Unexpected win at fundraiser auction. Decanted 90 mins. March 21, 2021 & paired with lamb shanks: deep complexity & nose, extraordinary balance; drunk after more tannic 1990 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cab. Sauvignon; very little sediment; still good one day later.
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Cork was depressed a bit but otherwise it held in great shape with seepage only about 2/5 of the way up. Bit of funk at the start but after some breath it came to life, well as much life as it had left in it. It was complex with a long finish, nice fruit but lacked the liveliness I was hoping for. I could tell this wine was once great but had seen better days.
At any rate, always special to have a birth year wine and I am glad I had the opportunity. The 60 day dry aged wagyu rib-eye certainly stole the show tonight. Once more bottle waiting in the wings but think I will drink it next year rather than wait for my 40th.
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Medium reddish garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of well developed & mature ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of cedar & floral notes, earthy/dusty, spices, dark cocoa, mint, herbs, bell pepper, tobacco, minerals, smoky with a slight hint of oak/vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, well-integrated & mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & plums, dark cocoa, herbs, spices & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering & silky-smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & may be at its peak of development but has the structure & fruit to last a few more years longer although I doubt any further development would occur. Fill was mid-neck level; cork was intact & stained on lower 1/4.
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(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Bricking medium dark red color; nice, plum, berry, herbal, loamy nose; lovely, youthful cassis, red plum palate with light cedar notes; medium-plus finish (group's WOTF; 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot)
(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Group's #1 (my #1) – 58 pts; 4 1st place votes, 3 2nd place votes, 1 third, 0 last places – bricking medium red violet color; herbaceous, tobacco, olive nose; youthful, cassis, tart currant, menthol palate with depth and balance; medium-plus finish 94+ pts. (most youthful of our 8 1984 Cabs; I easily picked it out as the Monte Bello in our blindtasting, as did a few others)
(Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello) Redwood, mushroom, forest floor, plum, eucalyptus and menthol nose; tasty, tart plum, tangy, meat and mushroom palate; medium finish
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4/20/2024 - Wine_lvr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tired bottle. At its peak. Drink up
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12/31/2023 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 93 Points
good but not as spectacular as the last bottle several years ago
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11/17/2023 - roddey3 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Unexpected win at fundraiser auction. Decanted 90 mins. March 21, 2021 & paired with lamb shanks: deep complexity & nose, extraordinary balance; drunk after more tannic 1990 Von Strasser Diamond Mountain Cab. Sauvignon; very little sediment; still good one day later.
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12/21/2022 - hadukla Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cork was depressed a bit but otherwise it held in great shape with seepage only about 2/5 of the way up. Bit of funk at the start but after some breath it came to life, well as much life as it had left in it. It was complex with a long finish, nice fruit but lacked the liveliness I was hoping for. I could tell this wine was once great but had seen better days.
At any rate, always special to have a birth year wine and I am glad I had the opportunity. The 60 day dry aged wagyu rib-eye certainly stole the show tonight. Once more bottle waiting in the wings but think I will drink it next year rather than wait for my 40th.
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5/16/2022 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium reddish garnet in color with slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of well developed & mature ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of cedar & floral notes, earthy/dusty, spices, dark cocoa, mint, herbs, bell pepper, tobacco, minerals, smoky with a slight hint of oak/vanilla. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, well-integrated & mature, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blueberries & plums, dark cocoa, herbs, spices & a hint of oak/vanilla. Long lingering & silky-smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & may be at its peak of development but has the structure & fruit to last a few more years longer although I doubt any further development would occur. Fill was mid-neck level; cork was intact & stained on lower 1/4.
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