Tom Garland

9.3

Improved over previous tasting 3 years ago.

Double decant and pour. A light cloudy gold color. On the nose: mellow notes of Lemon, tangerine, banana, nutmeg, grapefruit. Taste: A chalky-creamy, rich mouthfeel wine with pear, lemon rind, little stone fruit, white pepper, oak, and a tropical minerally wet stone medium plus finish. — 12 days ago

with Brenda

NicoleRGN

9.2

On the nose red cherry, raspberry, herb, smoke - on the palate same but maybe a little plum - smooth tannins. Very good — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2008 vintage. Had never come across the "Little Hill" until today. Light-medium body. Decanted and was fairly musty for 2-3 minutes before it started to blossom. Some blue fruit/menthol/eucalyptus throughout the experience. Demonstrative spice component on the back end. Could really only ding this on being slightly "watery" on the front palate. Otherwise, this is kicking now and has plenty of life and love to give. 5.27.23 — 2 years ago

Adam Baker

8.9

Drank with Christmas dinner, with honey baked ham, with brown sugar sweet potatoes. Too fruit forward for me. Overwhelms the other flavors a little. Might be too young. — 5 days ago

with Chris, Brud and 1 other

Bob McDonald

9.2

Strong red florals and fading (compared to the previous tasting) yet noticeable oak. Also whole bunch influence. Tastes a bit bunchy. A little coarse on the medium plus bodied palate. Dark fruits - plum and cherry. Finishes with silky tannins which redeems the wine somewhat. A Shiraz drinkers Pinot with a twist - not very Burgundian. Amazingly Bob Campbell MW gave this wine 99 points in January 2015. — 6 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cherry, oak, and cola over plum. Good but a little tighter than the last one I had, maybe needed more time to open than it got. — 9 months ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.0

A little fruity for me, but enjoyable. — 2 years ago

with Brian

Abbas Zand

9.5

Blackberry, earthy nose. Dark red color.
Medium body.
Blackberry, cherry, and baking spice flavors.
Very good, a little young at the moment.
On sale for $30, regularly around $40. — 2 months ago

Lauren Young

8.9

At first a little too fruity but then mellowed out — 3 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

A few things; I still have not opened a bad bottle of Ridge, not even a corked bottle & I’ve had a number of them. First time having this bottling. I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel or Zinfandel blends but when I do, I prefer Ridge’s style.

96% Zinfandel & 4% Petite Sirah. Decanted 40 minutes.

Intense nose of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries and hints of blueberries, incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty, dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice, some; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers.

The palate shows; round, lush & juicy fruits of; brambly blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, liqueured dark cherries. boysenberries, notes of poached strawberries and hints of blueberries. Incense, soft black pepper, mid berry cola, black licorice, light barrel shavings, vanilla, melty dark chocolate, caramel notes, dark spice with some heat, a little; nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, finely crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, used iron pan notes, powdered minerals, liquid violets, lavender and red candid flowers, excellent round acidity, tall structure & fairly big tension, well balanced and nicely, layered, polished finish that lasts nearly 90 seconds.

Still a bit young to me. Better in 5-7 yrs and will drink well for another 5-7 after that. More new wood use here than I am used to in their Zin & Zin blends.

Paired nicely with my Allen Brothers burger.

Photos of; the drive up entry to Ridge’s tasting room hilltop above Cupertino, cellar barrel, Ponzo Vineyard fruit and their tasting terrace. — 9 months ago