91 Ridge Coast Range Cabernet 10/21/05 ($20)
75% CS , 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot 13.3% alc bottled Dec 2000
Color: Deep garnet with a touch of onion skin. Looks ready. Can just see through it. (3.0) Bouquet: Sweet cassis, blueberry and gray ashes with nice acidity backing the fruit. Smells delicious with sweet almonds in the mix. (3.5) Body: A solid middleweight with elegance from age, but still has some tannin (mouthcoating in fact) with excellent fruit to acidity balance. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, but not as fruity here, showing more size and tannin. (3.0) Finish: Long and tasty, but subtle and elegant at the same time with tannin supporting. Could be more complex, but I’m asking too much. (3.0)
Overall: A peak, delicious Bordeaux blend with a year or two left in it, but because it’s not big I’d drink it now. Classy stuff for $20 and a non-vintage no less. Did anyone but me have the patience to wait 5 years for this to come around? Only those who know Ridge Cabernet. (15.5)