Originally posted 9/23/02
Cor Balfoort was in town a couple of weeks ago and as Manhattan was first colonized by the Dutch, it's in the city charter that we must drink with visiting Dutchmen.
While a number of wines were served, there was one that was a real standout for me that I thought I'd highlight since I am normally vocal on how my taste for most Ridge wines has waned. This one was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise.
Brad
1993 Ridge- Cabernet Sauvignon, Horseshoe/Young Foster
Seventeen barrels of this ATP wine were produced. It was reported that Paul Draper did not find these grapes good enough for inclusion in the '93 Monte Bello. Is it any wonder, then, that I found this wine to be better than most of the Monte Bello I've had?
The wine has a gorgeous silkiness to it with ripe, velvety black fruit, licorice and cocoa framed by spicy, yet integrated and thankfully not overdone, American oak. There's nice depth here and though there's a bit of a tannic hit on the finish, the tannins are fairly refined. Nicely balanced and weighing in at a sane and terribly missed 12.4% alcohol level. A real joy to drink. Solid A-.
Cor Balfoort was in town a couple of weeks ago and as Manhattan was first colonized by the Dutch, it's in the city charter that we must drink with visiting Dutchmen.
While a number of wines were served, there was one that was a real standout for me that I thought I'd highlight since I am normally vocal on how my taste for most Ridge wines has waned. This one was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise.
Brad
1993 Ridge- Cabernet Sauvignon, Horseshoe/Young Foster
Seventeen barrels of this ATP wine were produced. It was reported that Paul Draper did not find these grapes good enough for inclusion in the '93 Monte Bello. Is it any wonder, then, that I found this wine to be better than most of the Monte Bello I've had?
The wine has a gorgeous silkiness to it with ripe, velvety black fruit, licorice and cocoa framed by spicy, yet integrated and thankfully not overdone, American oak. There's nice depth here and though there's a bit of a tannic hit on the finish, the tannins are fairly refined. Nicely balanced and weighing in at a sane and terribly missed 12.4% alcohol level. A real joy to drink. Solid A-.