TN: 1991-2005 Ridge Geyserville Zinfandel

WINE TALK
1

We knew the theme, but the wines were served blind to prevent any biases many of us might have over the vintages.

Served in pairs, listed in the order presented. Drank out of Riedel Vinum Syrah glasses.

1992
nose: dusty, light spice, light wood, hint of vanila
palate: medium body, red fruits, light wood, light earth, light brett
Score: B

1993
nose: dusty, red fruits
palate: medium full body, light tannin, lightly astringent
Score: C

1991
nose: red, spicy, brambly
palate: medium light body, spice, light oak, not much fruit
Score: B-

1994
nose: light sewer gas, smoke, light sulfur
palate: medium body, sulfur, smoke, late mid palate dies
Score: D

1997
nose: spicy, brambly, WOW, red fruits
palate: medium light body, spicy, light red fruits, oak, brambly
Score: B+

1996
nose: vanilla, very light barnyard, earthy, dark fruit, chocolate, spice
palate: medium-full body, barnyard, earth, short finish
score: B-

1998
nose: vanilla, spice, very light sulfur, brambly, red fruits
palate: full body, spice, white papper, light brambles, black fruits
Score: B+

1995
nose: volatile nose, spicy, volatility fades
palate: full, spicy, great exciting fruit, light earth
Score: A

2001
nose: brambly, spice, light white pepper
palate: full body, rich black fruits, light brambles, light spice
Score: A

2000
nose: brambly, light brown-maple sugar, red-purple-black fruits
palate: full body, black fruits, smoke, brambly spice
Score: A+

1999
nose: rich fruit, explosive, vanilla, purple, light stem
palate: full body, black fruits, purple fruits
Score: A

2002
nose: wood, red fruits
palate: medium body, red fruits, light spice
Score: A

2004
nose: earthy, dry chocolate, vanilla, brambles, light spice, wow
palate: full body, dry chocolate, earthy, dry chocolate
Score: A-

2003
nose: dry chocolate, tart cherry
palate: full body, dry chocolate, medium-light tannins
Score: B+

2005
nose: light coffee, chocolate covered cherries, bing cherries
palate: medium full body, chocolate cherries, lightly tart
Score: A-

Commentary:

What a great opportunity to taste a full vertical of Geyserville. Although announcing the theme probably helped, everyone commented that these wines had a lot in common stylistically. All were balanced and “elegant zin” if you will, compared to many of the monster zins out there. While the 1994 was clearly disliked by everyone (see further comments below), only perhaps the 1993 was “weak”, with the rest of the wines being tasty.

The 1994 opened at 3 days and showed none of those reduced/sulfury/sewer characteristics. Was it a bad bottle, something that needed to blow off? All I can say is 3 days later, just left open on my counter for the duration, it was a totally different wine and a nice drink. I need to revisit 1994.

1995 has been one of the more consistent and exciting wines, in my experience, in the Geyserville line-up. I’m lucky to have had it more than a dozen times and still have a few bottles and magnums. I do NOT believe it will improve but it will hold for another 3 years or more. Start planning a time to open yours if you’ve not had it in a while.

The 1998 has been a constant disappointment to me and my drinking friends, until this tasting. On release it was thin and boring. A bad vintage, and not a great Geyserville. Most of us bought 1-2 bottles and called it quits, writing it off. This bottle showed above and beyond expectations and leads me to wonder if it magically transformed with some age, or if those early bottles, and we’re talking 6 direct from the winery, were somehow “off”. No way to ever answer that, but I’ll no longer say bad things about the 1998 Geyserville.

The 1993 disappeared during the tasting so I could not revisit it. Is it perhaps the only “Weak spot” in this 15 year vertical? Or is it like the 1994 or 1998 which improved with air time?

2

The Riedel Syrah glasses were not the best choice. They’ll mute the nose and diminish the fruit. Zins, especially Geyserville, for us seem to show better out of Vinum Burgundy.

3

Awesome tasting! I am jealous. [beee.gif]

4

Wow, an A+ for the 2000. Found them a bit thin a few years back and didn’t buy anymore. Had a 94 from magnum late last year that was great after about 30 minutes

5

Simply awesome. Would love to do a lineup like that. Thanks for the notes. [cheers.gif]

6

Come out here anytime. At least 3 formal tastings a month, and maybe 4 dinners just at my place a month. Dick/Carollee et al also have their own things going on. NM is the place to be
[drinkers.gif] [cheers.gif]

7

Fantastic notes and lineup Jeff. Thanks.

8

One thing is clear from your TNs:

Either you appreciate the brighter fruit of the younger Geezers, or the older ones just did not show well.

The 1997 is a stunning Geyserville and from most Geezer freaks I know, this is their vintage of the decade. I am also a MONSTER fan of the 1995. I’ve gone through over 3 cases and have maybe six or seven bottles left that are now just opened on our anniversay because it is my wife’s favorite domestic red of all … that vintage. I think it has been on a plateau for a few years and seems almost Bdx like in some ways. Just gorgeous harmonious showing these days.

I am much more into the 1991/1992/1994 than you were. I have had them early and often. I find much to love in all three of them. 1994 is classic Geezer although I do prefer the 1995, just because of how much pleasure it gave me right upon release and every bottle since. The 1991 is now an elegant giant with plenty of soft fruit left. The 1992 is not for everybody, but I know folks who think it is one of the best versions of Geezer ever, if not for that decade alone. Stefan Blicker comes to mind as a crazed '92 fan.

The 1997 is explosive and I am wondering if that bottle was giving off the love. It actually drink the way 1995 did about five or six years ago, but probably is even greater in terms of sheer concentration and structure. I just love the plushness and textural sexy profile of the '95 though.

Sounds like a fantastic tasting and if we ever get to drink together, it will be fun doing some of these again, with a couple of older ones and Port for dessert … of course!

Thanks for taking the time to post Jeff.

9

One question for you Jeff. Where these popped and poured or were any of them decanted?

10

Popped and poured.

The older bottles, 93 in particular, could have been off. I didn’t start buying and cellaring myself until the 1995 vintage so the provenance is suspect on 91-94.

Do I like the younger vs. older? Maybe. But with the 1995 being one of my all time favorites, and it being one of the older wines in the group…

The 97 got a wow in the nose, but the palate wasn’t as exciting. Slightly closed? No clue.
B+ is a pretty good score from me FWIW.

11

Great notes Jeff, Man I must have drank 2 cases of that 97- tasty wine.

12

Nice notes, Jeff, I’d love to attend a Geezer vertical sometime.

Re the 1998, in my experience, many of the Ridge 1998’s, which were very unimpressive upon release, really improved markedly with about 3-5 years of age, and most are still a very nice drink. Not a great vintage, perhaps, but much better than the early reports would suggest. By contrast, many (not all, including Geezer) of the 1997’s, which seemed phenomenal upon release, matured very quickly and became rather pruney and unattractive around the time the 1998’s were really coming into their own. Geezer is still excellent, however.

Thanks for the report.

13

Great tasting. Thanks for the notes.

I’m with Roy, I love the 1991 and still have some. Too bad yours didn’t show better.

Cheers,

14

I’ve got one bottle of '90 Geyserville that I look forward to cracking open soon…

15

The 97 is my favorite. However, it was drinking much better 4+ yrs ago.

16

Bennett, you know you are always welcome here

17

Nice lineup. I love the 1994 and the 2001. The Geysers were pretty weak IMHO in 02, 03, and 04… the 05 seems like it might be a return to form.

FWIW, this is less Zin and more blend, even if zin is always the largest component in the blend.

18

Great notes Jeff and it’s great to see all of the Geezer fans. Basically if I were told I could only have one wine, Geezer would be it.

On a flyer I bought a case or so of old Zins from Winebid that should arrive next week. Some will undoubtedly be vinegar but it is in the interest of science and history. Plus it’s a fairly inexpensive experiment.

The two oldest are an 85 Geyserville Trentadue ATP followed by the 87 regular Geezer. The others with one exception are from the 90s including a couple of Montelenas, a Biale and a Chateau Potelle.

A considerable oddity: a fiver spent on a wine that has one fan in the entire world: Tom Hill. He has written longingly about Sea Ridge Occidental Vineyard Zin. Occidental is of course Sonoma Coast Pinot country, way too cold for Zin. I have high hopes for the 89! [drinkers.gif]

Reports in due course. [1974_eating_popcorn.gif]

19

i almost bid on that CPotelle last w/e. really solid Zin.

20

I taste with Tom quite a bit and I’d be interested in seeing your thoughts on a “Tom Hill wine”.

Dick Krueger keeps zins 30+ years and I’ve had some pretty remarkable ones from his cellar. A while back he did some 1980s zins and 1980s cabs in 2 different tastings. The expectations were the cabs would be holding up, the zins OTH. It was the other way around.