Mature Ridge among friends

Always good to see the boys and always good to enjoy great wines usually not on my radar.

• 1983 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Up against a tough crowd of '85 & '96 Ridge Monte Bello, this sure held its own while easily showing its under-card position.
  A nose of pretty red fruits and spring flowers, palate shows red currants and plum. Perfectly matured and maybe just a nitch below on the lively fruit especially againstthe '85 Monte Bello, this was no slouch. More feminine and along on its apparent road of maturity. Fully resolved tannins and very nice balance with some notes of cedar, mushroom and earth present. While not as 'wow',, quite admirable in its own right.

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• 1985 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello 96 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  there have been moments in my life when a wine has commanded my attention and respect and truly shows how little I actually know about wine itself, this is such a wine.
  A pretty nose of black cassis, black plum and black berries. Palate shows a deftness that only the most greatest of wines can show, and not being well versed in Ridge myself, I can only go on what I was told for many years, this one lives up to that esteemed reputation. Purity squared with densely pack lively fruits, this has it all: class, structure, balance, verve, texture, elegance, life. I loved it. Served alongside the 1983 Ridge Santa Cruz Cabernet, this outclassed it by barely an inch. Fully resolved and no cliffs in sight, this can only be described and incredible. Long, focused and in control of your senses and won't let got. Alongside my Steak au poivre with its hot mustard, this just rocked.

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• 1996 Ridge Monte Bello 95 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  From a perfect bottle. Initially had a slight greenness on nose with a tiny dose of eucalyptus. I figure that's the PV showing up (9%). As it sat it became cohesive and textured with some pretty white flowers, black currants and cardamom.
  So pretty and so pure, this sang from the glass at about 30 minutes and never faltered. Notes of leather and gravel and lead pencil, this is dense and fragrant with wonderful balance and verve, it defied its age. Finish long and exact. Such a wonderful gem stored well and it shows the true greatness of the Ridge Monte Bello fame.

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Thanks to Steve for sharing these.