@larry_schaffer that showed very well. I have had so much good luck with these @Joel_Peterson wines. What a treat that he was able to get these back and into our hands. I still have a mixed case, so we’ll get to try some other bottles. Cheers.
Had a 1987 Sonoma Merlot last night. Stood up for 3 days. Very little sediment (some relatively fine at the end of the bottle). Great color and fruit. Drinking so well. Crazy, but I would say this bottle could still drink well over the next two or three years (or more). Looking forward to more of the Merlot, which I’m glad I have the most of from this shipment!
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Mine came today, just looking at these old bottles put a smile on my face:
1979 Cabernet Sauvignon
1983 Cabernet Sauvignon
1984 Merlot
1987 Merlot
1991 Merlot
1992 Merlot
1992 Dry Creek Zin
1994 Cab Franc
1996 Cab Franc
1997 Cab Franc
1998 Merlot
2001 Old Vine Zin
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I had my order held till April and it arrived today. Really nice and interesting mix… looks like a Cab Franc vertical tasting is in my future. I was hoping for perhaps a single vineyard Zin like Old Hill etc but super excited to try these once they settle for a bit. My case included:
1994, 1996, 1997, 1999 - Cabernet Franc - Sonoma County
1987, 1988, 1991 - Merlot - Sonoma County
1978, 1984 - Zinfandel - Napa Valley
1992 - Zinfandel - Dry Creek
1983, 1991 - Cabernet Sauvignon - Sonoma County
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Finally got my inventory list from storage of the bottles I got - very excited to try these:
1995, 1999 Cab Franc Sonoma County
1986, 1992 Merlot Sonoma County
1979, 1988, 1990, 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County
1994 Petite Sirah Sonoma County
1988, 1994 Old Vine Zin Sonoma County
1981 Zin Napa Valley
the '95 was amazing at Falltacular
jealous
Had a 1992 Ravenswood Sonoma County Zin. Cork came out very easily (even sort of just slipped out with the Durand). Still deep red with very little bricking and still somewhat “fresh” fruits if that makes sense. Just delicious. And even better the second day. Never ceases to amaze me how well these Ravenswood wines age, regardless of grape, although I’ve had way more of Zin and Merlot than other varieties. Looking forward to continuing to open the various bottles, but honestly don’t see a rush based on recent taste experiences. Thanks to the whole Ravenswood team for these wines!
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Had a 1989 Ravenswood Sonoma County Merlot (87% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc, 5% Cab Sauv). Just delicious. Not really any bricking. Still pretty deep red. Nose smelled “fresh” upon opening; no mustiness or funk. Drank well right away. Smooth, with plenty of fruit left. I could see this bottle lasting a few more years. A nice coat of sediment on the side of the bottle, even though it had been standing for a week. Did not throw off much sediment at all on the pour. All in all, a very enjoyable bottle, like pretty much all of the library releases. I wonder of Joel has any more of these offerings. If so, I’d jump at the opportunity to get more.
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From the Ravenswood Library Offer last year
1994 Ravenswood Cabernet Franc Sonoma Valley: Decanted for 1 hour and consumed over 3 hours. Cork came out relatively easy and was in great shape. Aroma of dark cherry-cassis fruit, fennel and earth.
Flavors of red cherry, cedar, fresh tobacco, iron and eucalyptus. Good acidity binds this together with the tannins just about fully resolved. Very nice complete wine. With rare hanger steal, pretty great!
Makeup of the wine for those interested.
19% Los Chamizal
25% Pickberry
27% Rancho Salina
29% Rattlesnake Ridge
1035 cases
Total Acidity 0.60 grams per 100 ml
13.4% ABV
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Photo shows Franc
Thanks, Franc it was. All fixed.
Tom
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Open a 1990 Ravenswood Zinfandel Sonoma County for the celebration of 35 years since my wife and I became engaged. Back label says Old Vine Zinfandel with a break down of 57% Dry Creek, 30% Alexander Valley, 13% Sonoma Valley. As many have said with these library wines, an hour plus in the decanter made a significant difference. No way that I would have said 1990 if served blind. Significant bricking says old but full mouthful including intriguing spice seems much younger. Thanks @Joel_Peterson for the opportunity to taste this bit of history.
If I’m remembering correctly what (Morgan?) has said in various spots, all or most of that 57% is Teldeschi. They were the backbone of the SC Zin before they started vineyard designating that fruit.
I had a weird experience with one of these over the weekend - the 1992 Sonoma County Merlot was corked. Yet it was perhaps the best corked wine I’ve ever had. Nose very distinct but not overpowering TCA, but the palate, despite perhaps not being what it should have been (I obviously didn’t have a clean bottle to do a side-by-side) still had fruit enough to make for enjoyable drinking - not something I get with corked wines.
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Forgot to post about this but brought one from the last Library release back to my parents a few months ago. Believe it was an 80s Merlot. It led to a story from my dad that Ravenswood in the 80s was the first good wine he purchased and several off shoots of that. Drank a lot of wine with him but all of the stories / offshoots that came from this were new to me. Made the entire case worth it in one bottle
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Hey Steve,
I am glad the wine showed well for your 35 years of matrimony. Definitely something worth celebrating. Congratulations. The Dry Creek portion in those years was Teldeschi. I just opened a 1990 Sangiacomo which has aged very well as well.
All the Best,
Joel
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A 1989 Sangiacomo Merlot is next on my list!
Yum. 
The first Sangiacomo Merlot that I made.
Joel
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Still have 18 bottles from the library sales, now 17.
This is still clearly Zinfandel, but has developed some old book and gravelly undertones that elevate it to another plane.
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Check your emails and mark your calendars, there’s a magnum release scheduled for February 4 at 12:00 Eastern/9:00 Pacific.
“Among the wines in the library is a small assortment of Ravenswood Magnums. Next week, I will be releasing a very limited number of Magnum 3-Packs drawn from this collection. Each 3-pack will include three different wines, with no duplication. The selection will span Single Vineyard and County Series Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, with vintages ranging from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s. To ensure broad access, purchases will be limited to two Magnum 3-Packs per customer.”
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