On 12/10/12 11:16 AM, Bi!! wrote:
> Cold rainy weekend called for a fire and dinner at home. Saturday I
> grilled some Allen Brothers Colorado Lamb and opened a bottle of 1989
> Ch. Leoville Las Cases. Medium garnet in the glass with a pronounced
> pink at the rim. Nose of cedar and leather with background cassis and
> black fruits. Less weight on the palate than expected and the balance
> was beginning to shift towards the tertiary flavors and away from the
> fruit. Lead pencil, a bit of leather and tobacco framed by cassis and
> licorice. Firm minerality and acidity made it great with the lamb. "B
> "
>
> On Sunday Linda made a traditional pot roast with root veggies so I
> opened a 1997 Ridge Montebello. Still a dark reddish purple with
> aromas of blackberries, menthol and dark chocolate. I was expecting
> opulent jammy fruit but instead found a really well balanced Bordeaux-
> like wine. Black cherry, mint, espresso, and earthy notes. Very well
> defined acidity and firm but smooth tannins. Big but not jammy or
> overly oaked. "A-"
>

That's a nice pair of wines, Bill, and I own a bottle of the latter.
Glad to gear that it's doing well, but I'll try and give mine another
decade or so so before opening.

Thanks!
Mark Lipton


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