My First Ridge Geyserville

A couple years ago I tasted the only other Ridge wine I have so far had, the '78 Cab Sauv "York Creek", which I thought was amazingly good for a grape I generally dislike (Francly I can get enough of the other Cabernet, however). But Finland received a small shipment of the Geyserville 2009 recently so I bought a few bottles. One was opened tonight for a small group who wanted to try Ridge - it being an American legend that all of us have very little experience with.

I was pleasantly impressed. I don't know if any of this will sound familiar to Zin drinkers, because we simply don't see much of the grape here so I haven't developed the vocabulary or the experience to talk about it. To me it seems spicy like a CdP as opposed to oak-spice, though there is a bit of oak showing, too. It smells plummy and sweet and has lots of berry flavors - but it also has a savory streak running through all of this so it doesn't seem Porty. I sense more oak on the palate, but it is structured instead of just fruity. The 14,5% is well hidden. This is nice! Despite the high alcohol, it actually seems moreish and not at all as ponderous as I expected. It is light on its feet for a wine of this size. I eagerly await 2020 or so when I suppose the next one should be opened.