Delving deeper into my Ridge ATP shipment, I tried last night, w/ very low expectations:
1. Ridge Carignane BuchignaniRanch/HillsideOldVine/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (13.8%; 60 brls; bttld 12/20; Drk: 10/20-10/26: JO) 2019: Very dark/near black color; very strong fragrant Carignane/black cherry/cherry/bit licorice/boysenberry quite dusty/OV strong Ridge oak/vanilla huge Carignane fruit very intense nose; fairly tart/tangy intense Carignane/cherry/black cherry/boysenberry quite dusty/OV bit earthy quite intense flavor w/ some hard/chewy tannins; very long/lingering intense Carignane/black cherry cola/cherry/boysenberry quite dusty/OV bit complex finish w/ ample chewy tannins; finally a Ridge ATP w/ some extract; reminds a lot of some Priorat OV Carignanes but w/ less blatent oak than most have; still shows a bit of that rustic Carignane character; probably the best Ridge Carignane yet. $34.00 (ATP)
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2. Ridge Zin BuchignaniRanch/AlexVlly/SonomaCnty (13.7%; 79% Zin/21% Carignane; 52 brls; bttld 11/17; tartaric acid; Drk: 8/17-8/22-8/23: JO) 2016: Very dark color; very strong fragrant Zin/blackberry/raspberry/very spicy modest vanilla/Am.oak some dusty/OV bit complex beautiful nose; fairly tart/tangy very strong blackberry/Zin/bit boysenberry/very spicy/bit plummysome dusty/OV/earthy some vanilla/Ridge oak flavor w/ some hard/chewy tannins; very long/lingering fairly intense blackberry/boysenberry/Zin/rather spicy structured some dusty/OV/earthy some vanilla/Am.oak finish w/ modest chewy tannins; great extract & structure yet still in balance; plenty of intensity of Zin fruit; best Buchignani Zin yet. $32.00 (ATP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. These two new Ridge ATPs were real eye-openers. I have not particularly cared for the Ridge Carignanes. They often show that rustic/coarse side of that grape on not a very dense frame. But this version had loads of intense Carignane fruit, more than any before. Because Carignane can sometimes be a bit erratic in how it ages, it will be interesting in seeing how it evolves.
The Buchignani Zins used to always be just another ho-hum Ridge ATP Zin. Last yrs version was about the best one yet. This '16 is even better w/ some intensity & extract; close to the LyttonSprings/Pagani in intensity & quality. Finally, Buchignani delivers. Great job by JohnOlney on these two.
Tom