96 1992 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Cabernet 9/27/03($22)
Color: Very deep garnet with onion skin around the rim, implying ready. Dense and difficult to see through.(4.0) Bouquet: Intense ink and cassis with mint, surrounded by elegant cigarbox aromas. Smells like a Pauillac.(4.0) Body: Well balanced heavyweight, elegant for its size. Excellent tannic backbone indicating that it will hold for a few years.(3.5) Flavor: Intense cassis and firm tannin. Lots of Pauillac-like ink intertwined. Tannin hides the complexity a bit at this point.(3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with slightly harsh tannins, long with sweet ink and cassis.(3.0)
Overall: Great stuff! Lynch-Bages? No, Ridge Cab. Monte Bello? No, Santa Cruz Mtns. Wow!!! Fantastic now and should hold its peak for 2-3 more years.