I’m sure there’s been a thread like this. Simple question:
Besides Geyserville and Lytton Springs. Which Ridge Zin will you consistently buy year after year? And why?
Context: I am here sipping a 2018 Boatman and I don’t know that I enjoy it as much as the 15 or 16. Oddly, I don’t remember 2017. Anyways, interested in responses.
Pagani Ranch. Consistently good, ages well.
Pagani Ranch!!
Pagani is one third of the Ridge holy trinity of zin along with Lytton Springs and Geyserville, imho.
Love this website. I had no clue that Pagani was considered up there with Geezer and Lytton. I had thought that the Jimsomare was coveted. Other than that I thought they were all very similar and ws mostly preference.
Nate, I think the Jimsomare is coveted because it is more difficult to purchase. I may be wrong, but the Jimsomare may be winery-only for purchase. The Pagani is more widely distributed in the retail channel. Both are enjoyable! And the Jimsomare is not produced every year. Great question!
Ed
Another vote for Pagani.
I avoid Three Valleys, Boatman & East Bench. Never have cared for any of them. I think they are a detriment to the Ridge brand.
The three greatest Ridge Zins I have enjoyed are 87 Trentadue, 81 Stout, 90 Geezer.
I prefer the Ridge version of Pagani most years to those of Bedrock or Carlisle even though they are all great, despite being generally a bigger Bedrock fan (other vineyards). Cheers.
I have always found east bench thin and not complex. Just fruit forward and easy drinking.
I have a couple bottles in the cellar and I haven’t tried yet. Will report when I do.
Glenn L e v i n e wrote:
The three greatest Ridge Zins I have enjoyed are 87 Trentadue, 81 Stout, 90 Geezer.
Nice. Mine was the 1991 Geyserville.
Totally agree with this. Have just never been impressed with Three Valleys or East Bench. Bedrock OVZ blows them both out of the water for a similar price point.
I have a soft spot for the Mazzoni Home Ranch. I’m not sure I’d put it at the same level as Geyser/Lytton/Pagani. Blasi is a relatively new one for Ridge - I think 2015 was the first vintage - but has shown promise over the first few vintages.
Definite +1 on Mazzoni!
I also don’t feel that it’s at the level of Geezer or LS. Not so sure about Pagani. I bet it would be neck-and-neck. I did a vertical with my Zoom group in the past year. 2002, 04, 08-11. The only wine that didn’t show well was 2002. Might be because of the alcohol, 15.4%. It was on the raisiny, overripe side. All the others ranged from 13.8 - 14.7% and were very, very good. I have a bottle each of 03 and 05 to pick up from WineBid.
Nice! Sounds like a lovely tasting. I haven’t had the 2002 myself - sounds missable. To me, Geyser, Lytton and Pagani are the Tier 1 of Ridge zins, with Geyser at the top and Pagani at the bottom, and Mazzoni at the top of Tier 2. I agree that Mazzoni vs Pagani would be a close thing. Tier 3 would be things like Guadagni and the Paso and Rockpile bottlings, which I have felt lack the definition of the better wines.
I find some of the bottlings can vary a lot with vintage. For instance I really do not agree the Pagani belongs with Lytton and Geyserville as the elite bottlings. It seems VA prone in some years. The flip side of that is some of the lesser bottlings do very well in good years. I found most of the 2014’s from Ridge to be from good to excellent. The East Bench was a very nice wine that year. I still have a bottle or two.
Other bottlings that I like a good deal are Mazzoni Home Ranch and Buchignani Ranch. Again, vintage dependent for Boatman and Carmichael. Of course Jimsomare with some age.
I started writing Buchignani in my own reply but the variability, particularly in VA, gave me pause as it does for you with Pagani. I find the Pagani fruit holds that VA better, at least for my palate and in my experience. I definitely agree that Pagani is less consistent year on year than Lytton and especially Geyser, which I find almost impossibly consistent.
Evening gents. Just a little update. I decided to open the 2021 East Bench tonight thinking that I would get the usual thinner/acidic and “lesser” ridge zin that many of you and I have come to expect, based on this thread. However, this offering has quite a bit more body than east bench normally does and it is ripping dry with some chewy tannins. Very long finish. Anyways, I felt obligated to chime in as I would definitely purchase this bottle again. Also, no heat despite being 14.9%!
I am surprised that there has been only one mention of the Paso Robles/Benito Dusi vineyard. While not quite the level of the holy trinity I always have enjoyed this wine (both national and ATP releases).
I do miss the York Creek zin. 1978, '80 and '81 were memorable for me.
