We tried these two at our Pig+Fig tasting last night of Older Calif Cabs:
1. Ridge CabSauv YorkCreek/SpringMtn/NapaCnty (5% Merlot;13.9%; Bttld: July 1980; Drk: 4/80-4/83: PD) 1978: Med.color w/ light bricking; rather herbal/CS/slight weedy strong cedary/pencilly/oldRed slightly tired slight oxidized bit complex nose w/ not a whole lot of fruit; soft rather overripe/blackcurranty/CS bit oxidized/tired cedary/pencilly/oldRed flavor w/ light drying tannis; long overripe/CS finish that mirrors flavor; still has some overripe fruit but getting pretty tired/dried-out on the palate; headed downhill. $12.99 (KK)
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2. Ridge CabSauv SantaCruzMtns Calif (14.5%l 100% CS; Drk: 8/81-8/84: PD) Cupertino 1979: Med.color w/ some browning; light herbal/CS/black curranty/big fruit strong Ridge oak/vanilla/bit toasty very slight cedary/pencilly/oldRed rather complex bit Jr.MonteBello earthy/dusty lovely nose; soft rather ripe/blackcurranty/CS/slight herbal bit earthy/dusty/OV strong vanilla/Am.oak/bit toasty some cedary/pencilly/oldRed bit dried out some complex flavor w/ light drying tannins; very long somewhat drying finish w/ mimics flavor; a really lovely Jr.MonteBello nose but fairly tired/drying out on the palate w/ not a lot of fruit.
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More squiggleflut from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. These two Ridges were harvested from Stacey's & my archives. I've never been much of a fan of the Ridge YorkCreek reds except for the PetiteSirah. I find them to often be on the rather ovveripe side. This '78 was no exception.
With the '79 vintage, Draper made a pretty heavy selection out for the MonteBello. So the bulk of the MonteBello Cab fruit went into this wine. The nose strongly reflected its MB background, but it was starting to fade & dry out on the palate.
Tom