Impressive example of Pine Ridge style and great fruit. It won't be "great", but it is a strong example of the craft and Pine Ridge style. Berries and spice on the nose with some oak and chemical volatility. The wine screams with the rich purple color and long thick legs typical of Pine Ridge Cabs. After decanting the fruit opens up...plums and blackberry lead the bouquet with chocolate and toasty oak harmonizing with the chemical tail end. The fruit is structured by the oak and pepper, so it really goes well with food. The acid is balanced but strong, tannins linger as it coats the mouth. It is nice and drinkable now, but I believe it may get better for a couple of years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Probably should have let it lie down for a year or two, but from an earlier tasting I didn't expect this to grow much with age. Good pepper, subued but consistent fruit. A good balance between oak and fruit. Nice with good, but the structure seems thin...just not a huge body. For the price and the appellation, it is a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruit and spice on the nose initially without much chemical volatility. Nice purple color, but not as thick and inky as we had hoped. Color indicates a lot of aging potential. Pepper with oak and simple fruit greets the first taste, and the expectation of additional fruit layers fills the mouth. Decanted for an hour...two...and the berry flavors surpass the oak and pepper, but layers are still holding back. Good age potential, but the complexity doesn't seem to be there for "greatness".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2007 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District
9/1/2013 - rphighsmith Likes this wine: 93 Points
Impressive example of Pine Ridge style and great fruit. It won't be "great", but it is a strong example of the craft and Pine Ridge style. Berries and spice on the nose with some oak and chemical volatility. The wine screams with the rich purple color and long thick legs typical of Pine Ridge Cabs. After decanting the fruit opens up...plums and blackberry lead the bouquet with chocolate and toasty oak harmonizing with the chemical tail end. The fruit is structured by the oak and pepper, so it really goes well with food. The acid is balanced but strong, tannins linger as it coats the mouth. It is nice and drinkable now, but I believe it may get better for a couple of years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2011 Infinite Monkey Theorem Cabernet Franc Grand Valley
9/1/2013 - rphighsmith Likes this wine: 84 Points
Probably should have let it lie down for a year or two, but from an earlier tasting I didn't expect this to grow much with age. Good pepper, subued but consistent fruit. A good balance between oak and fruit. Nice with good, but the structure seems thin...just not a huge body. For the price and the appellation, it is a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2009 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
9/1/2013 - rphighsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit and spice on the nose initially without much chemical volatility. Nice purple color, but not as thick and inky as we had hoped. Color indicates a lot of aging potential. Pepper with oak and simple fruit greets the first taste, and the expectation of additional fruit layers fills the mouth. Decanted for an hour...two...and the berry flavors surpass the oak and pepper, but layers are still holding back. Good age potential, but the complexity doesn't seem to be there for "greatness".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment