Ed Rasimus wrote:
> On 15 Jan 2007 06:50:14 -0800, "DaleW" > wrote:
>
>> Thanks for note. Have you had '01Geyserville lately? Do you think it's
>> drinking as well now?

> I didn't have any of the '01 Paso Robles, but did try the '01
> Geyserville and noted that it was pretty full up front with a lot of
> vanilla notes--something I don't usually associate with zins, but
> Ridge can show it occasionally. Finish was "surprisingly watery".
>
> I used to see Dusi Ranch bottlings quite regularly when I was still in
> Ridge's ATP, getting their small quantity bottlings, but think they've
> gone to the Paso Robles branding for the major release zin.
>
> Last couple of years I've liked the Paso Robles better than Lytton
> Springs consistently and often find it equal to the Geyserville.

Dale: I haven't had the Geyserville recently. I typically give them 5+
years before opening, as I like them better with some bottle age. I'll
be opening the '95 soon, though ;-)

Ed: I still find that Geyserville is top o' the heap for me, with Lytton
Springs close behind, occassionally eclipsing it. What I value about
the Ridge Zins is the structure that accompanies the yummy fruitiness.
In recent years, the Pagani Ranch and Ponzo have vied with the Lytton
Springs for my affections, but I still give the nod to the Geyserville.

As we were drinking this wine, Jean said "This restores my faith in
Zinfandel" (we'd had a few Seghesios recently that left her cold) and
went on to say that over half of our Zin collection should be Ridge Zin,
to which I responded that, as of my last inventory, over 75% of our Zin
was from Ridge. I like the Zins of Cline and Seghesio, but only Biale
and Storybook Mountain really hit the same heights for me.

Mark Lipton