Great for its youthfulness. Would benefit from another year or two in the cellar. — 4 months ago
Excellent cab! Always great from Ridge, this one is full bodied, nicely aged (still has room to age more, but wonderful right now!, wish i had a couple more) — 7 months ago
This wine is super light but still flavorful and pairs well with food but also so good on its own. It’s so good, it’s hard not to chug it when you crack a bottle on a warm sunny day. — 2 years ago
Chocolate, raspberry...tobacco. Lingering flavors and tannins. — 7 years ago
Second & last of my bottles. Wonderful, while ready to drink still has plenty of years ahead of it. — 3 months ago
Black cherry away, zeno — 3 months ago
One of my absolute favorite California wines. The California Latour. ‘97 is superb—vividly detailed and complex with both power and elegance. A masterful balance of fruit, tertiary character and cooling acidity with a silky palate and melting tannins. Hard to beat for a Wagyu pairing. — 4 months ago
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — 6 months ago
Really good wine — 4 years ago
making ragu with Paolo — 6 years ago
Wow. Big fan. Lots of bright red fruits like cherries and raspberries in the beginning. Great acidity. It is more earthy than I expected, but not unwelcome. I really appreciated the almost floral/rosy note that contrasts the brightness off the bat. Still pretty tannic, I imagine this would only get better with age. Tasted expensive. I have no clue how much it costs. Only improved with time/air as we ate dinner. Super cool to taste how it “opened up” and how it changed. — 4 months ago
Bought at Pine Orchard 11/25 $70 after tasting at Ridge in 10/25. Less expensive here. The 2023 is rated at 100 pts. Absolutely delicious. Floral aromas, lightly crisp, subtle oak, smooth finish. — 6 months ago
Took a flyer buying this from Benchmark. Bottle was in perfect condition, but sadly past its peak. Nose was outstanding - huge - chocolate, spice box. Had lost any acidity to balance the huge fruit. And at 17%, it kicked our ass. Would love to try a slightly younger rendition. — 9 months ago
Something spec. Try it — 4 years ago
Very clean finish. Fruity a little minerals — 5 years ago
Tasted at March 2019 Montebello Collector event — 7 years ago
Bruce Leboff
A big and bold Cali cab- a bit bold bordering on over the top power. A bit of California sweetness but fun to drink. Has many years left - saving the next bottle for a big juicy steak meal — 11 days ago