1. This was a pretty interesting collection of the Ridge DusiRanch Zins. I had just received my Z-List shipment and wanted to try the 2010 Paso right away. So I fleshed it out w/ an '02 from the archives and Larry dredged up the two '01's to go with them.
I have, of course, followed the Ridge Dusi Zins from the very start, back in the mid-'70's. They were originally harvested to be around 12% alcohol and were rather lean/hard/chalky in character....my least favorite of the Ridge Zins. Since then, they're harvested to be in the upper 14%'s and are much the better for it. Sometimes, the crop gets away from them and they go over 15%. They typically show that Paso jammy blackberry Zin fruit, but w/o the overripe/raisened character those Zins sometimes have. They are generally softer than the other Ridge Zins, not quite the structure, and make for earlier drinking windows.
I was quite taken by this new 2010 Paso. It was one of the later-ripening Zins for Ridge that year and has more acidity to it than any I can recall since back in the '70's. Yet it still has that classic Paso jammy fruit. I suspect that bright acidity will allow it to age well beyond Eric's recommended drinking window. It's one of the best Ridge Paso Zins that I can recall in many a year.
My favorite of the Ridges was the '02. It had a perfume & fragrance to it that suggested very nice development in the btl. The two '01's showed a slight drying out character, but still very lovely and should go another 2-5 yrs I'd guess. Slightly preferred the '01 Dusi to the regular.
Paul & Eric report that Beni, who should be in his mid-'80's, is still doing fine. Recently had a hip replacement, but not let it slow him down at all. Some yrs ago, Paul & DaveGates took me by to meet Beni. A real pleasure it was; with a good sense of humor and a bright twinkle in his eye.
TomHill
