Cold rainy weekend called for a fire and dinner at home. Saturday I grilled some Allen Brothers Colorado Lamb and opened a bottle of 1989 Ch. Leoville Las Cases. Medium garnet in the glass with a pronounced pink at the rim. Nose of cedar and leather with background cassis and black fruits. Less weight on the palate than expected and the balance was beginning to shift towards the tertiary flavors and away from the fruit. Lead pencil, a bit of leather and tobacco framed by cassis and licorice. Firm minerality and acidity made it great with the lamb. "B "
On Sunday Linda made a traditional pot roast with root veggies so I opened a 1997 Ridge Montebello. Still a dark reddish purple with aromas of blackberries, menthol and dark chocolate. I was expecting opulent jammy fruit but instead found a really well balanced Bordeaux- like wine. Black cherry, mint, espresso, and earthy notes. Very well defined acidity and firm but smooth tannins. Big but not jammy or overly oaked. "A-"