Professor Bainbridge...on law, politics, religion, culture & food

Ridge York Creek Zinfandel Late Picked (Napa Valley) 2001

Unlike the many Ridge late-harvest and late-picked Zinfandels from the late 1990s and, especially, 2000, this wine is actually kind of pleasant to drink. Instead of being jammy, it offers clean fruit. Instead of being dominated by a hot impression from excessive alcohol, in this wine you can actually taste the fruit and oak flavors. Toasty black cherry, blueberry, vanilla, and cloves. Enough structure to justify a few more years of aging. Grade: B+