I had a “Dang it, I wish I’d bought more!” moment yesterday, when I had my first sip of a Ridge 2009 Geyserville.  The Cupertino-based Ridge Vineyards is known primarily for its elegant, high-end Zinfandels.  Now, I’m not normally a Zin fan – just a bit too “in my face” for my liking.  But a friend bought me a very enjoyable bottle a few months back and when I saw this beauty beckoning from the Costco shelves, I just had to pick it up.

Wow.  A lovely, fruit-forward wine with just the right amount of tannin.  The blend is comprised of 74% Zinfandel, 17% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (Mourvedre).  I served it alongside a beef stew and dinner was proclaimed a hit by the Cups in-laws.

A bit more on the Geyserville blend, courtesy of the Ridge site: “Ridge has made the Geyserville as a single-site zinfandel in every year since 1966. The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards on a defined stretch of gravelly soil approximately one-and-a-quarter miles long and a half-mile wide.  Aging: Fifteen months in barrel.  Saturated ruby color. Penetrating cherry/plum fruit, black tea, pepper/clove spice, gravel, tar, mint. Fresh bramble entry, polished tannins. Opulent, balanced, complete.”

The wine retails for $35 from the winery, though I think I scored it for a bit less than that at Costco.  I’ll be heading back for more in the next couple of days.  Seems like a perfect holiday wine to me.