On Jul 15, 12:56�am, "Dark Helmet" > wrote:
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Bi!!" >
> >Newsgroups: alt.food.wine
> >Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:44 AM
> >Subject: Ridge Wine Status?
>
> >Perhaps more of a change in style than in quality.
>
> Hmmm, in what way perchance?

I think that they are more approachable at a younger age than they
used to be. The Monte Bello used to be a wine that required at least
ten years before drinking. It was quite tough and hard on release and
not really pleasant. While the newer releases are still fairly tight
on release compared to many other California Cabs, they are still a
lot more supple and ripe than the wines of the 90's and older. The
Lytton Springs also seems to have lost a bit of stuffing compared to
earlier vintages being almost soft on release compared to what it used
to be like.