289. Ridge Vineyards, Geyserville Sonoma County, 2000

$??; 14.9%

When I was young (10-12) Ridge wines were the first Cali wines I knowingly saw in UK, so I assumed that this was how all Cali wine was labelled…! Anyway, so finally drank my first Ridge wine during a very pleasant evening with Tracey, Dante, Leah & Peter. Pleasant, and interesting to have a more mature Zin. Deep garnet with some bricking at the rim. On the nose, much more secondary aromas than normally on Zin – bacon frying, sweet warm spice, and then some dark fruit underneath. Soft tannins, but notable – and peppery (Carignan influences?). Rich, full-bodied and ripe, with more meaty notes over smooth fruit. Decent length spicy, slightly chewy finish. Good.