93+ 2009 Ridge Estate Merlot 5/27/12 ($40)
100% Merlot 14.2% alc
Color: Deep purple garnet. (3.0) Bouquet: Minerals and cocoa complement perfumy cassis and blackberry fruit with excellent acidity. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with fierce acidity and smooth tannins. Coats the mouth beautifully with very smooth tannins, but coats the teeth nonetheless. Excellent fruit too. Balanced. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet with butterscotch and herbal complexity. Delicious. (3.5) Finish: Tannins kick in here covering the fruit and complexity somewhat. Still long with structure and cedar staying in the mouth for a long time. (3.0)
Overall: Delicious Merlot fruit with excellent concentration and outstanding structure. Also has a mineral infusion typical of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Built like a serious Pomerol costing $150+. Needs time with acidity being particularly fierce at this point. Decant for 2-3 hours for now drinking or give it 6-8 years. A terrific Merlot! Reminds me of the '96. (16.5)
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