2007 Geyserville

Pungent black cherry, plum. Fresh and forward, yet with old-vine spice. Delicate floral notes, mint, gravelly earth. Chalky tannins, elegant structure. Firm, balanced acidity. Age worthy.

Winter quickly came and went, leaving the vines short on rain, but in good shape to begin an early growing season. A mild summer moderated the pace of ripening, allowing color and flavor to intensify. Mid-August heat accelerated maturation, and we harvested at ideal ripeness from late August through September. Parcels and sub-parcels fermented on natural yeasts in fifty small tanks. As we blind-tasted over the ensuing months, Geyserville’s unique character seemed clearest in thirty-nine of the lots. The exceptional quality of carignane and petite sirah argued for their full inclusion; percentages are comparable to the superb 1991 vintage. By year’s end, the blend was aging in air-dried american oak barrels. Sensuous structure and opulent fruit give this fine wine immediate appeal. Firm tannins and acidity assure its longevity over the next ten to twelve years.

Ridge has made the Geyserville as a single-site zinfandel in every year since 1966. The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards on a defined stretch of gravelly soil approximately one-and-a-quarter miles long and a half-mile wide.

Rainfall: Just below average at 35 inches, with a dry spring.
Bloom: Mid-May, that then set a crop of average size.
Weather: Dry spring and typical warm, dry summer, with no sustained heat spells.

Harvest Dates: 23 August – 29 September
Grapes: Average Brix 24.9
Fermentation: Natural primary and secondary; limited use of submerged cap, limited pump-overs. Pressed at ten days.
Aging: 100% air-dried american oak barrels (12% new, 29% one and two years, 59% three to five years old)
Time in Barrel: Twelve months

Vinous Media: 94 Points “The 2007 Zinfandel Geyserville is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. Even so, it remains very youthful. Wild dark cherry, leather, smoke, licorice and lavender add layers of aromatic depth. Bright acids perk up the finish and suggest the 2007 still has a long way to go. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine. I loved it.” – Antonio Galloni (October 2019)

Vinous Media: 93 Points. “The 2007 Zinfandel Geyserville shows just how compelling the wines from this site can be with a little time in bottle. Just starting to show the first signs of aromatic complexity, otherwise the 2007 shows very few signs of its age. The raciness of the fruit suggests a riper year, yet the wine is quite youthful. Ripe, creamy and generous, yet medium-bodied and refined on the palate, the 2007 is inviting from the very first taste. It should drink well for the next decade or so. There is no way I would have guessed this wine’s age had I tasted it blind. The sweet red cherry and pomegranate flavors are striking. ” -Antonio Galloni (July 2016)

Wine Advocate: 91 Points “The dark ruby/purple-colored 2007 Geyserville Proprietary Red (58% Zinfandel, 22% Carignan, 18% Petite Sirah, and the rest Mourvedre with 14.4% alcohol) offers up attractive aromas of boysenberries, black cherries, earth, pepper, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and pure, this classy wine should drink well for 7-8 years.” -Robert Parker (Issue 187, 27 Feb 2010)

San Francisco Chronicle – Top 100 Wines of 2009 – “The best Geyserville in years, and a reminder of Ridge’s quintessential restrained style. Sweet and subtle, with balsam, plump blackberry and a smoky edge, plus impeccable balance and a subtle, gutsy structure.” -Jon Bonne (6 December 2009)

San Francisco Chronicle – Good Wines for Thanksgiving – “A classic Geyserville that shows off why Ridge’s style has endured. Sweet and eloquent, with charred branch, balsam, plump blackberry and a smoky edge. The balance is impeccable.” -Jon Bonne (15 November 2009)

Wine Spectator: 91 Points “Ripe, exotic and loaded with personality. Aromas of ripe blackberry, underbrush and licorice lead to concentrated huckleberry and cracked-pepper beef flavors that finish with lively tannins. Best from 2010 through 2015.” -Tim Fish (15 October 2009)

California Grapevine “Medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, intense, briary, spicy, dark currant and loganberry aroma; medium-full to full body; tight, herbal, spicy, dark berry fruit flavors with a layer of vanilla; medium-full to full tannin; some harshness on the drying finish; lingering aftertaste. A claret-style Zinfandel blend that should reward a few more years of bottle aging. Highly recommended.” (Vol. 35, No. 3, June-July 2009) (Group Score: 15.4 of 20 points, 0/1/2; My Score: 16.5 [89/100], seventh place)

Connoisseurs’ Guide: 91 Points “An intriguing note of cranberry-like fruit sets this offering off on a track of its own while complexing elements of sweet oak, anise, dark chocolate and tar contribute further distinction. Somewhat tighter than most past Geyserville bottlings, it is a solidly structured effort whose ample richness is met by lots of vitality, and, if a bit angular at this point, it promises to blossom with a few years of age and reward those with patience.” (May 2009)

Average Rating: 89.7

No. of Tasting Notes: 349

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