Ridge Zin

Unfortunately, Ridge Lytton Springs only offers for tasting wines made on the premises. Come to think of it, I don't think they even offer the Cupertino winery's wines for sale.

Something I forgot to mention is that Ridge will no longer be producing their Fiddletown Zin. I think that's really a pity, but I guess it was too much of a logistical headache for them to ship grapes all the way from the Sierra foothills to either Sonoma or Santa Cruz.

Tom S

Sounds like the side label tasting notes are spot on. I've found that to usually be the case.

I used to get those too, but the label always said ATP. The Syrah/Grenache was not so labeled, but according to their website it was originally offered only to ATP members. I guess that wasn't broad enough distribution to move

51 barrels of it, so it's available online for $28. The label notes indicate that it will age for 5 to 10 years. I may just have to get some more...

Tom S

in article snipped-for-privacy@news1.newsguy.com, Hunt at snipped-for-privacy@hunt.com wrote on

12/5/04 9:49 AM:

No, you didn't miss the critique. I was kindof 'underwhelmed' by the experience. Except for the Jimsomare, there was not much that I would want to recommend. Not surprising that most haven't seen that Zin, as they apparently produce a very limited amount. The tasting at Copia was of the

1997, of which only 13 barrels were made. Ridge still seems to have some in stock, along with the '01(only 7 barrels) and the '02 (no # given on their site). The '97 was exceptional in it's combination of fullness yet softness. Unusually smooth for a Zin, I thought, with lots of fruit and a chocolate overtone.

The comment, made earlier, that Copia is something of a disappointment, is unfortunately true. I'm not sure what the long-term plans are for it, but it just seems like a place that doesn't really know what it wants to be. I think a lot of the problem is that of location. In the Napa valley, you can have a much more hands-on, rich experience in just a day of winery visits than can be had by a visit to Copia. I don't think we would have gone, except for the opportunity to taste 31 wineries from Santa Cruz. Didn't eat at Julia's, which I gear is worth the visit on it's own.

I guess I should insert that I did like a few other wines beyond the Ridge, though not nearly as much. Among them were a Cooper-Garrod Claret, Storrs Pinot, and Thomas Fogarty Pinot. I wish I had taken notes.