A tasting of older Ravenswood wines from last year’s autumn, arranged by our resident US wines proponent, @AskoKassinen.
Some observations:
- The Gregory Vineyard Cabs were noticeably better than the other wines. Most vintages felt more like Bordeaux than California. Very lovely stuff.
- I liked the Sonoma County Merlot more than the Sangiacomo Vineyards version - the latter seemed to be bigger, softer and riper in comparison.
- The Pickberry bottling was rather ho-hum compared to the other bottlings. Very ripe, soft and accessible with a more pronounced new oak impact both in the nose and on the palate. Not in my wheelhouse.
We also had a magnum of Spanish red as a food wine (not pictured here) that was poured blind. It did its job, but didn’t offer competition to the Ravenswoods.
- 1997 Ravenswood Merlot Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County (17.9.2024)
A blend of Merlot (88%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (6%) from multiple vineyards in Sonoma County. Fermented spontaneously, macerated with the skins for approximately 20 days. Bottled on June 7th, 1999. 14% alcohol and 6,4 g/l acidity.
Deep, somewhat evolved and quite opaque maroon color. The nose feels sweetish and a bit understated with light aromas of ripe red plums, some woody tones, a little bit of wizened blackcurrant, light evolved meaty tones, a hint of old leather and a touch of earth. The wine feels evolved yet still surprisingly fresh and vibrant with a medium body and quite intense flavors of ripe dark plums, some dried blackcurrant tones, a little bit of gravelly minerality, light leathery nuances, a hint of pipe tobacco and a woody touch of savory oak spice. The combination of high acidity and still quite grippy tannins makes the wine come across as pretty firm and muscular. The finish is dry, long and rather grippy with an intense aftertaste of juicy red fruits, some wizened plum and blackcurrant tones, a little bit of pipe tobacco, light gravelly mineral notes, a woody hint of savory oak spice and a touch of dried dates.
A tasty, vibrant and pretty serious Cali Merlot at full maturity. Although the nose felt rather underwhelming and didn't promise much, on the palate the wine was a completely different beast, coming across as a surprisingly firm and structured effort with wonderful intensity and depth of flavors. Even though the structure might still need a lot of additional bottle age to resolve fully, I don't see the flavor department calling for any additional aging - on the contrary, it's quite possible the wine can't improve any further from here. Although the wine doesn't show any signs of decline yet, and it most likely will keep just fine for many years more, I'd say it's better to drink it sooner rather than later - you want to catch the wine before it starts falling apart. At just 27,50€, this has been a steal.
(94 points) - 1997 Ravenswood Merlot Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
100% Merlot from the Kiser block owned by the Sangiacomo Vineyards. Harvested between September 26th and October 2nd. Fermented spontaneously, macerated with the skins for approximately 20 days. Bottled on June 15th, 1999. 15% alcohol and 6,9 g/l acidity. Total production 3180 cases.
Very deep, dark and only slightly translucent blackish-red color. The nose feels quite ripe, rather sweetly-fruited and somewhat Bordelais with aromas of wizened blackcurrants, some juicy black cherries, a little bit of loose tobacco, light herbaceous green notes, an ethery hint of sweet VA, a touch of alcohol and a whiff of leafy forest floor. The wine feels evolved, juicy and silky on the palate with a full body and quite ripe flavors of wizened red plums, some leafy green tones, a little bit of tobacco, light toasty notes of sweet oak spice, crunchy hints of redcurrants and sour cherries and a touch of gravelly minerality. The overall feel is a bit soft and round due to the medium-plus acidity, but the relatively grippy medium-plus tannins bring some welcome firmness to the palate. The finish is ripe, sweetly-fruited and moderately grippy with a long, somewhat meaty aftertaste of wizened red plums, some fresh cherries, light woody tones, a little bit of earth, a sanguine hint of salt and iron and a touch of game.
A ripe, juicy and somewhat sweet-toned Cali Merlot. Not a soft and jammy fruit bomb like many modern Merlots, but nevertheless softer and oakier than the 1992 vintage of the same wine and noticeably sweeter than the 1997 Sonoma County Merlot. An enjoyable Merlot with some age, but nothing particularly memorable. It's possible that the wine might continue to evolve a little bit more, but it is approaching its plateau of maturity, so any additional improvement is going to be pretty marginal at this point. Priced according to its quality at 33€.
(90 points) - 1992 Ravenswood Merlot Sangiacomo Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
100% Merlot from the Kiser block owned by the Sangiacomo Vineyards. Harvested on October 9th, 1992. Fermented spontaneously, macerated with the skins for approximately 20 days. Bottled on June 24th, 1994. 15% alcohol and 6,2 g/l acidity. Total production 1440 cases.
Dark, moderately translucent and quite tertiary dark maroon color with a somewhat syrupy brown hue. The nose feels savory, evolved and - quite surprisingly - somewhat herbaceous with aromas of ripe dark plums, some leafy forest floor, a little bit of tobacco, light sweeter nuances of dried cherries, a hint of old leather and a touch of meat consommé. The wine feels dry, evolved and silky on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and complex flavors of dried figs and meaty umami, some old leather notes, a little bit of tobacco, light bloody tones, sweet hints of ripe red plums and wizened black cherries and a touch of earth. The structure relies mostly on the bright, high acidity as the ripe, resolved tannins retain only a little bit of grip. The finish is dry, savory and gently grippy with a long, complex aftertaste of old leather, some tobacco, light savory notes of meaty umami, a little bit of dried figs and raisiny dark fruit, a hint of leafy forest floor and a touch of wizened black cherry.
A wonderfully evolved Cali Merlot at full maturity. From its appearance I expected the wine to be already past its peak, but it didn't come nearly as oxidized in the nose or on the palate as it looked like; on the contrary, while coming across as very developed and pretty tertiary, the wine nevertheless retained good sense of fruit, harmony and complexity. Most likely the wine has reached its plateau of maturity quite some time ago already and hasn't really improved after that, but I don't feel the wine is going to fall apart anytime soon. Pretty lovely stuff and a great example of old-school Cali Merlot that could be aged for years, even decades. Drink now or within the next handful of years. This has been a good purchase at 33€.
(92 points) - 1997 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%) and Merlot (24%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on September 26th 1997, bottled on July 27th, 1999. 14% alcohol and 6,9 g/l acidity. Total production 1300 cases.
Rather opaque or just slightly translucent blackish-red color with a slightly evolved maroon hue. The nose feels wonderfully fragrant and expressive with layered, complex aromas of wizened blackcurrants and minty greenness, some herbaceous bell pepper tones, a little bit of dark plummy fruit, light woody notes of savory oak spice, a hint of leafy forest floor, a touch of raisiny fruit and a whiff of eucalyptus. Lovely! The wine feels moderately evolved yet still wonderfully juicy, vibrant and textural on the palate with a rather full body and intense flavors of wizened cherries, ripe raspberries and succulent dark plums, some blackcurrant marmalade, light minty green notes, a little bit of ferrous blood, herbaceous hints of bell pepper and leafy Cab character and a touch of old oak spice. The combination of high acidity and ample, still surprisingly grippy and tightly-knit tannins make the wine come across as pretty muscular and structure-driven. The finish is long, complex and pretty tannic with an intense aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants and dried figs, some green notes of eucalyptus and peppermint, light juicy plummy tones, a little bit of tobacco, woody hints of savory oak spice and a touch of leafy forest floor.
A tasty, intensely flavored and enjoyably savory Sonoma Cab that still retains tons of fruit, structure and wonderful depth of flavor. The overall feel leans more towards old-school Bordeaux than contemporary California Cab - all the better! Although the wine does show quite a bit of age, I'd argue it is still on an upward trajectory; this wine might continue to evolve and improve for a handful of years more, but most likely it is not going to start falling apart anytime soon. As the wine is in a great spot right now, it can be drunk now or whenever in the next 10-15 years. Stellar value at 42€.
(93 points) - 1996 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Merlot (25%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on September 28th 1996, bottled on July 20th, 1998. 14% alcohol and 6,6 g/l acidity. Total production 1250 cases.
Deep, rather opaque and quite evolved blackish-red color with a syrupy-brown hue. The rather evolved nose feels very rich and expressive with intense aromas of peppermint and eucalyptus, some sweet notes of wizened black cherries, a little bit of ripe blackcurrant, light leafy tones, a hint of pipe tobacco, a touch of raisiny dark fruit and a whiff of dried dates. The wine feels evolved, textural and quite savory yet still somewhat sweet-fruited on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of raisiny dark fruit and wizened dark plums, some minty green tones, a little bit of extracted woody bitterness, light balsamic notes of VA, a hint of ripe blackcurrant and a faint touch of eucalyptus. The wine is high in acidity and while the ample tannins do show some degree of resolution, the still come across as moderately grippy, adding to the overall sense of firmness. The finish is long, quite savory and moderately grippy with a ripe, relatively sweetly-fruited aftertaste of wizened dark plums, some balsamico tones, a little bit of tobacco, light green notes of eucalyptus and minty herbal character, a meaty hint of game and a touch of ripe blackcurrant.
A firm, harmonious and quite evolved Sonoma Cab near its plateau of maturity. Tasting this side-by-side with the 1997 vintage, I must say there was very little difference between these wines - I guess this '96 had a somewhat sweeter, more "Californian" fruit profile, while the '97 came across as drier, more savory and somewhat Bordelais in overall feel. However, from a quality point of view, I'd say the wines were on an equal level and it'd be very difficult to put one wine in front the other. Although the wine might still continue to age and evolve a little bit more from here, I'd say the wine is so close to its peak maturity that there is no need whatsoever to give the wine any additional bottle age - it is perfectly ready to go now. Drink now or within the next decade. Really a steal at 39€.
(93 points) - 1995 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (76%) and Merlot (24%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on October 12th 1995, bottled on July 21st, 1997. 13,5% alcohol and 6,8 g/l acidity. Total production 830 cases.
The wine appears pretty old with its dark, opaque and very evolved brownish-maroon color. The nose comes across as very tertiary with aromas of dried dates and cherries, some raisiny tones, a little bit of minty greenness, light earthy tones, a hint of pipe tobacco, a touch of wizened blackcurrants and a whiff of old leather. The wine feels juicy, evolved and a bit linear on the palate with a full body and juicy but also quite tertiary flavors of tobacco and prunes, some ripe figgy notes, a little bit of earth, light dried-fruit notes of raisins and dried dates, a hint of old leather and a touch of leafy greenness. The overall feel still retains good sense of structure, thanks to the high acidity and relatively grippy and tightly-knit tannins. The finish is long, savory and grippy with a dry, tertiary aftertaste of tobacco and raisiny dark fruit, some figgy tones, a little bit of wizened red cherry and ripe black cherry, light earthy notes, a hint of blackcurrant and a touch of leafy greenness.
An aged and quite tertiary yet still pretty firm and intensely-flavored Sonoma Cab at full maturity. The wine has been on its plateau of maturity for a good time now and I guess its eventual decline is closing in, but I don't feel like the wine is still starting to fall apart. Maybe a bit less nuanced and somewhat more straightforward than the 1997 and 1996 vintages we tasted at the same time, but not by much. Terrific stuff. Time to drink up, though. Solid value at 39€.
(92 points) - 1992 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Merlot (25%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on October 3td, 1992, bottled on July 19th, 1994. 14,5% alcohol and 7,1 g/l acidity. Total production 730 cases.
Dark, slightly translucent brick-red color with a syrupy-brown hue and a pale, almost colorless rim. The nose feels quite understated and rather old with aromas of dried red fruits, some figgy tones, a little bit of tobacco, light cassis nuances, a hint of raisiny dark fruit, a touch of dried flowers and a woody whiff of savory old oak spice. The wine feels juicy, rich and silky on the palate with a full body and sweet-toned tertiary flavors of raisins and prunes, some dried dates, a little bit of minty greenness, light blackcurrant marmalade notes, a hint of wizened black cherry and a touch of eucalyptus. Although the wine is getting pretty evolved and tertiary, it still retains an impressive sense of structure with its high acidity and ample, still remarkably grippy tannins. the finish is dry, spicy and rather grippy with a long aftertaste of ripe blackcurrants and wizened red plums, some woody oak tones, a little bit of tobacco, light notes of dried dates and raisiny dark fruit, a hint of earth and a touch of aged smoky character.
And old Sonoma Cab at the final stretch of its life. The overall feel is very aged and tertiary, but the wine still manages to retain good sense of complexity, structure and depth of flavor. The overall feel is getting a bit tired and somewhat linear due to the quite senescent fruit department, but the wine is still thoroughly enjoyable for what it is - an old, classically styled California red. Perhaps the least impressive of the 1990's Gergory Vineyard Cabs we tasted, but still a lovely wine all the same. High time to drink up. Priced somewhat according to its quality at 39€.
(91 points) - 1990 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Gregory Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (75%) and Merlot (25%) from the Gregory Vineyard, planted in 1945. Harvested on October 13th 1990, bottled on June 6th, 1992. 13% alcohol and 7,0 g/l acidity. Total production 500 cases.
Evolved and moderately translucent brick-red color with a maple syrup maroon hue. The nose feels evolved, complex and moderately tertiary with intense aromas of dried cherries and raisiny dark fruits, some green minty notes, a little bit of gamey meat, light blackcurrant marmalade nuances, a woody hint of savory oak spice, a touch of pipe tobacco and a whiff of smoke. The wine feels clean, complex and tertiary on the palate with a medium body and intense flavors of ripe red plums and wizened blackcurrants, some savory notes of meaty umami, a little bit of pipe tobacco and licorice, light ferrous nuances of blood, herbaceous hints of leafy greenness and minty tones and a touch of forest floor. The wine comes across as pretty firm and structured with its high acidity and still relatively grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is long, dry and pretty grippy with a rather intense aftertaste of wizened red plums, some ripe blackcurrants, light minty tones, a little bit of tobacco, dried-fruit hints of prunes and dried figs and a savory touch of meaty umami.
A beautiful, classically styled and still remarkably intensely-flavored vintage of Ravenswood's Gregory Vineyard Cab. Stylistically the wine felt closer to old-school Bordeaux than contemporary Californian red - or even to the other, younger 1990's vintages of Gregory Vineyard Cab we tasted! A few other vintages in this tasting were similarly evolved and tertiary, but where they seemed pretty aged and starting to come across as somewhat straightforward in overall feel, this 1990 vintage had managed to retain impressive sense of complexity and depth of flavor, making it come across as very impressive effort that is sitting firmly on its plateau of maturity at 34 years of age. Drinking magnificently now and will keep for at least a handful of years more before its eventual decline. Fantastic stuff, superb value at 45€.
(94 points) - 1991 Ravenswood Pickberry - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain (17.9.2024)
A blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) from the 30-acre (12 hectares) Pickberry Vineyard in Sonoma Mountain. 14% alcohol.
Quite opaque black cherry color with an aged, somewhat brownish-maroon hue. The nose feels savory, earthy and a bit dusty with somewhat dull aromas of wizened dark fruits and a hint of loose tobacco. The wine feels dry, dull and quite understated on the palate with a rather full body and reticent flavors of dusty earth, some pruney sweetness, light woody tones and a hint of leafy greenness. The fruit department is almost nonexistent. The overall feel is pretty sinewy and tightly-knit with the rather high acidity and moderately grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is dry, dusty and quite grippy and dull medium-long flavors of raisiny dark fruits, some wizened black cherries, some leafy notes of forest floor, light earthy nuances and a hint of tobacco. The alcohol lends some warmth to the aftertaste.
Most likely a mildly corked bottle. No obvious mildewy notes of TCA, so it is possible that the wine is just so old that its fruit flavors have faded away, leaving behind some dull non-fruit flavors, but I suspect cork taint more. This was not worth the 66€.
(NR/flawed) - 1995 Ravenswood Pickberry - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain (17.9.2024)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), Cabernet Franc (39%) and Merlot (17%) from the 30-acre (12 hectares) Pickberry Vineyard in Sonoma Mountain. 13,5% alcohol.
Very deep, dark and opaque black cherry color with a slightly evolved maroon hue. The nose feels sweet, fragrant and expressive with aromas of sunny dark fruits, some red licorice, light notes of tobacco, a little bit of ripe raspberry, woody hints of toasty oak and a touch of pruney fruit. The wine feels dry, textural and silky on the palate with a full body and quite sweet-toned flavors of dark plums and boysenberries, some wizened black cherries, light woody notes of savory oak spice, a little bit of blueberry juice, a hint of old leather and a savory touch of meaty umami. The modest acidity feels rather low for such a ripe and sunny wine, but at least the quite ample and moderately grippy tannins bring some welcome firmness to the palate. The finish is ripe, quite grippy yet silky and somewhat sweet-toned with a moderately long but a bit reticent aftertaste of dark plums and sweet dark berries, some woody notes of savory oak spice, a little bit of red licorice, light blueberry tones, a hint of loose tobacco and a touch of pruney fruit.
A rich, lush and quite solar Californian red. After a streak of wonderfully firm, savory and classically styled 1990's Ravenswood Gregory Cabs, this Pickberry from the same era seemed considerably more "Californian" with quite a bit more ripeness and sweetness in the fruit - despite being relatively modest in alcohol at 13,5% ABV - and sporting a somewhat lower level of acidity, making the wine feel pretty soft and mellow, lacking in intensity. This was enjoyable and still relatively youthful for a Californian red almost 30 years old, but to me, this was lacking in freshness, acidity and intensity. Good wine, but not great. Feels expensive for the quality at 57€.
(88 points) - 1997 Ravenswood Pickberry - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain (17.9.2024)
A blend of Merlot (60%), Cabernet Sauvignon (35%) and Cabernet Franc (5%) from the 30-acre (12 hectares) Pickberry Vineyard in Sonoma Mountain. 14,5% alcohol.
Almost fully opaque black cherry color with a subtly evolved maroon hue. The nose feels savory and somewhat developed with moderately expressive aromas of licorice root and pipe tobacco, some sweet plummy tones, a little bit of ripe blackcurrant, light toasty notes of chocolatey mocha oak, evolved hints of leather and raisiny dark fruit, a touch of blueberry jam and a whiff of nail polish VA. The wine feels ripe, juicy and somewhat chewy on the palate with a full body and vibrant flavors of juicy dark fruits, some ripe red plum notes, light leathery tones, a little bit of licorice, sweet hints of blackcurrant jam and raisiny dark fruit and a toasty touch of chocolatey mocha oak. The medium acidity feels rather modest, so the structure relies mostly on the firm and quite grippy tannins. The finish is long, grippy and pretty chewy with a juicy aftertaste of ripe dark fruits and tobacco, some raisiny tones, a little bit of old leather, light blueberry and blackberry jam tones, a hint of licorice root and a touch of wizened blackcurrant. The high alcohol makes the wine end on a moderately warm note.
A chewy and quite vibrant Bordeaux blend that comes across as a bit soft and blowzy - the wine could really use some acidity. The overall feel is rather ripe and sunny as the juicy, sweet-toned fruit flavors don't really have much acidity to offset the sweetness or bring any freshness. Although the wine might still continue to evolve from here, I'd say the wine now at full maturity and won't really benefit from any additional bottle age. Drink now or within the next ten-ish years. Feels overpriced for the quality at 57€.
(89 points) - 2001 Ravenswood Pickberry - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain (17.9.2024)
A blend of Merlot (69%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Cabernet Franc (1%) from the 30-acre (12 hectares) Pickberry Vineyard in Sonoma Mountain. 14,2% alcohol.
Deep, slightly translucent and very dark maroon color with a dark brick-red rim. The nose feels quite sweet and somewhat polished but also a but understated with light aromas of ripe red plums and cherry marmalade, some oaky notes of vanilla and caramel, light boysenberry tones, a little bit of herby greenness, a hint of toasty mocha oak and a touch of sweet blackcurrant. The wine feels ripe, juicy and silky on the palate with a full body and rather polished flavors of sweet blackcurrants and ripe black cherries, some tobacco, light lifted notes of anise, a little bit of old leather, sweet hints of wizened red plums and blackberry jam and a toasty touch of caramel oak. The overall feel is quite soft and somewhat flabby with the mellow medium-plus acidity and quite gentle medium tannins. The finish is juicy, somewhat grippy and moderately evolved with a rather long aftertaste of wizened dark plums, some cherry marmalade tones, a little bit of licorice and anise, light notes of tobacco, toasty hints of vanilla and mocha oak and a touch of blackberry jam.
A rather generic old Californian Bordeaux blend with lots of sweet, sunny fruit and toasty oak tones. Lacking in acidity and tannic backbone. Although the wine has developed some nice tertiary nuances, the overall feel is just too soft, mellow and sweetly-fruited that it leaves a very lukewarm impression on me. I guess some people might describe the wine as "wonderfully rich and silky", but not me. I can understand the richness and silky texture here, but I can't see anything wonderful in them. It's pretty obvious this wine didn't float my boat.
(85 points) - 2015 Bodegas Murviedro Audentia Reserva - Spain, Valencia (17.9.2024)
A blend of Tempranillo (40%), Monastrell (40%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). Fermented with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks. Aged for a year in new French and American oak barrels. 13,5% alcohol. Tasted blind from a magnum.
Dark and somewhat translucent pomegranate color with a slightly evolved maroon hue. The nose feels quite sweet and more youthful than the appearance would suggest with aromas of cherries and blackcurrant jellies, some ripe boysenberry tones, a little bit of licorice, light inky notes, a hint of pipe tobacco and a touch of dried red fruits. The wine feels youthful, juicy and quite round on the palate with a medium body and sweet-toned flavors of blueberries and sweet black raspberries, some pipe tobacco, a little bit of earth, light boysenberry tones, a hint of sweet oak spice and a touch of blackcurrant jelly. The overall feel is pretty soft, thanks to the medium-plus acidity and modest, supple tannins. The finish is juicy, round and slightly grippy with a medium-long aftertaste of blueberries and strawberries, some cherry tones, light earthy notes, a little bit of pipe tobacco, a hint of boysenberry and a touch of oak spice.
A very generic and rather soft red. I had no idea where the wine could come from, since there were no obvious signs pointing to anywhere; the wine felt just completely anonymous in character. It was pretty weird, though, how it looked somewhat evolved already, but in the nose and on the palate the wine came across as surprisingly youthful - almost primary, even. While an acceptable food wine, I found it hard to find any interesting qualities from the wine. Not really my cuppa.
(82 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
