More fruit forward and sexy than the Lytton Springs, the 1999 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine sports a youthful ruby color to go with complex notes of sweet plums, licorice, cinnamon and exotic spices. Made from 68% Zinfandel, 16% Carignan, and 16% Petite Sirah that checks in at just under 15% alcohol, it's aging brilliantly and has full-bodied richness, a full, layered mid-palate and a great finish. It's fully mature, but will evolve gracefully going forward.

The exceptional 1999 Geyserville Proprietary Red Wine (a blend of 68% Zinfandel, 16% Carignan, and 16% Petite Sirah with 14.8% alcohol) offers aromas of black currants, kirsch liqueur, minerals, smoky oak, earth, and spice. It possesses superb concentration, excellent definition, tremendous purity, and mouth-staining extract without heaviness. A long finish further enhances this sensational, Zinfandel-dominated offering. Consume it over the next 7-9 years. Tel. (408) 867-3233

Not a Zin by legal standards (it contains only 68% Zinfandel, plus 16% of both Carignane and Petite Sirah), but synonymous enough with the variety that we had to include it. The Geyserville carries the earthy aromas and flavors that are Ridge’s calling card: The bouquet shows light aromas of tree bark, soil and mixed berry notes, plus some oak-derived spice; tannic deep earth, bark and tart black fruit flavors on the palate smooth out after a few minutes in the glass. More of the same earthy-blackness, plus chalk and oak, ride out the medium-long finish. —D.M.——D.T.(3/1/2002)—— 90