Ridge California Geyserville 1997
I recently had the good fortune to sample this outstanding wine at a friend's 50th
birthday party. A guest, who is an avid wine enthusiast, brought a bottle to open in honor of the "birthday girl". There were about eight of us who got to taste this vintage and with the very first sip, the look of approval on everyone's face was quite evident.
Ridge California Geyserville 1997 has a particularly fragrant and appealing nose. My first impression was that of ripe blackberries while some of the others described licorice. There was also a slight floral scent. The aroma is so enticing that it significantly adds to the pleasure of drinking this wine.
The first impression on the palate is that of a luscious, dark, ripe fruit. Again, blackberries or perhaps black raspberries. There is a wonderful complexity to this wine because the initial fruity taste changes ever so slightly to a subtle spiciness. Upon tasting, you would never guess the alcohol content to be 14.9%. It is very smooth and the tannins have mellowed to the point where they are imperceptible. Another interesting character of Ridge Geyserville 1997 is that although it is "bone dry" there seems to be a hint of residual sugar. This quality would make it appealing even to those who prefer semi-dry wines.
As a Zinfandel blend, this wine contains 74% Zinfandel, 15% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah, and 1% Mitaro. Federal law mandates that in order for a wine to be labeled a specific varietal, it must contain at least 75% of that specific grape. Since Geyserville contains only 74% Zinfandel grapes, it may not be labeled Zinfandel, therefore, Ridge uses "Geyserville", which is the name of one of its vineyards.
If you are looking for an ideal wine for a special occasion or just want to treat yourself to an exceptional wine, do yourself a favor and find a bottle of Ridge California Geyserville 1997. You won't be sorry. The only negative thing I can say about this tasting experience is that I had to share the bottle with seven others. But then again, if it had not been for the generous person who brought the wine in the first place, I would have missed out altogether...so thanks, Jeff!