1997 Ridge Monte Bello

Long time without any postings now, but some very fine wines have been tasted in the mean time even so. Tonight, this one:
1997 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Monte Bello:
Deep ruby, ruby rim. Seductive nose of blackberries, cassis, violets, sweet morellos plums, and something very refined like a faint hint of some John Lobb's and the finest cigars. Almost sweet plums on the attack, quickly absorbed by a playful acidity that brings the flavors all around the mouth in such a magnificent manner, it's difficult not to fall in love. Yes, there are more intense and powerful Montebello's out there, but this bottle is just so up front and giving (after about 30 minutes of decanting). After an hour, pretty much the same. Very together and balanced, long and fruity finish, superb. 95

The label states as follows: 97 Monte Bello Vineyard, bottled May 99. This most unusual year began with torrential winter rains followed by a long, mild spring. Flowering was early, the amount of fruit formed was unusually large. We dropped nearly twenty percent of the crop, bringing yields down to two tonnes per acre- and assuring intensity. This was the earliest vintage since 1962. All thirty-three parcels were fermented separately, on their natural yeast; in a return to methods employed in the sixties and seventies, part of the malolactic took place in barrel. The wine was aged for eighteen months, almost entirely in new, air-dried american oak. Ripe and well-structured, this Monte Bello is among the finest of a great decade. It is aproachable as a young wine and will develop fully over the next fifteen years. (I recon PD stands for Paul Draper?) PD 3/99

He was so right. Now thirteen years on, this lively wine still has a way to go. But right now, it's in that magnificent cross between youth and age.