Ridge California Geyserville 1997

I recently had the good fortune to sample this outstanding wine at a friend's 50th birthday party. A guest, who is an avid wine enthusiast, brought a bottle to open in honor of the "birthday girl". There were about eight of us who got to taste this vintage and with the very first sip, the look of approval on everyone's face was quite evident.

Ridge California Geyserville 1997 has a particularly fragrant and appealing nose. My first impression was that of ripe blackberries while some of the others described licorice. There was also a slight floral scent. The aroma is so enticing that it significantly adds to the pleasure of drinking this wine.

The first impression on the palate is that of a luscious, dark, ripe fruit. Again, blackberries or perhaps black raspberries. There is a wonderful complexity to this wine because the initial fruity taste changes ever so slightly to a subtle spiciness. Upon tasting, you would never guess the alcohol content to be 14.9%. It is very smooth and the tannins have mellowed to the point where they are imperceptible. Another interesting character of Ridge Geyserville 1997 is that although it is "bone dry" there seems to be a hint of residual sugar. This quality would make it appealing even to those who prefer semi-dry wines.