WTN: '91 Montelena and '91 Ritchie Creek

Opened both of these at an excellent local bistro. The food was great and the wines were even better.

'91 Ch Montelena: - The thing that jumped out immediately was a fabulous nose. You could smell classic Cab fruit, no alcohol or oak, and very long lasting. It was definitely a CA cab but in the old style, not overripe or alcoholic, just good fruit, complex and very nicely integrated. Don't know why we don't make this kind of wine anymore. Maybe I could answer my own question by saying I tasted this wine about 5 years ago and it was just not ready, too tight and unyielding. Last night it was great but will continue for at least another 10+ years. This style wine requires patience.

'91 Ritchie Creek: - Another good producer but a totally different wine. Without seeing the label I would have guessed a Bordeaux. It did not jump out of the glass like the Montelena, had a detectable acidic component, tight, good but not as great as the first wine. We played with both of these wines over 1-2 hours and the Ritchie creek really opened up and became much more friendly. It also showed the fruit better and in the end could definitely be called a CA cab, a very interesting evolution and a great drink.

Seldom do I get to taste two such wonderful wines in one evening over a long period of time. Hard to choose but I would give the Montelena a slight nod but would love to have both wines in my cellar. Wait, I just remembered, I still have two more bottles of the Montelena.
Walt

The Ritchie Creek Cabs from pre-1997 have always provided drinking pleasure. As you mention, they were atypical for California and more restrained in style with decent acidity.
I haven't seen their wines locally for a number of years, so I don't know if their winemaking approach has changed in the last 10 or 12 years.
Thanks for the memories!
Redwinger

Is there any truth to the comment that Montelena changed their style and their new Estate Cabs require far less celaring? If so, do you know when (what vintage) they changed?

Tom T.

As you mention, they were atypical for California and more restrained in style with decent acidity.

Hello Bill. Are they at all similar to Martini's Cabs then (which I'm a huge fan of)?

Is there any truth to the comment that Montelena changed their style and their new Estate Cabs require far less celaring? If so, do you know when (what vintage) they changed?

Tom T.

Tom,
I only bought the '91 Montelena and with the exception of maybe 4-5 bottles per year do not purchase CA cabs. Anything I have tried recently just seem to be made for early drinking and too over-the-top. I found this wine wonderful but have no idea what their recent vintages are like. I still have about 15 bottles of pre '95 cabs and they have all been excellent.
Walt

As you mention, they were atypical for California and more restrained in style with decent acidity.

Hello Bill. Are they at all similar to Martini's Cabs then (which I'm a huge fan of)?

Ryan-
IMO not at all like the Martini Cabs. The RCs are a lighter (in a good way), less fruit forward and have more acidic backbone. If you have a chance to ever taste an RC with 10+ years on them, jump at it.
Bill

Thanks for the notes.

I think the Montelena '91 is one of their best ever; I think it's just coming into a top drinking period, which should last another ten years or so at least. We have a Montelena vertical dinner tonight with the young lions so I'll be reporting soon on our bottles for the '84, '85, '86, '87, '90, 92 and '94 Estate wines. Note the '91 was opened earlier this month if you want to hunt for review under Wine Focus.

I liked Ritchie Creek's '87 and '91 cabernet a great deal; their unique take on a ruby red mountain style, somewhat elegant and angular cabernet was a treat. I can't think of anyone else who made similar cabernet in California during that time. A unusual property there, perhaps the least fertile land (nearly pure rock) that I've ever seen used to grow wine grapes.

I agree that Montelena cabernet are quite different from those of Martini in nearly every dimension: color, tannin and acid, aroma, ageability, finish. A huge contrast.

I'm looking forward to the Montelena notes as I have 85, 87 and all of the 1990-95 vintages sitting in the cellar untouched.

Our Montelena dinner was postponed, to be rescheduled. Summer colds are taking the guys down. I will post notes when we get there.