The 2009 has still a lighter, ruby colour than the newer bottles which hold to that pitch black which adds to the viscosity of something like the 2013.
Mint leaf on the nose, Bursting from fruit. Blackcurrant and Mulberry with a eucalyptus edge, packed in with a light sweetness from a damson gin. The alcohol is noticeable too like the waft from a lower proof bourbon.
Lots of stages to enjoy. An initial spritz with dark chocolate followed by a weak smokey blackcurrant close not as intense as the initial hit but its the middle that is so indulgent and tingly.
Nicely done and it is revealing the soft lines of ageing. Not unlike a Salvestrin Cab.
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So this is top shit. Not quite as wacky as the the Mother Rock but more the kind of stuff that you could drop off at a party without looking like your the only person wearing hemp trousers and Jesus Creepers.
Bee pollen on the nose. Treacle, Demerara sugar, dark and honeyed.
Slight acidity compared to the Mother Rock which was zippy. This was plump and a lot more refined. No where near White Burgundy refined but a certain almondy softness which really stood out. Lets face it if you don't know a wine in a tasting its 90% likely to be Italian and this has northern Italian white written all over it.
The finish, lemon meringue. Its still here. No got, it. Waitrose Lemon Curd Tart. The big one that was too much for one person but you'd eat it all anyway.
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I'll start off by saying we had this under almost the same conditions as last year's 2013 and it isn't as good. 2013 was a transcendental experience and so good I'm still not sure its classifiable as wine - this is really excellent but is demoted to being wine.
It sits perfectly in the glass. Pitch black and strong, opaque and mature. Vibrant in its blackness. Everything about it screams quality.
On the nose, I would agree that it is quite young but more than drinkable. Smells of oak and violet (perfume violets rather than Parma Violets). The petit verdot comes through extraordinarily strong considering its the smallest percentage of the blend. Touch of eucalyptus but I reckon that might actually be best described as more of a herbal sage or maybe under ripe blackberries. There is a rich juiciness there too which is deceptive due to the dominance of the oaken violets.
Initially quite standard on first taste - tons of chewy tannins with a chalkiness, the oak not too dominant as it is on the nose.
Mid palate is quite sherberty.
Finish is a great sour black cherry, really long lasting herby and fruity.
Don't serve it too cold.
Its true that it isn't complex yet. It could become a bit of a leathery beast but I'm also sure that there doesn't need to be a lot of theatrics if you open this a little early. Drink and enjoy because it isn't a 2013, that much is abundantly clear.
2009 Ridge Monte Bello
1/13/2020 - JayDubz Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2009 has still a lighter, ruby colour than the newer bottles which hold to that pitch black which adds to the viscosity of something like the 2013.
Mint leaf on the nose, Bursting from fruit. Blackcurrant and Mulberry with a eucalyptus edge, packed in with a light sweetness from a damson gin. The alcohol is noticeable too like the waft from a lower proof bourbon.
Lots of stages to enjoy. An initial spritz with dark chocolate followed by a weak smokey blackcurrant close not as intense as the initial hit but its the middle that is so indulgent and tingly.
Nicely done and it is revealing the soft lines of ageing. Not unlike a Salvestrin Cab.
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2016 Mother Rock Wines Chenin Blanc Force Majeure
3/22/2019 - JayDubz Likes this wine: 90 Points
So this is top shit.
Not quite as wacky as the the Mother Rock but more the kind of stuff that you could drop off at a party without looking like your the only person wearing hemp trousers and Jesus Creepers.
Bee pollen on the nose. Treacle, Demerara sugar, dark and honeyed.
Slight acidity compared to the Mother Rock which was zippy. This was plump and a lot more refined. No where near White Burgundy refined but a certain almondy softness which really stood out. Lets face it if you don't know a wine in a tasting its 90% likely to be Italian and this has northern Italian white written all over it.
The finish, lemon meringue. Its still here. No got, it. Waitrose Lemon Curd Tart. The big one that was too much for one person but you'd eat it all anyway.
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2014 Ridge Monte Bello
1/13/2019 - JayDubz Likes this wine: 94 Points
I'll start off by saying we had this under almost the same conditions as last year's 2013 and it isn't as good. 2013 was a transcendental experience and so good I'm still not sure its classifiable as wine - this is really excellent but is demoted to being wine.
It sits perfectly in the glass. Pitch black and strong, opaque and mature. Vibrant in its blackness. Everything about it screams quality.
On the nose, I would agree that it is quite young but more than drinkable. Smells of oak and violet (perfume violets rather than Parma Violets). The petit verdot comes through extraordinarily strong considering its the smallest percentage of the blend. Touch of eucalyptus but I reckon that might actually be best described as more of a herbal sage or maybe under ripe blackberries.
There is a rich juiciness there too which is deceptive due to the dominance of the oaken violets.
Initially quite standard on first taste - tons of chewy tannins with a chalkiness, the oak not too dominant as it is on the nose.
Mid palate is quite sherberty.
Finish is a great sour black cherry, really long lasting herby and fruity.
Don't serve it too cold.
Its true that it isn't complex yet. It could become a bit of a leathery beast but I'm also sure that there doesn't need to be a lot of theatrics if you open this a little early. Drink and enjoy because it isn't a 2013, that much is abundantly clear.
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