Jay Kline

9.7

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — 5 days ago

Jonathan Wall

9.7

Layers and layers that go on and on. Birth year gift from my father 14 years ago that we finally got around to now. Worth the wait. — 11 days ago

Mark Rosse

9.2

Lots of underlying fruitiness still there. Oak influence seems to have diminished. Solid Lytton Springs — 11 days ago

Doug Powers

9.8

[8 hour decant] Impenetrable, super opaque dark purple color, seriously, color is SO DARK it looks like 5W-30 motor oil after 10-15 thousand miles, lovely raisin aromas and flavors, tending a little dry as Dow’s VP does, super long, lingering finish, if any Vintage Porto could easily go 100+ years, this might be it!! Seriously, the color alone suggests a VERY YOUNG barrel sample, AMAZING!! — 15 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.4

Lovely sweetness on this one, spirit is nicely integrated, long, lingering sweet fruit finish, very well done Warre’s!! — 4 days ago

with Jim

Vino Joe

9.3

Just a half bottle test.. way way too early. Decanted and it needed a solid hour before it unfolded at all. Great structure lurking but this experience was impaired by immaturity. — 21 days ago

Stephen F Laga MD

9.1

2004 vintage well stored. Excellent — 13 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Very pretty color of ruby with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose with nice complexity.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate and complex.

Showing red and black fruits with wood, light licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Nice finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This 6 year old Zinfandel based Red blend from Sonoma County is drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Elegant and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft with a nice mouthfeel. Showing nice complexity at this point.

Wine Enthusiasts 90 points. Wine Spectator 93 points.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 73% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignan, 3% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — 2 days ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Excellent Zin with a lot of fruits; blackberries, cranberries and some dark cherries. Also, spice, cedar and more. Did not know what to expect as Zin’s don’t go for a lot of aging. Happy I found this one in my cellar and have a couple of other Ridge wines I need to drink up.

I stopped purchasing Ridge years ago as I got into lighter wines. Visited Ridge Winery last century and had an excellent tasting as I remember and met and chatted with Paul Draper. — 10 days ago

Walter Fahr

9.2

At 9 years old, very smooth with deep ruby color and nice texture. A fan of many of the Pine Ridge cabs. Pairs well with a variety of food. Drank in January 2025. — 8 days ago