During New Year's Eve, the following wines were drunk, for starters Red beet carpaccio;
2019 Bizkaiko Txakolina XX Edition Limited. 100% Hondarrabi Zuri 2021 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 100% Pinot Noir
For main course, whole Entrecôte (on low heat 150 °C), hazelnut potatoes and pepper sauce;
Chateau Pontet Canet 2015 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot.
For starters, it was very interesting to put a white and a red wine against each other. Everyone around the table thought both worked very well. 2019 Bizkaiko Txakolina showed straw yellow color, orange, herbs, a slightly buttery salty note, complex with good length. Although I myself thought the Kutch PN was fantastic with the food, sublime fruit, well balanced and a nice finish.
With the main course both wines were fantastic, what wines. Pontet Canet 2015 is, of course, young, and despite 4 hours in the carafe, the wine felt a little restrained to begin with. But after another 1 hour, this wine grew and grew, cassis and minerality that only good Bordeaux can exhibit. The Ridge Cabernet was just as good, and had an additional dimension of forest floor, leather, tobacco and blackcurrant, but also plum, but also red cherry. Classic Santa Cruz Mountain fruit, despite its 16 years, the wine exhibits a fantastic acidity. Glad I have a bottle left of the 2007.
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Popped and served; this for me was very good, but if anything still well short of fully mature. The nose was all black and blue fruits with just a hint of oak spice remaining; minimal herbal hints, but just a bit of fresh soil developing. Very well balanced and quite good with steak. Easily will drink well for another decade and likely more.
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Popped and poured but should have decanted for sediment. Medium crimson color. Intriguing nose of black plum, cassis, spicy bloody mary, and a bit of oak coming through. Definitely has some vegetal notes to go along with the fruit which I found quite enjoyable. Similar flavors on the palate with a mixture of both ripe and tart dark berry fruits mixed with some tomato leaf, pyrazine and spicy oak. Medium+ acid, medium tannin and body. This wine is in a very nice spot and enjoyable with food or on its own.
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Dark and dense red color. Bramble fruit, Madagascar vanilla and mocha on the nose. Very inviting. Outstanding balance with lots of blackberries, dark raspberries, some almond and dried herbs on the back end. This has developed great and is drinking exceptionally now. Very long finish. One of the best Ridge SCM estate I have had. 92/93
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PnP. It started with a super highly acidity, the body is medium to med+. After about 30 min it gained comolexity and balanced. It goes well with meat and /or cheese. Very good finish.
No surprise there is no need to rush with this wine. Drink or hold for the next 5-10 years…
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12/31/2023 - SirJ Likes this wine: 95 Points
During New Year's Eve, the following wines were drunk, for starters Red beet carpaccio;
2019 Bizkaiko Txakolina XX Edition Limited.
100% Hondarrabi Zuri
2021 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
100% Pinot Noir
For main course, whole Entrecôte (on low heat 150 °C), hazelnut potatoes and pepper sauce;
Chateau Pontet Canet 2015
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot.
For starters, it was very interesting to put a white and a red wine against each other. Everyone around the table thought both worked very well. 2019 Bizkaiko Txakolina showed straw yellow color, orange, herbs, a slightly buttery salty note, complex with good length. Although I myself thought the Kutch PN was fantastic with the food, sublime fruit, well balanced and a nice finish.
With the main course both wines were fantastic, what wines. Pontet Canet 2015 is, of course, young, and despite 4 hours in the carafe, the wine felt a little restrained to begin with. But after another 1 hour, this wine grew and grew, cassis and minerality that only good Bordeaux can exhibit. The Ridge Cabernet was just as good, and had an additional dimension of forest floor, leather, tobacco and blackcurrant, but also plum, but also red cherry. Classic Santa Cruz Mountain fruit, despite its 16 years, the wine exhibits a fantastic acidity. Glad I have a bottle left of the 2007.
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12/3/2023 - jnewman77 Likes this wine:
Popped and served; this for me was very good, but if anything still well short of fully mature. The nose was all black and blue fruits with just a hint of oak spice remaining; minimal herbal hints, but just a bit of fresh soil developing. Very well balanced and quite good with steak. Easily will drink well for another decade and likely more.
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6/2/2023 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured but should have decanted for sediment. Medium crimson color. Intriguing nose of black plum, cassis, spicy bloody mary, and a bit of oak coming through. Definitely has some vegetal notes to go along with the fruit which I found quite enjoyable. Similar flavors on the palate with a mixture of both ripe and tart dark berry fruits mixed with some tomato leaf, pyrazine and spicy oak. Medium+ acid, medium tannin and body. This wine is in a very nice spot and enjoyable with food or on its own.
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5/27/2023 - askoje wrote: 92 Points
Dark and dense red color. Bramble fruit, Madagascar vanilla and mocha on the nose. Very inviting. Outstanding balance with lots of blackberries, dark raspberries, some almond and dried herbs on the back end. This has developed great and is drinking exceptionally now. Very long finish. One of the best Ridge SCM estate I have had. 92/93
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10/16/2022 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP. It started with a super highly acidity, the body is medium to med+. After about 30 min it gained comolexity and balanced. It goes well with meat and /or cheese. Very good finish.
No surprise there is no need to rush with this wine. Drink or hold for the next 5-10 years…
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment