We tried last week at Pig+Fig four Ridge PetiteSirahs:
1. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/NapaVlly (15.1%; 59 brls; bttld 2/16; Drk: 10/20-10/30: JO; tartaric acid) 2014: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; strong very peppery/blackberry/PS fairly dusty/OV rather spicy/bit licorice light vanilla/oak pretty classic YC PS some complex lovely nose; lightly tangy/metallic slightly dried out some peppery/PS/licorice/bit blackberry some toasty/vanilla/oak bit lean/hard/dried out bit complex flavor w/ light rough tannins; long bit dried out spicy/peppery/PS/blackberry some complex finish w/ light drying tannins; a pretty classic YC PS but starting to show its age & not going to improve any. $37.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/SpringMtnDist/NapaVlly (14.1%; 48 brls; bttld: 2/17; Drk: 12/16-12/26: JO)
2015
: Very dark color; a bit more subdued more fruity lightly PS/peppery/blackberry light vanilla/oak less complex nose; bit soft some hard/tannic some blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice some vanilla/oak rather rugged/structured bit complex flavor w/ modest rough tannins; very long some blackberry/PS/licorice some vanilla/oak finish w/ some rough tannins; showing no signs of any age; a bit more subdued than the '14 but more varietally correct; a pretty structured/rugged PS that needs more age. $37.00/$32.40 (ATP)
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3. Ridge PetiteSirah LyttonEstate DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (100% PS; 13.8%; bttld Dec 2017; Drk: 8/17-8/27: JO) 2016: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/PS/spicy bit Zin-like strong vanilla/Ridge oak not as spicy/peppery more simple/straightforward more blackberry/fruity nose; bit soft/ripe strong blackberry/PS more fruity/Zin-like/spicy some vanilla/oak rathe simple flavor w/ modest ripe tannis; long strong blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice some vanilla/oak finish w/ modest soft tannins; more straightforward PS/fruity but not nearly as spicy as the YC's; pleasant enough PS but just that. $40.00/ $36.00 (ATP)
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4. Ridge PetiteSirah YorkCreek/SpringMtnDist/NapVlly (100% PS; 13.6%; 56 brls; bttld 12/17; Final YorkCreek
release; Drk: 8/17-8/32: JO) 2016
: Very dark color; strong blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice very spicy some vanilla/Ridge oak classic YC PS some complex nose; lightly tart/tangy/bit metallic strong blackberry/Syrah/licorice very spicy/peppery light toasty/vanilla/Ridge oak some dusty/OV quite structured bit rugged flavor w/ ample hard tannins; very long/lingering very strong blackberry/PS/licorice very spicy/peppery some dusty/OV some vanilla/Ridge oak rather structured/rugged bit complex finish w/ ample rugged/chewey tannins; a very classic/YC very spicy PS a bit on the rugged side still; badly needs age. $38.00 (ATP)
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More fifflebatter from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. YorkCreek is definitely the premier PS from Ridge & really shows its pedigree. The LyttonSprings PS have always not been particularly impressive; just 4-square/straight-forward PS's & bit on the oafish side and much simpler.
To me, many PS's seem to age rather erractically. Oftentimes they never seem to age out their oafish character & develop the complexity you get in Zin or Syrah. I find that particularly true of the Ridges. That being said, the Ridge YorkCreek PS '71, tasted in the mid-'90's, was maybe the greatest Calif red wine that I've ever had. In its youth, it was a massive wine w/ tons of oak. But it evolved into a beautiful complex red wine the likes I've seldom found in Calif.
Tom