Hidden Ridge 2007 Impassable Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml

Impassable indeed. You won't be able to to get by this Hidden Ridge Impassable Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon without stopping for at least one glass... The riches inside these bottles will do well to age a bit longer, so find them a high profile spot in your wine cabinet or cellar. When the time comes, you will be generously rewarded for your patience with a sinfully dense, complex Cabernet which will highlight just about any meat dish you can think of. We guarantee early raves if you serve the first glasses with bacon/blue cheese focaccia bites. The chill in this week's air has us craving comfort food, so think lamb ragout with roasted sweet peppers over homemade black pepper papardelle. The ragout will bring out the lovely, dark fruit in this Hidden Ridge. Braised short ribs set atop creamy parmesan polenta is another great option. Grilled meats will be a perfect vehicle for enjoying the sturdy tannins, and if you're thinking game, the winery recommends roasted antelope with corona beans, cardomom carrots and sweet onions. Really! Take a moment to recover from the deliciousness of the meal and then open another bottle to go with dessert. We're thinking espresso/chocolate mousse cake topped with a Griottine (French wild Morello cherries steeped in liquor and Kirsch, for which we could be convinced to do bodily harm...). Then stick a fork in us, because we'll be done.

 

"This has intensely concentrated flavors of black currant, blueberry preserves, violet, vanilla and buttered toast; it’s as delicious as any Cabernet out there. The structure shows firm tannins and fine acidity, true to its mountainous origins. Keep this in your cellar for at least six years, and as many as 20." 95 pts, Wine Enthusiast, Dec 2012

 

"'Impassable Mountain' is a dense, complex wine revealing aromas of cocoa, black currant, pipe tobacco and clove on the nose and smoke, fall leaf, cherry, blueberry and vanilla on the palate. Rich and powerful, the wine remains well balanced with a long mint and clove-laced finish." Winery Notes

 

"'Impassable Mountain' harkens to the original name of the area that is home to Hidden Ridge Vineyard. Nineteenth-century surveyors were assigned to find a stagecoach route through the rugged terrain only to realize that it was, at the time, 'impassable'. The Hidden Ridge Vineyard lies within an enclosed valley on steep (55% slope in some areas) mountainside slopes with east and south exposures. Lean soils and steep slopes naturally limit vine vigor and give remarkably small-berried fruit. Also, the extended growing day at moderate temperatures gives the fruit well-developed tannins and a rich texture while preserving the complex fruit characters lost in warmer locations." -Background Lore