Young, floral, clove, blackberry - like a pie just out of the oven. Med + acidity, Med + intensity. American Oak, vanilla, creamy oak. Med + tannin. Later on, more blackberry and cassis with a little tart black fruit. Wonderful. This is what happens to the leftover Monte Bello grapes, due to not wanting to produce too much of the Monte Bello brand. Looking forward to tasting this against the Monte Bello '01, blind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened an hour in advance then decanted before serving (cork completely crumbled). Much more Bordeaux in style than Napa. This bottle is in a perfect place flavor and balance-wise. Will be great for a few more years but resolved tannins and starting-to-fade acidity suggest this may be at its peak. Purchased at the winery and stored in a cool cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very well balanced, full-bodied cab/merlot blend. Though it is now past its peak, it still remains a hit at every dinner party where I’ve brought a bottle. Initially musty on the nose, it has definite undertones of black truffles, wet rocks, saddle leather and black peppercorns. Drink now, but likely still good until 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Phenomenal, drank beautifully, subtle, elegant, fine tannin, great aroma followed through on the palate; after several hours, it seemed overripe an unbalanced; a great blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Retail $65. Holy cow. Dark red fruit with a bit of tobacco. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. On the palate? Whoa. Fruit for sure, but depth. And more depth. Whoa. This is one of the best Bordeaux blends I've had from California. thedrunkencyclist.com
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit (blueberries, blackberries), tannins. Bright fruit, slight acidity. Cassis. Good finish. May need more time for tannins to fully integrate but really enjoyable. Slight spice, slight vanilla.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mocha, oak, berry fruit, coffee, lots of torrefaction, actually, lots of everything but still sleek and polished in the Ridge style. Probably very attractive if this is your thing, but this was blown away by the '89 Monte Bello next to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very disappointing. Thought this would be holding up well, considering how good the Monte Bello and Estate are. Instead, this lacked structure and vibrancy and just seemed tired. Performed more like I'd expect from a Coast Range at this age (ie. not bad, but rather boring). Should've put the '01 Napa Cabs poured alongside to shame, instead it fell flat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted. Initial taste was a bit off (maybe a tiny bit corked?) - so rating refelcts this uncertainty. The "funk" blew off after an hour or so.. then a nice deep purple fruit nose came through. Still - rather one-dimensional flaovr. Little tannins left... so may be past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with strip steaks. Drinking wonderfully right now. Fully integrated tannins with dark fruit flavors. Some chocolate overtones on the finish which goes on for a while. I thought this might be over the hill, but it was anything but. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a big a$$ wine even at year 11. Full throttle Cali profile, you'll either love or hate it. No minerality or acidity - just gorgeous ripe Cali fruit. A good wine if you like the style. Not jammy or mikshakey or fake tasting - but in a lineup with 76 Heitz Martha's and 93 Phelps Backus....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought a couple bottles of this direct from Ridge in 2010 and this is my first taste. Bigger than I expected from Ridge, even knowing that this was planned as a big wine from a ripe vintage. It's in a very good place, though. Massive fruit and tannins, with just enough acidity to make it work. If you like tannins, this is quite amazing. If not, you might want to pass. I'll probably open the second bottle before too long, as I'm a bit worried about the acidity fading.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mixed Bag of Wines (Kevin's House): Almost for sure a top ten wine of the year. Blueberries, bing cherries, coffee beans, earth, leather and minerals are singing on this super complex but integrated wine. Mild/Medium tannins. Medium to long finish and one of the best Bordeaux style blends I have sampled from the US in years. $100 or less buy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mixed wines at impromptu mini-offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Gorgeous dark purple red color. Nose is fantastic, very complex with creme de cassis, blueberry, earth and truffles, spice, wildflowers, and vanilla. The palate is consiistent, and is truly elegant in the mouth, and follows with a long finish. This is an outstanding wine. Clearly the first bottle was no fluke. This was the unamimous WOTN. I only wish i had more. 94+pts. Addendum: day 2+ adds coffee and blackberry liqueur and a bit of meat to the nose and palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted about an hour. Started out a little watery and very grassy. More fruit showed as the night went on. Food made this better and brought out the Merlot... Very nice but I wouldn't wait too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark Red color. Double decanted for 1 hour and drank over the next 2 hours. Extremely complex nose of damp earth, truffles, sweet red berries, cassis and black fruits, light oak. The palate is consistent with nose, is medium in body and has well integrated tannins and a long 15sec plus finish. I have to call it as I see it, and this is a beautiful bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2hrs, mmm, did not what to expect from this bottle, back of label stated it was bottled 3/04 and I've had it in my cellar for around 5 years 53-55 degrees. A very dark wine, when first tasted enormus amounts of jammy black fruits were present in the nose, which after sometime displayed graphite, smoke, earth and a nice touch of mocha. The dark fruits continue on the palate with coffee, dark chocolate, earth and oak. Very rich, with decent concentration, silky and smooth through the monderate finish. Based on this bottle (my only)while certainly in it's drinking window, plenty of life life, as it held together and evolve throughout the 3hrs it took to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my last bottle and I have to say that this wine never really came around. Still needs lots of decanting, but then it quickly fades in the glass. No reason to hold any longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tough to beat QPR in Cali blends. More full-bodied than I remembered my last bottle~ 1 yr ago. Almost Zin like in profile- plenty of fruit with smooth tannins on finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a gorgeous nose. Brilliant stuff...full fruit and spice, complimentary to whatever you put in front of it (as long as it has the fiber) and, frankly, the centerpiece of our dinner tonight. Complex and dense. This bottle was the cap on a terrific lineup that included Kistler and Kosta Browne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting notes consistent with bottle opened 12/9/08, with the following refinements: Noticed the grippy tannins more and the blackberry and sour plumb. The Cab appears first and the finish is all Merlot. Terrific. The floral nose stood out to everyone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle obviously sat unprotected on the shelf for 8 years but still managed to hold itself together in a very impressive way. I sigh to think what I've missed by not getting the opportunity to taste a bottle that had been cellared properly, but this was still very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. A bit austere in comparison to other wines consumed this evening. Definitely leans toward Bordeaux stylings. Seemed to improve over time. Has structure for further aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very floral and deep wine. Very dark fruits approaching raisin-like but just short of over the top. Balanced. Very nice - glad I waited the extra 3 years. In its prime IMHO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very smooth with a wonderful nose. Copper color, terroir, dark fruit, cassis and a seductive texture make this a complete wine. This beauty fills your mouth with a consistent flavor from start to finish - and it's a long finish. Yum! Tasted on day two and it was even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A sexy, rich red. Gorgeous deep red/purple, fragrant nose. Dark fruit (love the cab/merlot mix) with a long finish. Delicious. Held up to spicy pasta sauce too but I'd recommend red meat. Drinking superbly now but this baby has more left. Better on day two. Overall, decanted about 6 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375 ml split FOUR ways! Dark ruby in color. An immediate spice on the nose. Blackberry and cola right in your face. A balanced, drinkable, yet structured cab. It opened up with time in the glass as a couple of us were only sipping. Spicy and smoky hickory. Overall this was a good wine, but nothing too spectacular. The mouth feel was a little thin. Still tasted young. Needed a few good hours to decant. Maybe I'll get a full bottle and put it away for a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Starts with classic ripe cherries/berries, vanilla, mocha...very nice although with a bit of a gripping finish. But then, after an hour or so, it turns a lot flatter and short with most of the fruit gone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Zachary Lang at Chez Michael (Boston, MA): Concentrated nose with sour plum, floral notes and some charred oak. Nose is somewhat closed and the fruit is a bit muted. Could be travel shock as these just arrived. Almost reminscent of a BdM nose....Thinner than the 2002 Home Ranch drunk alongside, with less tannin, less fruit and a raspberry leather profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over a couple days. Initially very firm and dense with cabernet fruit, developing into more lush blackberry and blueberry flavors with cedar and pine forest notes and brown spices. Enjoyed it a lot. At the price, it's certainly not a disappointment but it's not a value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
When just opened this wine was heavy in the nose with vanilla with some vanilla on the tongue. After decanting and waiting 20-30 minutes, the vanilla decreased and some tannins became apparent. Although there was some noticeable tannin, the overall mouthfeel was more toward the moderate than the thick side. Some fruit and berry flavors were present, although they were on the understated than the fruit-forward style. This wine is very nice but is not quite at the pinnacle of all wines that I have tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over two nights. First opened for New Years Blind Tasting. Probably my WOTN although it showed surprising simplicity for a wine of that price ($65 retail, $35 sale). Once reopened the following night after refrigeration, I was hit immediately with blueberry pie with baker's spices on the nose followed by currants, eucalyptus and mint. It was allowed to warm to room temperature and decant for a couple hours, after which time, the same smells were prevalent but more pungent. Upon first sip, it tasted like a blueberry/strawberry pie with cinnamon and nutmeg. After another hour or so, flavors of grilled bell pepper with Indian spices started to prevail. Overall a quite enjoyable wine, that took me on a ride of flavors ;)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened not decanted. A xmas eve dinner with M&Y&M. This showed better than the Fisher Coach Insignia, but it too was a disappointment. More of a sweet raisin nose and a dry finish. It could use a decent decant time to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine has improved even with only 6 months of ageing since I tried it last. More balance, nice fruit, mellowing tannins. Very nice. Developed nicely over a couple of hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color: Dark garnet Nose: Very nice full nose, even when cool Taste: Excellent wine. I drank at a upscale, Mexican BYOB restaurant, so I don't have direct tasting notes, but I really enjoyed the wine, as I have all Ridge wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color is dark garnet with slight lightening at the rim. Nose of cherry, blackberry, and a hint of eucalyptus. On the palate, shows the same cherry, blackberry, spice, and a hint of mint. The nose was there from the first pop of the cork, but the palate developed over 2-3 hrs. This bloomed into a beauty...I will definitely get some more. This is what I want a cabernet to be...hats off to Paul Draper!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is a little confusing - it's enjoyable even though it's not completely integrated. A blackberry and floral nose with melons, spice, undertone of cooked starwberries and a tannic finish. All in all, pretty drinkable. Not sure how this ages, but worth a try, especiallly at the very good PA pricing. Inky purple color with scarlet rim.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Bordeaux-like blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from 35-year old vines in the Monte Bello vineyard, plus 49% merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from younger Monte Bello vines; 14.3% alcohol. Clolor is deep and dark red, quite opaque. Nose shows cherries jubilee and a bit of brown sugar. Palate is very smooth. The wine shows ripe fruit, medium acidity, and quite noticable tannins. Not overy complex or layered, but wonderfully enjoyable. Drinking well right now. However, at $60 retail, $54 or so discounted, this is pushing the QPR quite a ways in the wrong direction.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/4/2021 - Winokdub wrote: 94 Points
Great nose. Soft but layered mouthfeel. Really nice lingering finish. Yum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2021 - Ch. Lafite wrote: 95 Points
Young, floral, clove, blackberry - like a pie just out of the oven.
Med + acidity, Med + intensity.
American Oak, vanilla, creamy oak. Med + tannin.
Later on, more blackberry and cassis with a little tart black fruit. Wonderful. This is what happens to the leftover Monte Bello grapes, due to not wanting to produce too much of the Monte Bello brand.
Looking forward to tasting this against the Monte Bello '01, blind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2021 - DBdeParis Likes this wine:
Opened an hour in advance then decanted before serving (cork completely crumbled). Much more Bordeaux in style than Napa. This bottle is in a perfect place flavor and balance-wise. Will be great for a few more years but resolved tannins and starting-to-fade acidity suggest this may be at its peak. Purchased at the winery and stored in a cool cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2021 - OnWisconsin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Leather, potpourri, with some cocoa and dried berries. Not very expressive.
Medium acid and medium plus tannin.
A fully matured Bordeaux blend in an interesting place. The nose suggests it’s past peak, but the structure is still rocking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2020 - Cellartracker@drkayem.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
A very well balanced, full-bodied cab/merlot blend. Though it is now past its peak, it still remains a hit at every dinner party where I’ve brought a bottle. Initially musty on the nose, it has definite undertones of black truffles, wet rocks, saddle leather and black peppercorns. Drink now, but likely still good until 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2019 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Amazing wine, fine, softened tannins, complex and long finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2017 - RichardZula Likes this wine:
Phenomenal, drank beautifully, subtle, elegant, fine tannin, great aroma followed through on the palate; after several hours, it seemed overripe an unbalanced; a great blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2017 - Old Joe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Complex taste with a combination of fruit and tobacco. Good finish. Probably on its downward spiral. Drink up soon if you have any
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2016 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 95 Points
Retail $65. Holy cow. Dark red fruit with a bit of tobacco. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. On the palate? Whoa. Fruit for sure, but depth. And more depth. Whoa. This is one of the best Bordeaux blends I've had from California. thedrunkencyclist.com
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2015 - JJKinch wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruit (blueberries, blackberries), tannins. Bright fruit, slight acidity. Cassis. Good finish. May need more time for tannins to fully integrate but really enjoyable. Slight spice, slight vanilla.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2015 - gjv115 wrote: 92 Points
I thought I had ruined this. It was remarkable. After four hours it was complex, bright fruit, aromatic nose. Magnificent. Amazing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2014 - andtheodor wrote:
Mocha, oak, berry fruit, coffee, lots of torrefaction, actually, lots of everything but still sleek and polished in the Ridge style. Probably very attractive if this is your thing, but this was blown away by the '89 Monte Bello next to it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2014 - yhn wrote: 85 Points
Very disappointing. Thought this would be holding up well, considering how good the Monte Bello and Estate are. Instead, this lacked structure and vibrancy and just seemed tired. Performed more like I'd expect from a Coast Range at this age (ie. not bad, but rather boring). Should've put the '01 Napa Cabs poured alongside to shame, instead it fell flat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2013 - Ecoenophile wrote: 88 Points
Decanted. Initial taste was a bit off (maybe a tiny bit corked?) - so rating refelcts this uncertainty. The "funk" blew off after an hour or so.. then a nice deep purple fruit nose came through. Still - rather one-dimensional flaovr. Little tannins left... so may be past its prime.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2013 - JS1056 wrote: 92 Points
Drank with strip steaks. Drinking wonderfully right now. Fully integrated tannins with dark fruit flavors. Some chocolate overtones on the finish which goes on for a while.
I thought this might be over the hill, but it was anything but. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2013 - asplatt19 wrote: 89 Points
Nice, but clearly past it's prime
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2012 - spacewrangler wrote:
This is a big a$$ wine even at year 11. Full throttle Cali profile, you'll either love or hate it. No minerality or acidity - just gorgeous ripe Cali fruit. A good wine if you like the style. Not jammy or mikshakey or fake tasting - but in a lineup with 76 Heitz Martha's and 93 Phelps Backus....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2011 - missionpk wrote: 92 Points
Bought a couple bottles of this direct from Ridge in 2010 and this is my first taste. Bigger than I expected from Ridge, even knowing that this was planned as a big wine from a ripe vintage. It's in a very good place, though. Massive fruit and tannins, with just enough acidity to make it work. If you like tannins, this is quite amazing. If not, you might want to pass. I'll probably open the second bottle before too long, as I'm a bit worried about the acidity fading.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 95 Points
Mixed Bag of Wines (Kevin's House): Almost for sure a top ten wine of the year. Blueberries, bing cherries, coffee beans, earth, leather and minerals are singing on this super complex but integrated wine. Mild/Medium tannins. Medium to long finish and one of the best Bordeaux style blends I have sampled from the US in years. $100 or less buy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Mixed wines at impromptu mini-offline (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Gorgeous dark purple red color. Nose is fantastic, very complex with creme de cassis, blueberry, earth and truffles, spice, wildflowers, and vanilla. The palate is consiistent, and is truly elegant in the mouth, and follows with a long finish. This is an outstanding wine. Clearly the first bottle was no fluke. This was the unamimous WOTN. I only wish i had more. 94+pts. Addendum: day 2+ adds coffee and blackberry liqueur and a bit of meat to the nose and palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2011 - lifeattable wrote: 89 Points
Decanted about an hour. Started out a little watery and very grassy. More fruit showed as the night went on. Food made this better and brought out the Merlot... Very nice but I wouldn't wait too much longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2011 - BailliSacks Likes this wine: 93 Points
Extraordinary. Very big, but so elegant. My impressions similar to ROCKNROLLER's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2010 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Dark Red color. Double decanted for 1 hour and drank over the next 2 hours. Extremely complex nose of damp earth, truffles, sweet red berries, cassis and black fruits, light oak. The palate is consistent with nose, is medium in body and has well integrated tannins and a long 15sec plus finish. I have to call it as I see it, and this is a beautiful bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2010 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Nose of dark cherries and black olives. The acidity was a frame around the delicious fruit, providing excellent structure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2010 - wineshaman wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 2hrs, mmm, did not what to expect from this bottle, back of label stated it was bottled 3/04 and I've had it in my cellar for around 5 years 53-55 degrees. A very dark wine, when first tasted enormus amounts of jammy black fruits were present in the nose, which after sometime displayed graphite, smoke, earth and a nice touch of mocha. The dark fruits continue on the palate with coffee, dark chocolate, earth and oak. Very rich, with decent concentration, silky and smooth through the monderate finish. Based on this bottle (my only)while certainly in it's drinking window, plenty of life life, as it held together and evolve throughout the 3hrs it took to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2010 - JimN wrote: 87 Points
This is my last bottle and I have to say that this wine never really came around. Still needs lots of decanting, but then it quickly fades in the glass. No reason to hold any longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Tough to beat QPR in Cali blends. More full-bodied than I remembered my last bottle~ 1 yr ago. Almost Zin like in profile- plenty of fruit with smooth tannins on finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2009 - brl75 wrote:
Delicious. After an hour in the decanter it was singing. At hour 2 it had thinned out. Drink up, not going to get much better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2009 - jeffal66 wrote: 93 Points
What a gorgeous nose. Brilliant stuff...full fruit and spice, complimentary to whatever you put in front of it (as long as it has the fiber) and, frankly, the centerpiece of our dinner tonight. Complex and dense. This bottle was the cap on a terrific lineup that included Kistler and Kosta Browne.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2009 - agebob wrote: 92 Points
Tasting notes consistent with bottle opened 12/9/08, with the following refinements: Noticed the grippy tannins more and the blackberry and sour plumb. The Cab appears first and the finish is all Merlot. Terrific. The floral nose stood out to everyone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2009 - brl75 wrote:
This next bottle fared better. Strong blackcurrant with some oak and chocolate. Damn delicious wine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2009 - brl75 wrote: 93 Points
This bottle obviously sat unprotected on the shelf for 8 years but still managed to hold itself together in a very impressive way. I sigh to think what I've missed by not getting the opportunity to taste a bottle that had been cellared properly, but this was still very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. A bit austere in comparison to other wines consumed this evening. Definitely leans toward Bordeaux stylings. Seemed to improve over time. Has structure for further aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2008 - iamandyc wrote: 92 Points
Very floral and deep wine. Very dark fruits approaching raisin-like but just short of over the top. Balanced. Very nice - glad I waited the extra 3 years. In its prime IMHO.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2008 - agebob wrote: 92 Points
Very smooth with a wonderful nose. Copper color, terroir, dark fruit, cassis and a seductive texture make this a complete wine. This beauty fills your mouth with a consistent flavor from start to finish - and it's a long finish. Yum! Tasted on day two and it was even better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2008 - Florida Keys Girl wrote: 91 Points
smooth and full bodies. ready to drink now. very enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2008 - RichardZula wrote:
Very nice, detailed notes not kept.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2008 - jeffal66 wrote: 93 Points
A sexy, rich red. Gorgeous deep red/purple, fragrant nose. Dark fruit (love the cab/merlot mix) with a long finish. Delicious. Held up to spicy pasta sauce too but I'd recommend red meat. Drinking superbly now but this baby has more left. Better on day two. Overall, decanted about 6 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2007 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
From a 375 ml split FOUR ways!
Dark ruby in color. An immediate spice on the nose. Blackberry and cola right in your face.
A balanced, drinkable, yet structured cab. It opened up with time in the glass as a couple of us were only sipping.
Spicy and smoky hickory.
Overall this was a good wine, but nothing too spectacular. The mouth feel was a little thin.
Still tasted young. Needed a few good hours to decant. Maybe I'll get a full bottle and put it away for a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2007 - Filippo wrote: 89 Points
Starts with classic ripe cherries/berries, vanilla, mocha...very nice although with a bit of a gripping finish. But then, after an hour or so, it turns a lot flatter and short with most of the fruit gone.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2007 - spacewrangler wrote: 88 Points
Zachary Lang at Chez Michael (Boston, MA): Concentrated nose with sour plum, floral notes and some charred oak. Nose is somewhat closed and the fruit is a bit muted. Could be travel shock as these just arrived. Almost reminscent of a BdM nose....Thinner than the 2002 Home Ranch drunk alongside, with less tannin, less fruit and a raspberry leather profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2007 - pvd420 wrote: 90 Points
smooth and deep, with a touch of cedar and eucalyptus.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2006 - hifiwine wrote: 91 Points
a nice compliment to the monte bello
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2006 - pgm wrote: 91 Points
Consumed over a couple days. Initially very firm and dense with cabernet fruit, developing into more lush blackberry and blueberry flavors with cedar and pine forest notes and brown spices. Enjoyed it a lot. At the price, it's certainly not a disappointment but it's not a value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2006 - ewill wrote:
When just opened this wine was heavy in the nose with vanilla with some vanilla on the tongue. After decanting and waiting 20-30 minutes, the vanilla decreased and some tannins became apparent. Although there was some noticeable tannin, the overall mouthfeel was more toward the moderate than the thick side. Some fruit and berry flavors were present, although they were on the understated than the fruit-forward style. This wine is very nice but is not quite at the pinnacle of all wines that I have tasted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. Much better than the last bottle. Licorice on the nose. Tangy, with a zesty fruit spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2006 - cipherbean wrote: 93 Points
Was a bit lean at first. One the second day however, wow! Needs time in cellar and decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2006 - silvercup wrote: 92 Points
Drank over two nights. First opened for New Years Blind Tasting. Probably my WOTN although it showed surprising simplicity for a wine of that price ($65 retail, $35 sale). Once reopened the following night after refrigeration, I was hit immediately with blueberry pie with baker's spices on the nose followed by currants, eucalyptus and mint. It was allowed to warm to room temperature and decant for a couple hours, after which time, the same smells were prevalent but more pungent. Upon first sip, it tasted like a blueberry/strawberry pie with cinnamon and nutmeg. After another hour or so, flavors of grilled bell pepper with Indian spices started to prevail. Overall a quite enjoyable wine, that took me on a ride of flavors ;)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2005 - tanglenet wrote:
Opened not decanted. A xmas eve dinner with M&Y&M. This showed better than the Fisher Coach Insignia, but it too was a disappointment. More of a sweet raisin nose and a dry finish. It could use a decent decant time to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2005 - jmp wrote: 91 Points
This wine has improved even with only 6 months of ageing since I tried it last. More balance, nice fruit, mellowing tannins. Very nice. Developed nicely over a couple of hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2005 - ewill wrote:
Color: Dark garnet
Nose: Very nice full nose, even when cool
Taste: Excellent wine. I drank at a upscale, Mexican BYOB restaurant, so I don't have direct tasting notes, but I really enjoyed the wine, as I have all Ridge wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2005 - Thilo wrote: 92 Points
Color is dark garnet with slight lightening at the rim. Nose of cherry, blackberry, and a hint of eucalyptus. On the palate, shows the same cherry, blackberry, spice, and a hint of mint. The nose was there from the first pop of the cork, but the palate developed over 2-3 hrs. This bloomed into a beauty...I will definitely get some more. This is what I want a cabernet to be...hats off to Paul Draper!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2005 - jmp wrote:
This wine is a little confusing - it's enjoyable even though it's not completely integrated. A blackberry and floral nose with melons, spice, undertone of cooked starwberries and a tannic finish. All in all, pretty drinkable. Not sure how this ages, but worth a try, especiallly at the very good PA pricing. Inky purple color with scarlet rim.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2004 - PaulH wrote: 90 Points
A Bordeaux-like blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon from 35-year old vines in the Monte Bello vineyard, plus 49% merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from younger Monte Bello vines; 14.3% alcohol. Clolor is deep and dark red, quite opaque. Nose shows cherries jubilee and a bit of brown sugar. Palate is very smooth. The wine shows ripe fruit, medium acidity, and quite noticable tannins. Not overy complex or layered, but wonderfully enjoyable. Drinking well right now. However, at $60 retail, $54 or so discounted, this is pushing the QPR quite a ways in the wrong direction.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment