Ridge Vineyards
Boatman Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Delicious. And drinking beautifully right now. Nose shows characteristic Zin spicy blackberry fruit, along with a pronounced saline minerality that carries over to the palate. Palate is bone dry, but the fruit is perfectly ripe and nicely concentrated, and it’s beautifully balanced, with nice acids and very soft tannin for some tactile structure. It will certainly last for several years, but it’s really pleasurable right now.
Delicious. And drinking beautifully right now. Nose shows characteristic Zin spicy blackberry fruit, along with a pronounced saline minerality that carries over to the palate. Palate is bone dry, but the fruit is perfectly ripe and nicely concentrated, and it’s beautifully balanced, with nice acids and very soft tannin for some tactile structure. It will certainly last for several years, but it’s really pleasurable right now.
Mar 20th, 2024Slowly making my way through a couple cases of slightly regretful Ridge ATP club reds...I think in general these wines have great fruit but I don’t agree with the winemaking. Waaaay too much (American) oak and they’re picked too late and over extracted. 14.7% is too much for me, but I understand this is right in the wheelhouse for tons of other drinkers. I will say, on days 2 and 3 (it takes me this long to drink a bottle) much of the overt oak aroma is gone and some of the more interesting secondary and tertiary notes emerge, suggesting a fruitier Barbera, and the age certainly doesn’t hurt. Enjoyable tonight with some grilled Italian sausages and veggies.
Slowly making my way through a couple cases of slightly regretful Ridge ATP club reds...I think in general these wines have great fruit but I don’t agree with the winemaking. Waaaay too much (American) oak and they’re picked too late and over extracted. 14.7% is too much for me, but I understand this is right in the wheelhouse for tons of other drinkers. I will say, on days 2 and 3 (it takes me this long to drink a bottle) much of the overt oak aroma is gone and some of the more interesting secondary and tertiary notes emerge, suggesting a fruitier Barbera, and the age certainly doesn’t hurt. Enjoyable tonight with some grilled Italian sausages and veggies.
Jun 11th, 2020Was a favorite at our tasting. So glad to see it deliver again several months later. A deep ruby, with a raisiny nose. Dark chocolate, red fruit and some raisin/date elements flowing through. Nice finish.
Was a favorite at our tasting. So glad to see it deliver again several months later. A deep ruby, with a raisiny nose. Dark chocolate, red fruit and some raisin/date elements flowing through. Nice finish.
Nov 2nd, 2019
Definitely one of the Zinfandel standouts from the 2018 Spring release (along with the Carmichael IMO). That being said, I think this would benefit from a few years in the cellar to work off some of the baby fat. Plush, dark fruits and baking spices. Moderate acid. This would be fun to follow over the next ten years.
Definitely one of the Zinfandel standouts from the 2018 Spring release (along with the Carmichael IMO). That being said, I think this would benefit from a few years in the cellar to work off some of the baby fat. Plush, dark fruits and baking spices. Moderate acid. This would be fun to follow over the next ten years.
Aug 16th, 2019Stood out amongst the tasting of Spring releases. Nice balance. Prune and raisin profiles typical from Zin. Bold fruit.
Stood out amongst the tasting of Spring releases. Nice balance. Prune and raisin profiles typical from Zin. Bold fruit.
Jul 16th, 2019Wow. This is a spectacular, well balanced Zinfandel offering from Ridge. Bustling blackberry with a slight hint of oak on the nose. On the palette it starts off with some juicy blackberry and cherry, then rolls right in to some slight oak with light acidity and tannins to balance it all out. This is a spectacular Zinfandel and surprising at 100% Zinfandel. Drink this now or hold it for a couple of years. Bravo Ridge!
Wow. This is a spectacular, well balanced Zinfandel offering from Ridge. Bustling blackberry with a slight hint of oak on the nose. On the palette it starts off with some juicy blackberry and cherry, then rolls right in to some slight oak with light acidity and tannins to balance it all out. This is a spectacular Zinfandel and surprising at 100% Zinfandel. Drink this now or hold it for a couple of years. Bravo Ridge!
Apr 3rd, 2019Tom had this 3 years ago
Tom had this 3 years ago
1 person found it helpfulJun 11th, 2022
7 yrs if age paid off… superb wine. I think it’s best to follow Ridge’s guidance which is on every bottle…they said 5-7 years is optimal (measured from 2017 bottling). they were Right!
7 yrs if age paid off… superb wine. I think it’s best to follow Ridge’s guidance which is on every bottle…they said 5-7 years is optimal (measured from 2017 bottling). they were Right!
May 14th, 2023entering the perfect stage of balance
entering the perfect stage of balance
Jun 27th, 2022
Ridge boatman zin paired with wagyu beef liver soaked in milk, cooked in bacon onion sherry+++
Ridge boatman zin paired with wagyu beef liver soaked in milk, cooked in bacon onion sherry+++
Dec 13th, 2021