93+ 2001 Ridge Essence Zinfandel (Lytton - Dry Creek Valley) 5/27/17 ($30)
80% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah 13.2% alc
Color: Deep garnet with significant browning and a little clearing. (3.0) Bouquet Dried fig and dried apricot fruit reminiscent of top notch Pedro Ximenez sherry. (3.5) Body: Solid middleweight with excellent fruit and acidity. Very rich and elegant. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, step-for-step. Smooth and delicious. (3.5) Finish: Complex old Zin with overripeness that works surprisingly well. (3.5)
Overall: Delicious sweetness from the dried fig, persimmon and apricot fruit combined with excellent acidity and some old Madeira like complexity. If it were a little less ripe, it might be more distinctive. It still works very well due to perfect balance. Great with creamy blue cheese, fruit and bread. Drinking beautifully now and should hold for several more years. (16.5)
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