September 9, 2020 - Classic old cab. Good nose, woodsy, cab flavor, good sweet finish although on its way down. Grilled burgers. Thank you Tom.
October 24, 2015 - Big open and generous nose has red fruit, cedar, tobacco and herbs. Palate is round and fresh with sweet black cherry fruit that is even primary. Tobacco and cedar add complexity. Medium finish.
June 17, 2014 - Medium red-brown color. Aromas of a bit of cherry and strawberry, green bell pepper and olives are peeking through a heavy blanket of oxidation. Smells like it's gonna taste very old indeed. On arrival, low tannin and medium-low acidity. Flavors of butterscotch and cherry hit right up front, and that's followed by caramel corn; it's how I'd figure a low strength Evan Williams black level Bourbon would be tasting at 14% abv. Cork was good, storage impeccable but this fellow's near dead. Bottle #6 of six.
September 10, 2013 - Tasted along side my bottle of Mondavi reserve in my wine club's '87 California Cab tasting, this bottle was better. Almost as good as the Shafer Hillside select that we also tasted. Cabernet nose forthcoming leading in to good youthful fruit on the palate. Nice finish. Four Ridge wines were included in the tasting including one Merlot which stood out with green olive notes on the nose. The Club's favorite,and mine, not surprisingly was the Ridge Monte Bello.
June 14, 2012 - ruby in color. blackberry, green peppers, earth, on the nose. cocoa, vegetative, slight oak, on the palate. mild acid on a smooth finish.
December 10, 2011 - Echo comments by Hodby, but perhaps with a little drop off due to another year of age.
September 22, 2010 - Rich ruby color, a bricked edge. Unmistakably California cabernet, the nose of mints, herbs, red bell pepper, bay leaf, black cherry are enticing and grows better with air over three hours. The heavy vanilla tones and black cherry fruit of this wine at initial release are gone; no perceived oakiness now, and flavors are olives, mint and stewed cherry. A somewhat tangy acid finish, but very enjoyable and pervasive. I'd have pegged this for a cabernet from Oakville fruit a la the style of Heitz nest 1980's Napa bottlings. Stored in our very cold cellar since purchase, had a perfect cork, high neck fill. Tag: Conejo Wine & Provision Cp, $11.95. Bottle #5 of six.
October 14, 2009 - I also liked this far more than the group but I understood that. It is showing some age and much less exuberant. More about leather and spcie than fruit at this time. Still, I loved the texture (I think this matters to me more than the group) and the complexity. Nice finish. Past prime slightly and I would drink up.
March 26, 2009 - Hart Davis Hart BYO Dinner (Blackbird): Showing shockingly well, better than 87 HSSs I've had in the past. Beautiful nose with very nice rich chocolate notes on the palate.
March 15, 2009 - Was better than I expected. Still relatively fresh with good fruit and acid. Went well with food. Refined and in good balance.