94 2001 Ridge Pagani Ranch Zin 12/12/03($27)
Color: Very deep, dense purple-garnet.(4.0) Bouquet: Deep, rich Zinberry jam. Intense acidity propelling concentrated fruit. Very slight alcohol edge.(3.5) Body: Fierce acidity and concentrated fruit with alcohol, oak and tannin underneath. Needs time.(3.5) Flavor: Black raspberry jam and lots of briary spice. Also alcohol and oak.(3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with more dry, spicy oak, also a bit hot with some bitterness. Still big, long and concentrated.(2.5)
Overall: Zin doesn’t get much better than this. Very young, but already delicious and more formed than the Lytton Springs. This wine seems destined for greatness, just as ’84 Geyserville, ’92 Lytton Springs and ’97 Paso Robles were when young. Needs 2-3 years to integrate, although delicious even now. Will probably be at its best at 7-8 years old.(16.5)