95 1991 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Cabernet 2/28/04($22)
Color: Deep garnet with slight onion skin around the rim. Can just see through it.(3.0) Bouquet: Perfumy cassis with ink, wet leaves(slight goux de vieux) and marzipan. Rich and intoxicating. Silky and elegant.(4.0) Body: Perfect balance of fruit-to-tannin-to acid. Light heavyweight. At the absolute pinnacle of its development. Tannins are totally smooth and fruit and complexity are totally open.(3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not as perfumy and rich. Still has delicious cassis and ink.(3.0) Finish: Persistent cassis and ink with just enough tannin to support. Elegant pepper combined with a long silkiness(3.5)
Overall: What was an excellent wine has reached that perfect stage of development where everything comes through just right, putting it in the realm of greatness. My only criticism is that the flavor could be richer, more like the bouquet, but I’m nitpicking. This meets if not exceeds the ’90 St.Cruz at its best and it’s only a small notch below the ’92, which is not as silky and balanced, but has more concentration. I like this wine most for its amazing bouquet combined with a long and impressive finish. It almost drinks like a Burgundy with its aromatic complexity. More St. Emillion-like than Medoc, if you will. But reminds you that it is mostly CS with power and tannin in the finish.(17.0)