Draper himself only gave this wine a 12-year development window!)

Thanks so much to Marti for sharing her story, and to all of you out there, keep the wine tales coming!

89CBM

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Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, History, Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Vintage Wine Labels, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Tales | Leave a Comment »

2002 Stone Ranch: New Tasting Notes For A Vintage Wine!

October 12, 2009

One of the real joys of my job here at Ridge/Monte Bello is reading the wonderful e-mails that come through our inbox chronicling the experiences that people have had with our wines. Sometimes heartwarming, sometime instructive, always appreciated, together these correspondences comprise a jigsaw puzzle that, when assembled, paints a beautiful picture of the roles our wines play in people’s lives.

I always appreciate the opportunity to read these mails, and I am particularly pleased when individuals agree to let me post their thoughts and comments for our readers to enjoy. Today is one such occasion when it is my great pleasure to share an experience enjoyed by one Gregory Frank, a Ridge customer who recently tasted not one but two bottles of our 2002 Stone Ranch.

02ZSR1-L

For those of you who may not be familiar with this wine, this was actually quite an important release, as it was the debut of the Stone Ranch designation! Only 40 barrels were made, and it was not distributed to retail or restaurant accounts; rather, it was only made available through our ATP Wine Club, adding even more cachet to this already quite exclusive offering.

The Stone Ranch vineyards are located on the western edge of Alexander Valley, near the Geyserville vineyards, and are surrounded by river rocks tilled from the soil over many years. It’s a warm day-cool night microclimate, with very gravelly soil, and the zinfandel vines there were planted in 1988 and 1994.

When Paul Draper wrote the label notes for this wine in December of 2003, his prediction for longevity and development was a year or two of bottle age for softening, and an additional 3 or so years to achieve full development. So in theory, based on Paul’s prediction, the wine should have peaked nearly a year ago.

However, I am happy to report that does not appear to be the case! After tasting through two bottles, Gregory wrote the following:

“I just drank my second 2002 Stone Ranch Zinfandel. What a wonderful wine. Perfectly balanced and drinking beautifully. This is an elegant wine.”

So if anyone out there is holding on to any bottles of this wine, it sounds to me like it might be a good time to pull the cork on one!

Cheers to Gregory for sending his thoughts across, and cheers to the 2002 Stone Ranch! Anyone else tasted this wine recently? Enquiring minds want to know!

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Posted in Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Vineyards and Oenology, Vintage Wine Labels, Wine Clubs, Wine Tales, Zinfandel | Leave a Comment »

1985 Ridge Vineyards Langtry Road -or- The Rippel Effect!

September 30, 2009

What a wonderful e-mail I recently received from one Rod Rippel, Ridge fan extraordinaire! 

Given that anytime I receive an e-mail that begins with the words, “Rummaging around in my cellar” I get a tingly feeling on the back of my neck, you can only imagine my excitement when I discovered the words that followed that initial tease: 

“Rummaging around in my cellar I came across a 1985 Ridge Langtry Road Claret bottled in Aug of ’87 under a Ridge label with ATP initials.”

Wow! 1985 Langtry Road! Rod goes on to write:

“I think I’ve had it since the late 80′s.”

Ok, now I’m really getting the shiver-me-timberses; a 1985 Langtry Road, properly stored in a home cellar for 20 years! Ooooh, this could be good!!! And what does Rod write next?

“This wine is still very good!”

Straight, simple, right to the point; literary beauty and the art of simplicity. This wine is still very good. I love it.

85 Claret- Langtry Road

Rod also wrote the following very wonderful set of notes and observations:

Moderate sediment, nice color (petite syrah?), crystal clear. 
Nice balance and mouth feel, berry flavor (Zin?) still there, and nice persistence.
Initial impression – refreshing and drinkable wine.

And he closes with perhaps the most excellent observation of all:

“After 20+ years we should all turn out so well!”

Cheers to that Rod, and thank you!

 Has anyone else out there tasted this wine recently? Do you have a bottle in your cellar? Enquiring minds want to know!

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Posted in Carignane, History, Petite Sirah, Tasting Notes, Varietals & Blends, Vintage Wine Labels, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Tales, Zinfandel | Leave a Comment »

A REAL Wine Mystery For The True RIDGE Sleuth!

August 17, 2009

Here’s a brain-teaser to truly twist the tendrils of your Ridge detection software: Anybody out there want to hazard a theory as regards the story behind this wine? (See photos below …)

Posted in Events & Photographs, History, Ridge Memorabilia, Vintage Wine Labels | 2 Comments »

Fiddletown Revisited! -or- Current Tasting Notes: 1974 Ridge Vineyards Fiddletown Zinfandel!

July 24, 2009

74_RV_Fiddletown

You may remember a recent post in which the 1974 Ridge Vineyards Fiddletown Zinfandel was the primary topic of discussion.  (You can find it here).  Although I received some wonderful back-history on this rare offering in the course of assembling the post, I had no contemporary tasting notes. But now I do! Courtesy of a great friend to Ridge whom I’ll call Ron P, we have evidence from a very recent tasting on the current state of this wine. Here are the notes Ron P provided me:

 

“Bottom line: The 1974 Fiddletown was wonderful.

We had friends over for dinner last night. They’re enthusiastic, knowledgeable wine drinkers, whose taste runs to the better wines.

I found I had three bottles of the ’74 Fiddletown.  All were down a bit in volume, I guess due to migration of the wine through the cork.

 The cork was a challenge to remove, as it had become very weak; I used my favorite opener for situations like this, an Ah-So.

There was minimal sediment; color was mostly classic zin, with only a tiny hint of brown.  It was soft on the palate, with an elegant finish.  We all waxed poetic about the staying power of this remarkable 35-year old(!) wine, a zinfandel no less.  It was a fine complement to hamburgers on the grill.

An added note, the wine was not stored in classically proper conditions.  It was stored indoors; was always on its side, but temperature was all over the place.”

 

Hurrah for the Fiddletown, Hurrah for Ron P!

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Posted in Tasting Notes, Vintage Wine Labels, Viticultural Salmagundi, Wine Tales, Zinfandel | 2 Comments »

Fiddle Me This -or- The 1974 Ridge Vineyards Fiddletown Zinfandel Unearthed!

June 8, 2009

I recently received a wonderful e-mail query about this wine from a gentleman who “discovered” two bottles of it in some cases he had bought many years before. As this is not a wine that comes across my bow too often, I was of course intrigued, and was fortunate to be able to speak with both Eric Baugher and Paul Draper on the matter. Both were very insightful, though neither had tasted the wine in some time. Paul was kind enough to pen some words for me, however, which I thought I’d share here:

“The 1974 & 1978 were the most exceptional of the zinfandels we produced from that vineyard in the Sierra Foothills.”

“The ’74 was still showing well at 20 years of age and now that we are at 35 years of age, though we have not tasted it in years, it may have faded – but one never knows with old zinfandels and it may still be an interesting wine to try.”
–PD

I’ve attached a scan of the label below (click on the image to see full-size):

74_RV_Fiddletown

Has anyone out there tasted this wine recently? I’d love to get some feedback!

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Posted in History, Ridge Memorabilia, Vintage Wine Labels, Zinfandel | 11 Comments »

More Vintage Wine Labels: Ridge California Zinfandel Lytton Spring 1972

May 22, 2009

Another brilliant vintage wine label courtesy of Mr. William Powell, the 1972 Ridge California Zinfandel Lytton Spring! And there is a good piece of trivia associated with this wine, anybody know it?

 

72 LyttonSpring

Posted in History, Lytton, Vintage Wine Labels | 9 Comments »

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