Yes Gus, I definitely survived! Finally getting around to posting these notes.
Admittedly, the notes are a little cryptic. I did not take any notes at the time, but put them together from memory on Sunday (the tasting was done on a Firday).
The Ridge tasting was held at a retailer in Sacromento (Secret Cellars?). The one annoying factor that we all commented on was that the shop was burning scented vanilla candles throughout the tasting. Why do people do this? Because of that, I detected vanilla on the nose for all wines, and sometimes on the palate. Because I was not sure if those notes were from the wine, or more likely from the candle, I have left them out of the descriptions.
With that said, I think general impressions of the wines are better than the actual descriptors noted. Who knows if some of the candles were other flavors...
2001 Ridge Coast Range Chardonnay 1999 Ridge Coast Range Cabernet 2001 Ridge Carignane 2001 Ridge Coast Range Zinfandel 2001 Ridge Sonoma Station Zinfandel 2001 Ridge Lytton Springs 2001 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel1994 Ridge Monte BelloThanks for the hospitality, Brent! It was great to have the opportunity to get together with both of you and taste some wine.
It was amazing how this opportunity came up. I was at gfleener's house on Thursday night. Gus was logged into chat, and had to take care of his son, Ethan (an amazing and beautiful child, whose beauty and graciousness is only surpassed by your wife, Katy!). Anyway, Brent was in chat, so I jumped on the computer and mentioned that it was too bad he could not join VV and me in Lodi the day before. So Brent immediately volunteers that he is off on Friday, and would I be interested in driving up to Sacromento to taste some wines? Of course, it may have left me further from Vegas, but it was an opportunity not to be missed. Thanks again Brent.
Mike