Double decanted to take to out with friends. In a good place with plenty of life. I think this is a 40-year MB. On the nose a purple fruit, cassis and spice box. On the pallet cassis, blue fruit and spice in the medium body wine. Very good and will get better.
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Notes of ripe plum and blackberry lead the way, with grippy tannins emerging and lingering on the medium-long finish. Oak feels well integrated at his stage, and there's a mineral undertone that plays a more prominent role than usual. Savory, earthy notes weave in and out too. Excellent, and just leaning into its drinking window now.
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Served blind by the host at our monthly tasting group, this was the runaway wine of the night. Still very young, but also quite drinkable, with solid black fruit, firm tannin, a touch (just a touch) of wood framing, and a very long finish. Not the most aromatic wine of the night, but definitely the most complete, and with the longest runway for improvement. Drink now if you must, but better off not to, as it's going to get a lot better.
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(Ridge Monte Bello) Final assemblage - opaque purple red violet color; very appealing, cassis, creme de cassis, cedar, pencil lead, ripe black fruit nose; velvety textured already, tight, tart black currant, tart black cherry, pencil lead, violets palate with balance; could use 5-plus years; long finish (62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot; 13.7% alcohol)
(Ridge Monte Bello) First assemblage barrel sample - opaque purple red violet color; very appealing, complex, pencil lead, black currant, mulberry nose; rich, tasty, poised, tight, tart black currant, tart berry, pencil lead palate with firm, sweet tannins; needs 7-plus years; medium-plus finish 94-96 points (first assemblage is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Franc; 13.7% alcohol; all the Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc was used in this blend)
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4/9/2024 - deadwax Likes this wine: 94 Points
Double decanted to take to out with friends. In a good place with plenty of life. I think this is a 40-year MB. On the nose a purple fruit, cassis and spice box. On the pallet cassis, blue fruit and spice in the medium body wine. Very good and will get better.
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2/10/2024 - mark2eye Likes this wine: 96 Points
Excellent. Drinking perfectly right now.
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2/2/2024 - ziavino wrote: 95 Points
Notes of ripe plum and blackberry lead the way, with grippy tannins emerging and lingering on the medium-long finish. Oak feels well integrated at his stage, and there's a mineral undertone that plays a more prominent role than usual. Savory, earthy notes weave in and out too. Excellent, and just leaning into its drinking window now.
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2/1/2024 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Served blind by the host at our monthly tasting group, this was the runaway wine of the night. Still very young, but also quite drinkable, with solid black fruit, firm tannin, a touch (just a touch) of wood framing, and a very long finish. Not the most aromatic wine of the night, but definitely the most complete, and with the longest runway for improvement. Drink now if you must, but better off not to, as it's going to get a lot better.
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1/1/2024 - Too much practice. Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is something (news only to me). Tasted from Nik Bertelsen. Round, smooth, fruity, oaky and utterly delicious. Very long finish.
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