Ravenswood
Napa Valley, California
Dickerson Vineyard
Zinfandel
1991
$29.99
14.2%
If there's such a thing the core is a washed out black, opaque by default, much more going on via rust red hues of red, orange and yellow, looks its age. The nose is rife with cow patties, flatulent gas and tilled black soil then soy sauce, cedar, and patchouli oil, the prune, fig to plum, cherry scents struggle to be heard, extended air time does little to change things. Medium-bodied, still tannic but not excessively gritty, here it does an entire about face and redeems itself. Loaded with sweet plum, blackberry, currant fruit as well as sweet cedar and pine. Quick spark from orange to mixed citrus. Savory herbs, sage, coriander and parsley. Even some caramel left. Some tar, merde and asphalt oil slick elements, however, not enough to upset the ascendancy of the fruit. If you can tolerate the funk it's hitting all the other right buttons.
90 points