TN: 2001 Ridge Petite Sirah Essence (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley)

WINE TALK
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  • 2001 Ridge Petite Sirah Essence - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (4/23/2022)
    Opened an hour prior to serving, but not decanted, as there was too much gunk all over the upper third of the bottle. Poured through a very fine mesh filter, which caught most of the stuff.

Aromatically this feels more like Port, with the deep, brooding plum and black cherry fruit that veers towards kirsch. The mouthfeel is silky, and a bit unctuous. There are still tannins, but they only come in at the very end, and are largely submerged by the density of fruit. The flavors merge berry compote and raisin. Not the most complex wine, but it has a visceral appeal.

Posted from CellarTracker

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My man! Fun to open the same bottle virtually and I purposely did not look at your note before writing mine…but they are VERY similar! Pretty cool that we both got plums and black cherries! Cheers bud!


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Ive had a bunch from early 90’s which were all amazing. I think 20 years is likely a tad early for these

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Yep, I can see future improvement here for sure. As mentioned, I’ll hold my last one for a while…but fun to check in on one now [cheers.gif]

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It may be early but it is still fun.

My other two bottles are buried, so they will get a lot more sleep.

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Hilarious that my first thought at the TN headline was, “oh nice, older Ridge…this is either Rich or David.” Awesome that you both opened it! [cheers.gif]

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Ha ha ha! Welp…at least we didn’t disappoint :wink:

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Should have included “or Sarah.” :wink:

We opened an 83 Ridge York Creek Devils Hill Petit Sirah last night. I can tell you it was not suffering at all for another 18 years of age. Nothing port like about this one!

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This is my go-to red dessert wine (a wine buddy opened one in 2011 and I subsequently loaded up at various auctions), great to see the notes and the affection! I can definitely see the references to vintage port but I also get recioto with this essence.

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The 1974 took thirty plus years to be drinkable, and another ten before greatness.

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Devils Hill is truly apex PS.

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This PS is from Lytton Estate.

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Nice Sarah! I have a bottles of Devil’s Hill from 1980 and 1985 that I’m really looking forward to opening at some point. Obviously very different wines compared to the Essence, but that would have been super disappointing if yours was port-like, ha!

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I think both those bottles outlive me.

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Agreed buddy! In no rush to pop either of them!

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Interesting, David. Thanks for the TN.
Does it indicate the Sugar At Harvest or the RS??

This Essence wines are probably best drunk when there is still that ton of ripe fruit in them.
I don’t find they develop a whole lot of complexity and, oftentimes, as they age the raisend/pruney
character starts to come out in te wine.
Tom

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35.8% at harvest
10.0% in bottle

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If you’re interested Tom i included a picture of the back label on my TN (2nd post directly under David’s). You just need to scroll through them.