Community Tasting Notes 271

• phandley66 wrote: 94 points

  May 4, 2024 - Much more approachable then last two bottles. Lots of cherry, cola. Not much tannin. Definitely at peak or slightly past. Would drink now!

  Comment

• DoubleD1969 wrote:

  March 4, 2024 - Drank next to the 1997 Ornellaia. Both bottles were double decanted in the afternoon then brought to the Hawksmoor NYC.
  
  Ornellaia: 65% Cab, 30% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc.
  The nose was a bit more expressive while decanting. Notes of raspberries, dried herbs, and wet earth. At the restaurant, a bit of barnyard crept in. Color had a maroon core that gradually lightened towards the edges. Looking at it next to the Ridge, it was obviously lighter in color. Wine was silky with tannins fully resolved. Dried red fruit, pomegranate seeds, oregano, and mushroom/earthy kind of taste. Still excellent.
  
  Ridge MB: 85% Cab, 8% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cab Franc.
  Like the Ornie when decanting, the nose was full of eucalyptus, black licorice, and graphite which receded somewhat (may have been the restaurant) and let the crushed black cherry fruit to emerge. Color was mostly opaque. Much fuller-bodied than the Ornellaia with the dark cherry, blackberry, forest floor combo. Fantastic as always. A better match for the charcoal-grilled steaks.

  Comment

• Ward Huang Likes this wine: 99 points

  February 3, 2024 - Slow-ox for 12 hrs at cellar temp. Much better than last bottle. Decanting in the bottle with long time and less oxygen really helps showcase its full potential.

  Comment

• A&C Likes this wine: 99 points

  January 20, 2024 - This is an incredible wine. Simply stunning. I put this up there with one of the best bottles I've had over the course of the last couple of years. And it was a 1997. This is a very special wine. If you have any, you're lucky. Thanks to James for sharing last night!!

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• thesternowl wrote: 95 points

  January 18, 2024 - 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Presented single-blind; no formal notes. Wine #2 had great color, was developing, fresh, focused, balanced; great structure. One of those glasses of wine you didn’t want to end and, for me, a tough call for favorite of the flight along with Wine #1. I vacillated between this being Dominus or Monte Bello; ultimately calling the former. This is in a beautiful phase of life. Drink now through 2040.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 12

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1997
• Type Red
• Producer Ridge
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Monte Bello
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Santa Cruz Mountains
• Appellation Santa Cruz Mountains
• UPC Codes 010000024444, 086891077437, 185983000046, 500000001767, 744442101009, 744442671953, 9770009054816

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 17 (0%)
• In Cellars 2,706 (62%)
• Consumed 1,630 (37%)

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