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2001 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Auslese #20 - Germany, Nahe (2/19/2012)
This is a killer 2001, with lovely, intense scents of slate, honey, lime and cantelope. The palate is packed with gripping acidity and lots of glorious sweetness. Somehow, it’s not heavy at all, almost like an old school spatlese in weight. Not particularly complex (though that distinctive cantelope note is cool), but gutsy, long and lovely. Drinking great now. Too bad this is gone from the marketplace, I’m sure it was a great bargain on release. (93 pts.) -
1993 Ridge Lytton Springs - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (2/20/2012)
Starts with a lovely nose of sweet blueberry liqueur and lots of Christmas spices. Really nice, pure Zin bouquet. The palate isn’t as good, seeming a bit disjointed and acrid. The fruit is beginning to break up; it must be a little over the hill. Lytton Springs is better consumed younger than this, I find, not gaining as much as it loses after age like 15, while Geyserville seems to hold on until at least 20 years old. (86 pts.) -
1993 Ridge Mataro Bridgehead - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County (2/18/2012)
This is a very pleasant wine, with nice aromatics (incense, a hint of stewed fruit) and good polish. There’s ample, clean, brambly fruit, eschewing the gnarly side of mataro. The acidity is high, giving this excellent intensity while just avoiding being shrill. In fact, it comes across as vaguely Italian, especially the bouquet which is quite lifted and floral (perhaps attributable to the 14.2% alcohol). Good length, zero oak, pretty textbook Ridge. A bit one-note to wow, but much better than some other vintages of Ridge mataro I’ve sampled. Well done. (88 pts.) -
1991 Ridge Zinfandel Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (2/17/2012)
Wow, this is a really sweet wine (by Ridge standards), but it blessedly isn’t heavy and it has lots of zippy acids to keep it focused. The bouquet is all raspberry jam (a touch of heat starts to show with some air too). Seems kinda late-harvest. Has that Ridge kiss of American oak, evident but integrated. Overall, this wine charms more by intensity than nuance, and it actually starts to get a little tough to finish after a few glasses. The wood grows more aggressive with air, giving it some distinct coconut and astringency on the finish. Still, an enjoyable and unusual wine that just lacks some of the standard Ridge class and refinement. (90 pts.)
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