Thanks for the memories--how about Montevina LH at 15.3%. I remember the
late Dave Bennion pouring me some LH Zins up at Ridge---never did figure out
how I got down that mountain. Another bunch of LH Zins were the Mayacami of
Bob Travers.....yikes they were responsible for the loss of about 100,000 of
my brain cells.

However, the so called Parkerized Zins of today (and the cabs, petite
syrahs, and meritages) are much better balanced, with just "gobs and gobs"
of fruit, although I didn't have to take out a home equity loan to buy a
wine like Turley.

--
Joseph B. Rosenberg
"Cwdjrx _" > wrote in message
...
> Ridge and others have made extremely overripe Zinfandels from back in
> the 70s and even earlier. Some had a little residual sugar and a very
> high alcohol content. Others had a very high residual sugar content and
> high to very high alcohol content also. Some of the dryer types did have
> much of the weight and structure of an Amarone. Some of the sweeter
> versions had the weight and sweetness of port, or beyond. I suspect the
> ones you mentioned were rather tame compared with some of the wines from
> the past. Ridge Shenandoah Esola Vineyard 1978 was a fairly dry huge
> late harvest wine somewhat in an Amarone style. Ridge Lodi Essence 1972
> was very port-like with much residual sugar and alcohol. Ridge Dusi
> Ranch Late Harvest 1978. was quite full and quite sweet. Monterey
> Peninsula Winery Ferrero Ranch Late Harvest 1976 was extremely
> concentrated, loaded with alcohol, and off-dry. Then there was David
> Bruce who in the 70s was one of the kings of monster wines including
> Zinfandel and even a Riesling fermented to about 17 % alcohol.
>
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