Paul Draper is a winemaking god. I do not believe that I have every had a Ridge wine that Has disappointed me. This 1996 Mataro is no exception. Despite being 19 years old, the wine drink beautifully. Bathe colour is a little brown around the edges but the fruit is fresh and the tannins have mellowed.
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Brittle cork, decanted and strained. Dark garnet color. Tasted after an hour, pretty lush nose of jammy dark cherries, bramble berries, old wood, forest floor. On the palate, dark cherry fruit, still tart, although somewhat pie-baked. A bit of woody/cedary spice in the finish. Consumed much later than intended, this is still holding up and tasting quite well.
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Fill into neck; perfect capsule and cork. Decanted 30 minutes before tasting. Clear medium blood-ruby hue. Bouquet of tar, earthy spices, and jammy, slightly stewed fruit. Seamless and medium-bodied on the palate, with excellent extract. The label recommends drinking by 2003; I am glad the wine has proven sturdier than that.
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A lot of funk on the nose when first opened..Earthy, barnyard funk and leather. They blew off after about an hour or so. Still a nice deep ruby color to it, with almost no signs of bricking on the rim. Dark and red fruits on the nose with the earth fading to the background, giving way to more of a leathery smell. Verry juicy in the mouth with a wonderfully satisfying finish. Very well put together and in balance.
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11/10/2015 - Jscalia Likes this wine: 89 Points
Paul Draper is a winemaking god. I do not believe that I have every had a Ridge wine that Has disappointed me. This 1996 Mataro is no exception. Despite being 19 years old, the wine drink beautifully. Bathe colour is a little brown around the edges but the fruit is fresh and the tannins have mellowed.
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3/12/2013 - beerenauslese wrote: 90 Points
Brittle cork, decanted and strained. Dark garnet color. Tasted after an hour, pretty lush nose of jammy dark cherries, bramble berries, old wood, forest floor. On the palate, dark cherry fruit, still tart, although somewhat pie-baked. A bit of woody/cedary spice in the finish. Consumed much later than intended, this is still holding up and tasting quite well.
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7/7/2011 - Javachip wrote: 90 Points
Fill into neck; perfect capsule and cork. Decanted 30 minutes before tasting. Clear medium blood-ruby hue. Bouquet of tar, earthy spices, and jammy, slightly stewed fruit. Seamless and medium-bodied on the palate, with excellent extract. The label recommends drinking by 2003; I am glad the wine has proven sturdier than that.
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6/13/2010 - yonster24 wrote:
A lot of funk on the nose when first opened..Earthy, barnyard funk and leather. They blew off after about an hour or so. Still a nice deep ruby color to it, with almost no signs of bricking on the rim. Dark and red fruits on the nose with the earth fading to the background, giving way to more of a leathery smell. Verry juicy in the mouth with a wonderfully satisfying finish. Very well put together and in balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment