95 2002 Ridge Geyserville 12/3/05 ($27)
Color: Deep black garnet. Can’t see thru. (4.0) Bouquet: A lot of new green oak, which makes it smell herbal (similar to a Chilean Cab) on top of concentrated blackberry fruit. (2.5) Body: Excellent fruit-to-acid-to-tannin balance. This is ageworthy stuff, with significant tannin and oak, but all this is tamed by concentrated fruit. (4.0) Flavor: A burst of blueberry fruit with cooking spices and a touch of Geyserville game. (3.0) Finish: Long and concentrated. A little fierce at this point, but the fruit, balance and impressive structure have come out with 2+ hrs of air. Delicious blueberry and boysenberry with spice lingers. (3.5)
Overall: Wow! This drinks great already, after a couple of hours of air. It drinks like a cross between a briary, concentrated Dry Creek Valley Zin and a Chilean Cab; Cabernet refinement and structure combined with Zin fruit and spice. What a combo! This has the potential to be one of the finest, if not the finest Geyserville I’ve ever had. Only time will tell, but it’s great already and should attain even greater heights in the next 5-10 years. Buy, Buy, Buy!!! (17.0)