2004 Ridge Vineyards "Geyserville" Sonoma Zinfandel (3L)

94 points and two stars in the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wines: "18% Carignane; 7% Petite Sirah. Of all the Zinfandels produced by this greatly respected winery, none has stood out more than Geyserville over the years. Perhaps it is the very high percentages of other grapes that are planted in the vineyard and have found their ways into the wine. Indeed, in many years, Geyserville has not reached the required 75% Zinfandel content needed to bear the varietal name. That this edition does cross that barrier is not to suggest that its character has changed much over the years. The wine is still full in body, slightly fleshy in feel, noticeably deep in fruit and perceptibly tight in its youth. It also screams to be put in the cellar for three to six years." (Jan 2007) Old carignane blocks were included in this rustic red, as well as a limited amount of petite sirah. After ten months of barrel aging, some very rich, spicy zinfandel was added from a parcel initially held out. The wine spent a full eighteen months in barrel, roughly four more than is customary, bringing the tannins and firm acid into balance. This superb, opulent Geyserville will be enjoyable within a year, and develop fully over the next ten.