2004 Ridge Oltranti-Day 2

Today's assessment of the Oltranti doesn't really change much from yesterday. The only major difference is that the "alcohol" flavor has certainly been reduced. The flavors of the wine still remain somewhat hidden but I am starting to get some true blending of black cherry, leather, and currants. No real spiciness can be detected at this point as the tannins continue to dominate this wine. I'll check again tomorrow in hopes of a brighter wine.

2004 Ridge Oltranti

I know it may seem as though I only drink Ridge wines, but I happened to move across the country without my wine, so soon I'll be tasting many others! Nonetheless, last night I opened the 2004 RidgeOltranti. The Oltranti is 88% Zin, 10% Carignane, and 2% Petite Sirah. This unique grape combination leads to a somewhat overpowering smell at opening, with some serious tannin presence. The alcohol smell and flavor were incredibly strong in the beginning but began to subside over the course of an hour. Interestingly, this wine has incredibly complex flavor structure which could not be deciphered immediately. I will report on the tasting for Day 2 soon! At that point, I hope the wine has calmed enough to detect individual flavors. As of now, the only flavors immediately discernible were strong currant and light leather undertones. I anticipate that this wine will be great this evening. Meal: grilled pork tenderloin medallions with Galena Street Seasoning (Penzey's Spices, http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysgalena.html), grilled sweet corn, and caprese orzo.