93 1999 Ridge Santa Cruz Mtns Cabernet 3/3/12 ($32)
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot, 1% Cab.Franc 12.7% alc
Color: Deep garnet. No clearing to speak of. (3.0) Bouquet: Black ink and cedar/cocoa oak complementing concentrated cassis. Delicious and smooth. (3.5) Body: Excellent smooth, but substantial tannins and fruit. Coats mouth beautifully with excellent concentration. Heavyweight. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but tannins hold it back a little. (3.0) Finish: Delicious, long cassis and cedar go on and on. Should get even sweeter with time as tannins fade. (3.5)
Overall: This is finally starting to strut its stuff. Concentrated cassis and loads of smooth tannins with Pauillac-like black ink density. This wine was excellent right from the start, but in the last few years I really thought it wasn't going to improve. Well, it has finally emerged from its adolescent phase. It seems to have even gained some more weight with plenty of tannic structure, which will enable it to continue to improve in the next 2-3 years. Outstanding. (16.5)
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