Color: Dark ruby to purple. Nose: Bubble gum perfume (oak). Blackberry and other black fruit profile. Hint of anise. Palate: Structured and tannic. Very young wine. Blackberry, blueberry notes. Tart and acidic. Earth, fennel, mint note. Hard to evaluate due to tightly wound structure (only splash decanted). Finish: Medium to long with big tannic finish (not dried out tannins but still mouth puckering). Finally opened up after 4 hours. Probably needs another 5 years to mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Evaluated under less than ideal circumstances. Recent bottle travel, aerated in bottle for 2 hours.
Color: Dark purple with slightly lighter edge. No bricking at all. Nose: Big nose of black fruits (very ripe black cherry, cassis, plum, blackberry. Sweet oak still prominent producing the typical perfumy notes of MB. Still very primary and fruit driven. I dont recall getting floral notes or any secondary or earthy notes yet. Palate: Lush fruit, full bodied wine but so smooth that the size of the wine is hidden and it seems more elegant. Almost a creamy texture and there are some milk chocolate or mocha notes which I think come from the oak. Black fruits follow through on the palate and are very ripe. No overripe prune or raisins however. Medium length finish whcih does become tannic and a bit of alcohol peeps out but not too distracting. Still a primary fruit driven wine. If you like your wines with mature bordeaux notes then you will have to wait a long time for this one to come around.
An unusual year for MB: Tons of ripe fruit flavors, the most merlot in the blend probably ever, the highest alcohol ever at 14.2 percent. I am glad I have more of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2003 Ridge Monte Bello
8/13/2010 - Miruvor wrote: 92 Points
Color: Dark ruby to purple.
Nose: Bubble gum perfume (oak). Blackberry and other black fruit profile. Hint of anise.
Palate: Structured and tannic. Very young wine. Blackberry, blueberry notes. Tart and acidic. Earth, fennel, mint note. Hard to evaluate due to tightly wound structure (only splash decanted).
Finish: Medium to long with big tannic finish (not dried out tannins but still mouth puckering). Finally opened up after 4 hours. Probably needs another 5 years to mature.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2001 Ridge Monte Bello
3/7/2009 - Miruvor wrote: 93 Points
Evaluated under less than ideal circumstances. Recent bottle travel, aerated in bottle for 2 hours.
Color: Dark purple with slightly lighter edge. No bricking at all.
Nose: Big nose of black fruits (very ripe black cherry, cassis, plum, blackberry. Sweet oak still prominent producing the typical perfumy notes of MB. Still very primary and fruit driven. I dont recall getting floral notes or any secondary or earthy notes yet.
Palate: Lush fruit, full bodied wine but so smooth that the size of the wine is hidden and it seems more elegant. Almost a creamy texture and there are some milk chocolate or mocha notes which I think come from the oak. Black fruits follow through on the palate and are very ripe. No overripe prune or raisins however. Medium length finish whcih does become tannic and a bit of alcohol peeps out but not too distracting. Still a primary fruit driven wine. If you like your wines with mature bordeaux notes then you will have to wait a long time for this one to come around.
An unusual year for MB: Tons of ripe fruit flavors, the most merlot in the blend probably ever, the highest alcohol ever at 14.2 percent. I am glad I have more of this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2005 Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards
2/16/2009 - Miruvor wrote: 90 Points
Color: Magenta ruby. No brown edge.
Nose: Extremely ripe rasberry, strawberry, floral note of roses, dusty earthy spice.
Palate: Red fruit dominant. Medium full body. Raspberry follows through, good acidity, pomegranate, strawberry. Oak is not noticeable.
Finish: Medium length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment