The wine is Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello 1990. It contains
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 % Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and has 13.5% alcohol by volume. It has been stored properly since release, had a good cork, and had a fill about half way up the neck. The back label claimed it could be drunk, but that it was expected to evolve over about 20 years. The translation of this, at least for me for a Ridge wine, means that it will have some initial fruit, then a dumb period lasting up to at least 10 years, and then slowly improving until it is perhaps 20 or many years more old. It may then hold fairly well many more years after that. And this is what appears to be happening. The color is still extremely deep with little evidence of age. There is enough acid. The tannins are beginning to resolve but a few more years likely are needed to smooth the tannins more. The cork face in contact with the wine was covered with large tartrate crystals that were nearly black from the deep pigment of the wine. The wine had very intense cassis and dark plum-like fruit with some mixed spice. This is the first bottle that I have opened. I think I will not open another bottle of the remaining four for about five more years. I tend to think of the best CS dominated wine from Ridge Montebello as the Latour of California. It can be big and slow to evolve, but it is well worth the wait.- posted
16 years ago