TN: '01 & '02 Ridge Dusi Zins

Drank these a few weeks apart, so this wasn’t a side by side. Still, both of these are beauties.

2001 Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel ATP, $25, 15.2% alc.: Deep, dark color and not quite funky on the nose at first, with subtle tar over black fruit on the nose that carries over onto the palate. Black raspberry, blackberry and black plum flavors are accented with just a hint of Draper-esque character, and lavender dominates the overtones. Savory and not at all an over-ripe fruit bomb, this is the dark side of Zinfandel, deep and mysterious. Eminently drinkable, and best of all, still not at its peak.

- from More Wine with Friends

2002 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel Dusi ATP, $25, 14.9% alc.: Clean dark garnet color, with bright Draper perfume, black raspberry and blueberry on the nose; plenty more of the same on the palate, with a solid earthy base that anchors the wine nicely, and the Kerr dog mentions some sweet Moroccan spice. Great balance of the fruit, spice and earth, deceptively well structured for further development and yet already drinking so well right now. A complete wine from start to finish.

- from Hangin’ with the Gang: Black Bags & Bloody Brill!!

Reporting from Day-twah,

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