Where am I?

• 1995 Dehlinger "Estate", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 63
• 1995 Dehlinger "Octagon Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 63
• 1997 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 74
• 1997 Dehlinger "Reserve", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 52
• 1999 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 64
• 1999 Dehlinger "Octagon Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.5%) - group score: 81
• 2001 Dehlinger "Goldridge Vineyard", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 59
• 2001 Dehlinger "High Plains", Russian River Valley (14.3%) - group score: 48

Note that some of these wines fall short of 75% Zinfandel, and couldn't be sold as such today.

• 1978 Langtry Road (60% Zin, 30% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane; 14.6%) - Showing a floral-herbal bouquet, with jammy fruit and some lingering acidity. Group rank: 44.
• 1978 York Creek (100% Zin; 13.9%) - Typical Zinfandel nose, "boiled sweets" or candied cherries. Still lively and drinkable, this was my third-favorite of the flight. Group rank: 50.
• 1978 Shennandoah "Eschen Vineyard" (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 15.9%) - Sadly, this wine was corked. Group rank: 86.
• 1978 Paso Robles (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 14.6%) - Some oxidation, phenolic notes, and some mustiness in the nose. Group rank: 50.

• 1980 Ridge "Shennandoah - Esola Vineyard" (95% Zin, 5% Petite Sirah; 13.9%) - Dry, cedar-like nose, with a soft mouth-feel and a lingering finish. Still good, but should be drunk up quickly. Group rank: 50.
• 1980 Ridge "Langtry Road" (57% Zin, 33% Petite Sirah, 10% Carignane; 13.4%) - My favorite of the tasting, with a cedar-vanillin nose, balanced mouth-feel, and typical Zinfandel fruit. Group rank: 36.
• 1980 Ridge "Geyserville -Trentadue Ranch" (100% Zin; 14.6%) - My second-favorite, with raisiny Zinfandel fruit and a surprising amount of acidity. As the wine opened up, these elements came into balance nicely. Group rank: 40.
• 1980 Ridge "York Creek - Spring Mountain" (90% Zin, 10% Petite Sirah; 13.9%) - Brambles and vegetation, with a pleasant finish, but not to my taste. Group rank: 49.

I was in Washington DC for the occasion of O. Eric's 40th birthday, which entailed excellent wine and a good time all around. Along the way, we dropped by the cherry blossom festival.