Wednesday, February 23, 2005
1994 Ridge Jimsomare Cabernet
Yesterday I was lucky enough to have a generous gentleman share a bottle of 1994 Jimsomare Cabernet from Ridge with me. It is so wonderful. Balanced, low alcohol, just the right amount of age. It had flavors of pencil lead (oddly, a very good thing), violet, cassis, pebbles and pepper (black). Perfect acid and tannin balance, beautiful bronzed ruby color*. Go on, buy it and drink it now.
We quarreled over what to drink it with, as my companion loves to pair wines with foods, but for me, when the food or wine is so good, I do not want to be distracted. He held his ground, but I think I won, since we finished the bottle without accompaniment.
*As red wine ages, it turns orange and clear. So, generally, when you get a "blue" red, thick looking wine, it will be young. Of course, some wines are bluer than others, a Petit Syrah will stay blue for a good long time (decades, really, but this is a wine that ages very well for decades), whereas a Pinot Noir may be quite orange early on. Still, if you compare like wines, you will find the bluer is younger. Or, perhaps this only works for Cabernet and Sangiovese based wines.... Of course, if it is very orange, it is probably oxidized. Regardless, when you see a gem-like clarity, and a slightly caramelized ruby color in a Cabernet, go ahead and feel a little excited.
What are you doing still sitting here? Go and buy the wine!
We quarreled over what to drink it with, as my companion loves to pair wines with foods, but for me, when the food or wine is so good, I do not want to be distracted. He held his ground, but I think I won, since we finished the bottle without accompaniment.
*As red wine ages, it turns orange and clear. So, generally, when you get a "blue" red, thick looking wine, it will be young. Of course, some wines are bluer than others, a Petit Syrah will stay blue for a good long time (decades, really, but this is a wine that ages very well for decades), whereas a Pinot Noir may be quite orange early on. Still, if you compare like wines, you will find the bluer is younger. Or, perhaps this only works for Cabernet and Sangiovese based wines.... Of course, if it is very orange, it is probably oxidized. Regardless, when you see a gem-like clarity, and a slightly caramelized ruby color in a Cabernet, go ahead and feel a little excited.
What are you doing still sitting here? Go and buy the wine!
# posted by Comida Evangelista : 10:38 AM
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