92+ 2002 Ravenswood Teldeschi Zin 4/30/05 ($27)
Color: Deep black-purple garnet. (3.5) Bouquet: Strong briar and cedary oak components complementing concentrated blackberry and tart cherry fruit. Smells very similar to Ridge Lytton Springs from a fine vintage. (3.5) Body: Strong cedary oak with concentrated fruit that meets. Some bitterness at this point, but still balanced. A heavyweight. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but a bit more closed and ungiving, with briary tannins prevalent. (2.5) Finish: Long blackberry, cherry and cassis fruit in a well-balanced, but full-bodied package, very lingering and impressive. Briar and loam spice complement fruit perfectly. (3.5)
Overall: Reminiscent of ’99 Lytton Springs, when young. This has a combination of power and balance. Not meant for immediate consumption, this will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and be at its best at 7-8 years old (The ’99 Lytton will go even longer). (16.0)