California Grapevine September 2016 Reviews

September 2016

The September issue of the California Grapevine saw three Ridge wines score 90 points and above.

2014 Ponzo Zinfandel, 91 Points – Medium to medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, forward, briary, toasty, boysenberry and blackberry jam aroma with spicy and peppery notes; full body; rich, ripe, fleshy, red and black fruit flavors with good depth and balance; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Shows very accessible fruit and even some elegance making it very enjoyable to drink in it youth, and also worth of another three to five years of bottle aging. Very highly recommended. 14.6% alcohol; 1,600 cases; blended with 4% PS; released September 2016. (Group Score: 16.5, 1/1/0; My Score: 17 [91/100], sixth place)

2014 Pagani Ranch Zinfandel, 91 Points – “Medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, forward, intense, ripe, spicy, briary, jammy, blackberry and blueberry fruit aroma with a note of black pepper and a hint of bacon fat; full body; rich, ripe, cedary, mouth-filling, dark fruit flavors with good depth and concentration, firm acidity, and hints of black pepper and dark chocolate; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Rich fruit and tannin under control make this wine very enjoyable to drink now, though also shows good aging potential.” Very highly recommended. 14.8% alcohol; 3,200 cases; blended with 17% Alicante Bouschet and 3% PS; released September 2016. (Group Score: 16.4, 1/0/1; My Score: 17 [91/100], eighth place)

2014 Lytton Springs, 90 Points – “Medium-dark ruby; attractive, spicy, briary, ripe, plummy, red and black berry fruit aroma with hints of vanilla and green olive; full body; rich, ripe, spicy, textured, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors with good depth and structure; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very approachable and easy to drink now, though deserving a few more years of bottle aging.” Very highly recommended. 14.3% alcohol; 11,500 cases; a blend of 69% Zinfandel, 18% PS, 11% Carignane, and 2% Mataro; released September 2016. (Group Score: 16.3, 1/0/0; My Score: 17 [90/100], ninth place)