87 2003 Ridge Three Valleys (Sonoma County) 2/11/06 ($17)
72% Zin, 12% Carignane, 10% PS 13.6%alc
Color: Medium raspberry, just a touch of garnet. (2.5) Bouquet: Candy apple and cinnamon with buttered popcorn oak. Fruit is a little grapy with high acidity (Carignan-esque). Interesting, but could have higher quality fruit. (2.5) Body: Light in weight with healthy amounts of fruit, acidity and complexity. (2.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but more well-rounded and rich. Nuances of bayleaf, nutmeg and cinnamon. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor, but a little short and less interesting. (2.5)
Overall: Very good, but on the light side and not going anywhere. It is fruity with nice complexity thrown in, but it lacks the depth, weight, richness and overall quality of the 2002. Still interesting enough to be worth the price of admission. Got better after 24 hrs. of air in the frig, losing the grapyness, so might improve a little. (13.0)