Adam Baker

9.2

Drank with turkey burgers with Paul and Ruth Ann. Really good flavors. — a year ago

with Elissa

Mike R

9.2

Ok it is finally here - the wine nerd herd 5 year reunion has started - in 2016 - the herd met in NYC - there were amazing bonds and friendships developed and are intact to this day and growing 
Initially there was @Carl Fischer @Ron R @Joe Lucca @David L as well as myself @Mike R and one other who had such a blast we have decided to this get together as a herd frequently and for most part we have been United and strong even doing zoom tastings whenever 
Not long after the initial conclave in 2016 we traveled and expanded to include @Bill Bender @Shawn R @Eric L and our newest and a true foundation of youth and knowledge @Shay A and we have been to Palm Beach, Raleigh, San Diego, San Antonio, Des Moines, Paso Robles and now back to the starting place - NYC - 5 years later 
Get ready New York as the herd is running hard and with purpose in the city that never sleeps 
The picture / posting are two tune up tastings last Saturday with locals in Raleigh as I need practice a) red wines below 50 and b) red wines above 100
Standout to me was the Muga in the less than 50 and in the over 100 - all were good but Paul Hobbs, myriad, switchback ridge, Pulido walker
Of course the krug and aubert were good but maybe not able to keep up 
The carnival of love and Don Melchor were delicious as well but were not equivalent to the Napa cabs that are all world class vineyards and winemakers 
Again I say all this to say training is over and let the games begin in NYC as we have landed 
Thank you @Ron R and @Carl Fischer for hosting the herd and I am stoked 
Bam 💥🐂❤️🍷 — 5 years ago

Andrew

9.1

Good to great wine.
Present from Kallen for Jysae birthday
Strong and bold — 6 years ago

Robert McNally

10

As perfect as everyone says it is — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

I bought a few of the 2007 Ridge York Creek Zin-blends some time ago. A night at the apartment with two wonderful friends made for the perfect occasion to bring a bottle - a nod to anecdotes that they had previously shared about hanging out with Paul Draper in the 1970s. Berries and cherries, floral and spicey, this wine lasts forever on the palate. Really amazed as to how well it has aged. — 9 years ago

BurgundyFan

9.4

In the Super Bowl evening could not be better, amazing wine, thanks Paul Draper — 9 years ago

Jones Family

9.3

Paul Weiss — 10 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Excellent Zin with a lot of fruits; blackberries, cranberries and some dark cherries. Also, spice, cedar and more. Did not know what to expect as Zin’s don’t go for a lot of aging. Happy I found this one in my cellar and have a couple of other Ridge wines I need to drink up.

I stopped purchasing Ridge years ago as I got into lighter wines. Visited Ridge Winery last century and had an excellent tasting as I remember and met and chatted with Paul Draper. — a year ago

Mike R

9.6

Ok it is finally here - the wine nerd herd 5 year reunion has started - in 2016 - the herd met in NYC - there were amazing bonds and friendships developed and are intact to this day and growing 
Initially there was @Carl Fischer @Ron R @Joe Lucca @David L well as myself @Mike R and one other who had such a blast we have decided to this get together as a herd frequently and for most part we have been United and strong even doing zoom tastings whenever 
Not long after the initial conclave in 2016 we traveled and expanded to include @Bill Bender @Shawn R @Eric L. and a true foundation of youth and knowledge @Shay A we have been to Palm Beach, Raleigh, San Diego, San Antonio, Des Moines, Paso Robles and now back to the starting place - NYC - 5 years later 
Get ready New York as the herd is running hard and with purpose in the city that never sleeps 
The picture / posting are two tune up tastings last Saturday with locals in Raleigh as I need practice a) red wines below 50 and b) red wines above 100
Standout to me was the Muga in the less than 50 and in the over 100 - all were good but Paul Hobbs, myriad, switchback ridge, Pulido walker
Of course the krug and aubert were good but maybe not able to keep up 
The carnival of love and Don Melchor were delicious as well but were not equivalent to the Napa cabs that are all world class vineyards and winemakers 
Again I say all this to say training is over and let the games begin in NYC as we have landed 
Thank you @Ron R and @Carl Fischer for hosting the herd and I am stoked 
Bam 💥🐂❤️🍷 — 5 years ago

Chris Bensick

9.1

Paul Draper’s notes indicate this was the first vintage of York Creek can to be generally available. I don’t know what that means about the age of the vines but the notes (written in 1979) also say “with two to three years of bottle age this wine should begin to open up, but it will need more time to soften fully.” Well here we are 42 years on: still savory, still has a tannic backbone with good acidity, still has a good cork. Definitely a food wine, but very fine as such. Not a fruit bomb in the last twenty years can compare! 13.1% abv. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Our friends shared anecdotes about hanging out with Paul Draper in the 1970s, so it had to be a Ridge night. What a stunner with masses of tannins and acidity, rich with black cherries. It could do with a few years but fun to try now. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, big jammy fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, dark cherries, blue fruits, understated baking spices, spice and dark florals. M body & tannins. Ripe, fresh; dark cherries, black berries, plum, blue fruits and strawberries round out the fruits. Dark spices with heat, salted caramel, dark coco powder, dry crushed rocks, black rich earth, stems, tobacco leaf, hint of woodiness, a round soft bright fruit finish with great natural acidity. They made a small amount rosé of from the Geyerville fruit in this vintage. Per Eric, he believes it makes a really good rose. Photos of, another vineyard, the legendary Paul Draper and shot of the barrel room. Eric believes this vintage will cellar 30 years. Certainly one of the very best Geyserville's I've had. Score should improve with a 7-10 years cellaring. They just bought the Geyserville vineyard...just over 300 acres at 7 million dollars. — 9 years ago

Richard Alfred

9.1

Boarding House, Chicago. Paul Mattingly and Dan Blouin. 3/1/16. — 10 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

Paul Draper’s note on the back label said this would be “at its best for the next 7-8 years” but I’m afraid he’s sold his wine a bit short. It’s still going strong after 2+ decades. Beautiful Zinfandel-driven blend with supple and ripe black fruit, smoke and vanilla spice — 4 years ago

Aravind A

9.1

Wow, the six years since my last btl have really been generous to this wine. Absolutely lovely light-styled PN now. On the nose: perfumed red fruit, loads of stony minerality, soft rose hips, a hint of blood orange..fantastic aromatic complexity and still rather primary. On the palate: excellent density, very nice acidity and weight, with more spicy red fruit and lots of stony notes. Lovely soft spice and very soft tannin on the elegant finish. This is fantastic now, and seems like it will age very gracefully, if this btl is representative. Yum! — 5 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.6

@Paul T- Huntington Beach Thank you my friend. composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it prances out of the glass with carefree plum preserves, blackcurrant pastilles and dried mulberries scents plus nuances of candied violets, tobacco leaf, wild sage and charcuterie with a waft of tapenade. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of savory layers, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and a refreshing line, finishing with lingering earthy sparks. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.4

Confrerie Des Chevaliers du Tastevin Sous-Commanderie d'Albany, Pauleé Dinner; 27 January 2019 at Lake Ridge Restaurant, Round Lake, NY — 7 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.3

Popped and poured at restaurant. Fully opaque ruby color. Dark berry fruit, licorice, lavender, menthol, and some subtle earth are all evident on the nose after it opens up a bit. On the palate, it’s quite structured and tightly wound with an elegant, graceful style somewhat closer to Bordeaux than Napa coming in at 13.8% alcohol. Although long time winemaker Paul Draper has crafted this blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc for the long haul, it’s rewarding drinking now as well. Monte Bello’s 2nd wine puts most Napa cult cab’s 2nd wines to shame at a fraction of the cost. — 9 years ago

with Drew and Kelly

Chris Bensick

9.7

If I'd had the foresight (and the $$$) in 1978 I would have bought a whole case of this wonderful stuff. Still going strong, good cork, no sign of drying out. Paul Draper, you are a genius ! — 9 years ago

Jeff Collins

Owner Peabody's Wine & Beer Merchants and Benchmark Provisions

9.2

Elegant, evolved, beautiful old Zin. Paul Draper is the man. — 10 years ago