TN: 2007 Ridge Geyserville

Roy_Hersh · November 2, 2009, 5:25pm

This is the real deal. I had a bottle of this very early on with a TN posted here as well … and then again last winter during another great Geyserville vertical.

I wound up buying another case of the 2007, in addition to my original half case “exploratory” purchase. The 2007 version, harkens back to the earlier 1997 or possibly the 1995 Geezers, imo.

Gorgeous wild berry intensity immediately rockets out of the glass, with some black pepper and spice but just captivating, if you like the fragrant young Zin nose. Concentrated and chewy, brambly dark red fruits with plenty of tannins that encroach the mid-palate and gain grip even after the swallow. Fortunately, there’s ample acidity to keep the '07 in near perfect symmetry and this should be a beauty in 15-20 years, but of course is a lot of fun now, as long as you don’t mind your young Geezers. 92+ and probably heading to 93 points.

ToddFrench · November 2, 2009, 5:29pm

I’m still waiting on my '02 Geezer - the only one I’ve got!

Bill_Tex_Landreth · November 2, 2009, 5:32pm

If the '07 delivers as much enjoyment as the '97, then I will be very happy. Hopefully I can find some locally at a decent price.

N_Justl · November 2, 2009, 5:42pm

What would be considered a decent price for this wine?

Bill_Tex_Landreth · November 2, 2009, 5:45pm

I would like to see it locally for around $30, but the cheapest I have seen in these parts has been right at $40 a bottle.

ToddFrench · November 2, 2009, 5:59pm

And it’s a wine you can often find at better supermarkets (in CA, at least), so when they have sales, you can pick it up for a good price.

TomHill · November 2, 2009, 6:02pm

MSRP is $35 on the Ridge WebSite. You should be able to find it in the low $30’s. We got it for $31.50/btl last month,
case discount and free shipping.
Ridge is pretty pro-active in protecting their market and you don’t often see them (xcept the 3Vllys) at retail of
the heavy discounters.
Tom

ChrisBeacham · November 2, 2009, 8:12pm

Roy Hersh:

This is the real deal. I had a bottle of this very early on with a TN posted here as well … and then again last winter during another great Geyserville vertical.

I wound up buying another case of the 2007, in addition to my original half case “exploratory” purchase. The 2007 version, harkens back to the earlier 1997 or possibly the 1995 Geezers, imo.

Gorgeous wild berry intensity immediately rockets out of the glass, with some black pepper and spice but just captivating, if you like the fragrant young Zin nose. Concentrated and chewy, brambly dark red fruits with plenty of tannins that encroach the mid-palate and gain grip even after the swallow. Fortunately, there’s ample acidity to keep the '07 in near perfect symmetry and this should be a beauty in 15-20 years, but of course is a lot of fun now, as long as you don’t mind your young Geezers. 92+ and probably heading to 93 points.

Agree completely Roy. We had a case and somehow the vendor put aside a second case for us and charged my card. I found the case on his shelves while at a tasting. He offered to refund but we took it home. Two cases ought to hold us for a while!

John_Morris · November 2, 2009, 9:27pm

Add me to the list of the fans.

Cris_Whetstone · November 2, 2009, 9:36pm

Thanks for the early note Roy. I’ve picked up Geyeservilles lately as low as $30 with in store sale discounts. Great value without the hype keeps prices low.

CFu · November 2, 2009, 10:36pm

picked up a mag for $50. Thx Cris

Roy_Hersh · November 3, 2009, 12:45am

I liked the 2007 enough to score 18x 750 plus some Mags and 3L too. One can not have enough old Geezers. And believe me, many of these will see 15-20 years of age. I am sure I’ll buy another case too. I paid the same price mentioned by Tom Hill and we probably got it from the same great source. I bought six nearly a year ago and then asked if another case could be made available.

Anyway, someone mentioned the 2002. I really like the 2002 and along with 2001, those were the last two vintages of Geezer which I really liked. The 2002, was more to my style and I bought large formats too. I think the 2002 is going to age beautifully … wonderful structure and plenty of fruit to go the distance. I found the 2001, just slightly leaner but it is quite solid nonetheless.

The 1997 is probably my favorite vintage from 1990 on, until now … although 1995 is a sentimental favorite and I have gone through more than 3 cases of it over the years. I believe I paid $25 for the 1997, so for a vintage a decade later to cost $6 more … there are not many wines anywhere in the world … at this consistently level of quality, that can say that, especially from CA. Maybe in the “fighting varietals” category, but not in the Geezer range.

I still say this is the MOST consistent quality red wine produced in the USA … year in and year out … over the past 40 years. How often can you pay so little for a wine and have it age and improve for 2 decades … sometimes more, and still be a very tasty number?

Mo_K_a_n_g · November 3, 2009, 1:14am

Roy Hersh:

I liked the 2007 enough to score 18x 750 plus some Mags and 3L too. One can not have enough old Geezers. And believe me, many of these will see 15-20 years of age. I am sure I’ll buy another case too. I paid the same price mentioned by Tom Hill and we probably got it from the same great source. I bought six nearly a year ago and then asked if another case could be made available.

Anyway, someone mentioned the 2002. I really like the 2002 and along with 2001, those were the last two vintages of Geezer which I really liked. The 2002, was more to my style and I bought large formats too. I think the 2002 is going to age beautifully … wonderful structure and plenty of fruit to go the distance. I found the 2001, just slightly leaner but it is quite solid nonetheless.

The 1997 is probably my favorite vintage from 1990 on, until now … although 1995 is a sentimental favorite and I have gone through more than 3 cases of it over the years. I believe I paid $25 for the 1997, so for a vintage a decade later to cost $6 more … there are not many wines anywhere in the world … at this consistently level of quality, that can say that, especially from CA. Maybe in the “fighting varietals” category, but not in the Geezer range.

I still say this is the MOST consistent quality red wine produced in the USA … year in and year out … over the past 40 years. How often can you pay so little for a wine and have it age and improve for 2 decades … sometimes more, and still be a very tasty number?

Thanks for the note, I haven’t bought any Geyervilles since '02 and I am trying to figure out why… time to buy some '07s. I have seen other vintages on sale for around $25 or so…

Roy_Hersh · November 3, 2009, 8:11pm

$25???

At that price, back up the truck and fill 'er up!

Dan_Kimmelman · November 3, 2009, 8:14pm

Hey…me too!

Roy_Hersh · November 4, 2009, 12:28am

$50 for the magnum … of the 2007 Geezer?

Cris_Whetstone · November 7, 2009, 2:37am

For the locals, WineX has a couple cases of this on the floor for $29.99.

Brings up thoughts of the industry and the economy as I believe the 05 and 06 were $31-32. Interesting how it didn’t just hold but went down. Related?

CFu · November 7, 2009, 3:27am

yep yep

Roy_Hersh · November 7, 2009, 8:16pm

Sub-$30 per, when I paid $25 ex-cellars for the 1995 on release, is just amazing value for money. A vintage a dozen years later for $5 more, is insane. Gotta love Ridge and their idea of providing great juice at a forever affordable price is absolutely worth supporting … when the wine is as good as the 2007 Geezer is.

At $50 per magnum, I suggest you guys grab all you can carry. What a steal!

Stu_Fishler · November 8, 2009, 1:21am

I cleaned out our local discounter yesterday of the '06 Geezer at $24 per…opened one an hour ago…it is really singing right now…it is dueling with the '07 Dover Canyon Cujo…a great contrast of red-note vs blue/black-note Zins. Hard to believe the '07 can be better. Any comparitive thoughts?