Tasting Note                          

88+(?)   1994 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Cabernet    12/16/06 ($22)

Color: Deep garnet with a touch of onion skin, but not clearing. (3.0) Bouquet: Gray ashes and black ink with some black pepper tannin surrounding perfumed and elegant cassis. (3.0) Body: Middleweight with good tannin and acidity, but the fruit could be more forward. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet with some bitterness from tannin and chalky acidity. (2.5) Finish: Parallels flavor step-for-step. It has length, but is a bit sour from chalky acidity. (2.5)
Overall: This is classic SCM Cabernet, but it has flaws. Hard to say whether or not they will iron out in the next couple of years. Ideally the tannin will smooth and the acidity will diminish, so the fruit is more able to shine. I had higher hopes for this, when last tasted about two and a half years ago. (14.0)