Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I purchased this yesterday from an A+ wine storage facility that also sells its clients wine when requested. This has been stored there since its release. I bought this perfect bottle for $35 because it has sentimental value and for $35 bucks…come on!

In a former life, I only drank well made CA Chardonnay. I know it’s hard even for me to imagine, let alone remember & admit it. Now, I hardly drink CA Chardonnay.

My sisters were visiting and they like reds. So I stopped at the former “Wine Club” retail shop in Santa Clara. It was the 1999 Pine Ridge “Stag’s Leap Cabernet” (2x) I bought that started me down the red rabbit hole. The Andrus is as close to that as I’ll get to their Stag’s Leap bottling at this point. Close enough and one of their best. We enjoyed it with Chinese takeout! 😂

This 99 is just and I mean just the other side of its peak bell curve. Still has another 5 years of life left. It is its unbelievable storage that has kept this 99 fresh as it’s not from not an awful vintage, but certainly not a great one, not like 98. Yet, it still shines 25 years later.

The nose reveals dark currants & cassis. Hints of barrel toast. Brambly blackberries, black raspberries, stewy black plum, poached, dark cherries & strawberries, burnt cranberries, black tea, burnt brush, old tobacco w/ ash, old baking spices, baking soda and dark, red, withering florals.

The palate shows; ripe, juicy, brambly blackberries, black raspberries, stewy black plum, poached, dark cherries & strawberries, burnt cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, black tea, mid berry cola, burnt brush, touch of black pepper, softened, dark spice, old tobacco w/ ash, well used leather, baking spices-clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, cooked caramel. Some dry sage, baking soda, limestone powder, dry top soil, grey volcanics and dark, red, slightly withering florals set in violets, rainfall acidity with an elegant, juicy, well balanced/structured & still showing nice tension on the finish that lasts two-minutes plus.

I had this corvined over two nights and at the halfway point threw some very chunky sediment.

What a great remembrance! — 9 months ago

Garett Savage

9.5

Strong rustic and pine aromatics almost overwhelm at the beginning, before settling down an hour later to allow the mountain fruit and more subtle forest notes to show off. Not hot, great mouthfeel, and a long finish. Even better the next day. — 5 years ago

Casey Stringer

9.4

Pine mountain Ava wines are killer. Seek them out.TRB wine — 7 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.2

Blend that's more fruit forward. But acid does hold. Well balanced. Enjoyed. As the Jets lose again I contemplate how my football life would have been with Brady and the pats. — 7 years ago

Tracy Hall

9.3

Yes! A fruity Tempranillo (I'm guessing American oak) that is so friendly I dare you to drink just one! I need a case of this. — 8 years ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.3

Decanted 3 hours. Smooth and delicious like a typical Rutherford Cab — 9 months ago

with Brian

Lauren Lathrop

9.1

Floral, dry, delicious — 2 years ago

with rae

Rachel Heinrich

10

Amazing!! — 4 years ago

Ellen Bozzo

9.0

Tastes better when I’m in Kauai! — 6 years ago

Casey Robertson

8.9

Smooth withjust a hint of spice. Perfection — 7 years ago

Kraig Meyer

9.4

Absolutely delicious. Prefect pair for grilled pork, similar to a dryer Zinfandel. Reasonably full bodied but not so big as to demand a big steak. — 7 years ago

Tina Peterson

9.4

Nice smooth dark berries and a hint of tobacco. — 8 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.1

Tasty. Perfect balance of citrus,oak floral and heaven. — 8 years ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Forgot how nice this Chardonnay is. — 10 months ago

with Bonnie

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.6

The crown jewel for my family — 10 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Yaaaa this is in a great place. Nose is sick. Huge levels of insanely complex spice. Xmas spices galore. Just wow. Pine resin. Wow. Smells like $150 Burgundy. Palate is juicy, nimble and racy. But also some but not much sweet fruit. Really elegant and has perfect balance. So juicy and insanely fresh. So complex. This is peaking. Wow. Yes. A 9.5 tonight. — 3 years ago

Mike R

9.4

This needs at least two hour decant - big bold beautiful but compared the other wines but this is a baby but it is a 100 point wine but needs time

Howell Mountain wine/ Really great integration of black fruit, creme de cassis, cedar and terroir notes. The wine is an additional degree of purity and complexity than the normal signature series from Hall - That might sound like a contradiction on the surface, but once you taste this wine it will make sense

Wait three to five years to open - I know I will — 6 years ago

with David

Rachael Lynn

9.5

Fruit forward medium body, best to drink anytime 😀 — 7 years ago

with James

Brian Nickerson

9.1

If you ever hesitate to drink Merlot, you have no need to wait any longer. — 7 years ago

Wayne King

9.8

Smooth. Soft. Beautiful. — 8 years ago