91 1999 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Cabernet 10/2/10 ($32)
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, 1% Cab.Franc 12.7% alc
Color: Deep garnet with only slight clearing and no onion skin. (3.0) Bouquet: Bayleaf, subtle clove and cassis fruit with elegant cedar. (3.5) Body: Excellent acidity and spice and very good fruit with smooth tannins in a solid middleweight package. Coats somewhat.(3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but shows more cedar and less complexity. Still interesting and very tasty. (3.0) Finish: Parallels bouquet with Indian spices going on and on, but is a little chalky. (3.0)
Overall: Fully developed Indian spice complexity complements cassis fruit and excellent acidity with smooth tannins underneath. Could use just a little more fruit concentration, but very interesting and showing elegant maturity. (15.5)
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