Not really Cab Sauv.....

[Kcwhippet]

but Cab Franc. We have a friend out on the West coast who's a big fan of Ridge wines, and he's become somewhat close with Paul Draper. While they were tasting the components of what was to become the 2002 Monte Bello, Draper mentioned that one barrel of the Cab Franc from the North Gate block was particularly exceptional so they tasted that also. My friend said it was too good to be blended into the final product and should be bottled separately. Draper said they'd never bottled a Cab Franc by itself before, but our friend persisted and Ridge ended up with about 25 cases of 2002 Ridge Monte Bello 100% Cabernet Franc. Our friend was kind enough to get me 6 bottles of it and I was going to open the last one this evening for dinner with a friend who's down in the dumps after his marriage just went bust. He's a wine distributor, so I know he'd truly appreciate it, but he just called and has a bit of a problem wih one of his kids and can't make it. So, now I have a dilemna. Judy gets home Saturday night after two weeks at a trade show in Vegas. Do I make her a nice dinner Sunday with grilled rib eyes, baked potatoes and a Caesar salad, along with the Ridge, or should I wait until the wine guy is available and serve it then? What to do, what to do. As far as I know, this is the only Monte Bello Cab Franc Ridge has ever bottled, and my friend said Draper told him they probably never would again.