My impressions of this wine differed from Cris, but then again, I was drinking this out of a Zalto stem, which IMO tends to make Champagne taste more youthful and vibrant. Notes of nougat, baked green apples, crushed shells, and, with air, toffee and bruléed sugar. Precise and focused on the palate, with a lively acidity, and a long rich chalk-laden finish. Very enjoyable.

The first time I tasted this wine was in November of 2008. I gave it 91 points then and thought that it was surprisingly good for the price. Tasting it again over the weekend, I realize that that first bottle was not a fluke. This is a terrific wine for the price. Chalky on the palate with a nervy acidity, this wine exhibits notes of green and golden apples, starfruit, and a touch of cucumber and minerals on the finish. A very distinctive wine.

The nose and palate seemed very cloaked at first. Then the TCA took over.

This wine was holding up rather well considering its age. It's not often that one drinks (and enjoys) a 16 year old Chardonnay. Notes of preserved lemons, pastry cream, chopped almonds, and chalk. Smooth and delicate on the palate with a muted acidity. A delight to taste.

The fact that this wine was decanted for 8 hours is probably a testament to its quality and potential longevity. Rugged notes of lemon peel, smoke, grilled limes, and crushed shells. Tangy acidity with a long steely finish.

This wine was clearly past its prime, but that is not to say it had completely lost its merits. Fading notes of mushrooms, white cherries, tobacco, and slate. A short, tart, and gasping finish.

This gorgeous wine is a classic expression of California Cabernet. It has old Hollywood written all over it. Glamourous notes of black cherries, crushed raspberries, cassis, wet soil, licorice, and saddle leather. Rich, structured, and complex. A brilliant wine and easily my WOTN.

A little hard to believe that this was the youngest Cab-based wine at the table. Ripe notes of sour cherries, red plums, red currants, tobacco, and dried herbs. With air, the wine picks up some dark chocolate. Fleshy on the plate with a long finish. Fun to drink.

This wine was corked, unfortunately, but underneath the TCA lurked powerful notes of cassis, graphite, and cedar. Major bummer!

This epic and legendary wine was a delight to drink. That said, between Parker's 100 points and Suckling's 95, I think the bar of expectations was set a little too high. Don't get me wrong; this was a joy to drink, but I do not think it is worth the tariff, nor do I think it is going to get any better with time. Notes of violets, currants, crushed raspberries, cedar, sweet tobacco, graphite and bitter chocolate. Broad and expansive on the palate with a slightly tart finish. 93-94 points.

Notes of cassis, cigar box, anise, and dried herbs. Balanced and elegant and probably the most ready to drink of the three. 91-92 points.

This wine had an Old World character to it; it could have easily been a ringer in a line-up of Bordeaux. Earthy notes of red fruits, cedar, wet soil, and graphite. Dense and tannic on the palate with a herbal finish. 92-93 points.

In contrast to the Jimsomare, this one came across as more New World in character. Ripe notes of mint, black fruits, chocolate, leather, graphite and wet loamy soil. Slightly pruney on the palate. Clearly the richest of the three Ridges and in definite need of more time (or a healthy decant). 92-93 points.

Earthy and gamey with notes of candy bars, red currants, and leather. Still chugging along with no signs of fading.

Excellent. Notes of candied pecans, maraschino cherries, and pie crust. What's not to like about that?