Ridge Wine Vertical Dinner

We decided to open up some well-aged Ridge wines and have them with porterhouse and ribeye steaks. Five guys, two 3-pound ribeyes, two 2-pound porterhouses, lobster mashed potatoes, crab gnocchi, creamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms, sautéed great beans, and brussels sprouts. Various flavors of Salt & Straw ice cream for dessert.

• 2011 Ultramarine Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé Heintz Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Loved this. A hint of sweetness, but well-balanced. Great with cheese to start the evening.

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• 1978 Ridge Ruby Cabernet Monte Bello 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  This wine is still holding up beautifully, aging more like a French bordeaux than most Cali cabs. Holding up better than the Ridge Jinsomares we tasted same night from a decade later.

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• 1982 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Still holding up remarkably well, but you should probably drink up if you're holding. Even if it lasts longer, it's starting to deconstruct.

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• 1982 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 88 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  I fear this one is officially past its prime. My bottle was surprising not totally busted, but still, this wine isn't really made to hold up this long. Drink it now if you've got it, and have a back up!!

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• 1983 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 89 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  On it's last legs. Definitely drink this if you're still holding...

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• 1985 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 90 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Barely hanging on, but still present.

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• 1986 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Holds up quite nice! Surprising body given the age.

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• 1988 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 90 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Still present but fading. Drink up!

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• 1989 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Still hanging in there. Some good fruit on it. Actually better after being open an hour.

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• 1993 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Fantastic! Still holding up beautifully and has some life in it still.

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• 2005 Realm Cellars The Tempest 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Really wonderful. In a perfect drinking window right now.

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• 1978 Ridge Zinfandel Paso Robles 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  This one is done for. Maybe my bottle--which was intact and good provenance--was off, but this has kind of fallen apart over the years.

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• 2006 Jeff Cohn Cellars Late Harvest Viognier Ripken Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  Very nice, very simple. Best if you've had a lot of wine preceding it! :)

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