1982 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare

WINE TALK
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  • 1982 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Jimsomare - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (2/9/2009)
    Cork is in amazing condition. Lovely leather aroma barely concealing some cassis and cranberry with a touch of roasted meat. Long balanced palate with strong minerally acidity showing the strongest. Clean well aged Cab character with some moreleather and cassis. The bright acidity is really the star as it is prominent yet not overtly tart letting the mineral characters shine and really giving a bright lift to the finish that still includes soft tannins. A terrific find that held up perfectly over night in the fridge. Excellent.

Posted from CellarTracker

This showed a similar bright acidity that the '93 Ridge Jimsomare Zinfandel we popped had. So rare to see it so prominent in Cali Cabs and Zins without it being overly tart and dominating the fruit. Plus the obvious mineral quality isn’t an everyday occurrence in Cal Cabs either. Paul Draper rules. [notworthy.gif]

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This vineyard is now known as “Lower Monte Bello,” correct?

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Not sure about that. Its in the same general region though and has Zinfandel vines that go back to the 19th century. I don’t believe the fruit from here ends up in the blends for Monte Bello. Maybe Andy V remembers the specifics.

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If my poor memory serves me last time I was there, and without checking with my contact, the Jimsomare Cab is called the Jimsomare cab. I think Lower Monte Bello is used more as an easy way to describe that whole lower area to people without confusing the masses. But Lower Monte Bello is really the area between Jimsomare and the Ridge property…the lower sections. They just cleared for planting a large area of this lower part. As I was there and helped for a couple days lay the drainage pipes, clear some old fence posts, etc. I also do think it does make it into the monte bello blend from time to time.

The Jimsomare Zin is a tiny, and I mean tiny, section of really old vines. Quite cool to see I must say. There is also a very tiny section of Chard there too. They don’t bottle that for sale IIRC and is used by the people who actually own the Jimsomare land. As much to most peoples surprise, it is not owned by Ridge. They only have a long term lease on the land and farm it. The biggest problem with Jimsomare Cab is on it’s own it is very hit and miss. When it’s on it rocks, but when its not it’s just average at best.

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not sure you could pay me to drink that. [bye2.gif]

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I love how you say that on a night where you post notes on a white Burg(which you note minerality on), a Bordeaux with traditional sounding notes and a well aged Champagne. You’re getting close to liking a wine of this quality. You’ll get there but stick to the dessert Cabs for now. [bye2.gif]

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haha! touché! [berserker.gif]