Ridge 2016 Zinfandel, Geyserville, Alexander Valley

This is the latest release of Ridge Geyserville! An Iconic wine, Ridge Geyserville is a traditional field blend of Zinfandel and its complementary varieties: Carignane, Petite Sirah and Alicante. Each vintage is unique and yet they do have elements in common. It's among the most age-worthy of Ridge wines, Geyserville often drinks beautifully well beyond 10 years of age. This 2016 is a blend of 73% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bousche, aged 12 months in 100% air-dried American oak barrels, 20% new.

Jeb Dunnuck scored this wine 95 points saying "The 2016  Geyserville is the usual Zinfandel-dominated blend and includes  17%  Carignan,  7%  Petite  Sirah,  and  3%  Alicante  Bouschet. It offers a gorgeous bouquet of ripe red and black cherries, caramelized plums, toasted spices, and exotic flowers. This gives way to a seamless, medium to full-bodied, elegant Geyserville that has plenty of intensity, sweet tannin, and perfect balance. This beauty just glides over the palate and is one of the more approachable vintages of this cuvée I can remember. Nevertheless, it will keep for at least a decade. It’s a great wine."

And the Wine Advocate also scored it 95 saying "The 2016 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine is a real success this year, bursting from the glass with an exuberant bouquet of sweet cherries, blackberries and plums, with subtle hints of the licorice and spice to come with age, and a subtle framing of sweet new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and layered, with a lovely core of ripe, succulent fruit and beautifully fine-grained structuring tannins. The finish is long and pure. There are 23 different grape varieties co-planted in the Geyserville vineyard, but in 2016, Zinfandel dominates at 73%, followed by 17% Carignane, 7% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante Bouschet."

and Antonio Galloni also scored it 95 saying "The 2016 Zinfandel Geyserville is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Beams of supporting tannin and acidity give the 2016 its distinctly virile, imposing personality. Black cherry, graphite, lavender, and spice are all laced throughout. Deceptively medium in body, the 2016 packs a serious punch. It also needs at least a few years in bottle to settle down, as the tannins are quite imposing, There is a purity to the 2016 that is absolutely striking."

and James Suckling scored it 96 saying "This is impressive for the sense of presence and depth it delivers on the nose and palate with subtly spiced dark plums and cherries, as well as cocoa powder and a superbly composed structure that delivers a seamless, long and fresh finish. A blend of 73 per cent zinfandel, 17 per cent carignane, seven per cent petite sirah and three per cent alicante bouschet."