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| Ridge Monte Bello |
Wednesday, October 24 |
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Speaker: Paul Draper, Wine Maker, Ridge Vineyards
One of California's original Cult Cabernets, Ridge Vineyards has been making top notch Cabernets from the Monte Bello Vineyard for 40 years. Not only have these wines gained critical and market acclaim, but Wine maker Paul Draper is considered by many to be an icon of the industry.
Wines are listed in the order of presentation. The 21 attendees at this single bottle tasting were asked to vote for their three favorite wines of the event. Since the wines were purchased at auction, no prices are listed. Notes are a combination of Mr. Draper's and Jonathan Levine's.
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| Wine |
Votes |
1981 Monte Bello Cabernet
My favorite wine of the event. Elegant, well balanced and resolved. Just lovely with a suppleness that is unbelievable. Quite complex and sensuous.
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6 |
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1985 Monte Bello Cabernet
A charming wine with some hard edges. Might have faded more than some of the others. Not as lush as the 1981, but there is a solid structure. Notes of cedar and mint.
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0 |
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1987 Monte Bello Cabernet
Hints of green olives or pepper. A small vintage. There is a racy green acidity that seems to dominate. Not as balanced as the others with some tannins still present. |
1 |
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1988 Monte Bello Cabernet
Cherry aromas with a deep color. Still some tannins. Fully integrated and quite supple. Claret-like in its elegance and grace. |
8 |
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1990 Monte Bello Cabernet
The group's overwhelming favorite. It is rich and lush with depth, complexity and a lingering finish. Developing an aged related complexity.
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15 |
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1991 Monte Bello Cabernet
The aroma shows bing cherries. More subtle than the 1990. Well balanced with bright fruit. Starting to develop the secondary characteristics that come with age. More advanced than the 1990.
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3 |
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1992 Monte Bello Cabernet
Spicy with notes of coffee and licorice. A mouth filling chalky and tannic feel. |
0 |
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1993 Monte Bello Cabernet
Another wine on the elegant claret style. An incredible and tantalizing aroma. The firm acidity and rounded texture make this a wine to drink again and again.
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2 |
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1994 Monte Bello Cabernet
Just delicious. Notes of red fruits and chocolate. There is some port-like quality to the wine. It is just starting toopen up and emerge from its infancy.
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7 |
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1995 Monte Bello Cabernet
Soft and to me lacks depth. Great fresh fruit quality. Big tannic structure but drinking well right now.
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9 |
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1996 Monte Bello Cabernet
Hints of spice and smoke. Quite complex, subtle and deep. Very youthful with layers of fruit and stuffing.
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3 |
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1997 Monte Bello Cabernet
Very young. Notes of green olives and tannins. Long finish but not yet integrated. This is a wine that needs time.
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2 |
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