Andy Stabile

9.2

My last bottle…
A few years back I bought 3 bottles. Now can’t find another 2017 on the inter-webs.

Soft mouth feel with a kick not from tannins, per se, but from a strong peppery finish. Just loved.
36% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 31 mourverdre…
After 2017 they jacked up the Grenache and it hasn’t been the same. Not sure the vineyard is even still around.

Was fun while it lasted…. — 7 months ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Forgot how nice this Chardonnay is. — 10 months ago

with Bonnie

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

In a wonderful place. Nose of spice and resin, pine needles, cherries, herbs, dried hay, citrus rind and more. This has gotten so much better since its awkward youth. Palate is fresh and linear with terrific acids and lean, fresh cherry fruit. Lovely length and purity. Air will improve but what an effort in a hard vintage. — 3 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.1

This was quite good - and better than the 2013 Moon, which I’m pretty sure received a higher rating. Probably just past peak, however, so I wouldn’t advise hanging on to this one much longer. — 4 years ago

with Vanessa

Matt

9.2

Gorgeous, true to form and place, lovely acid balance that offers a nice energy and backbone. Blackberry bramble, cocoa powder, coffee bean, smoked meat, blood sausage, wet slate. Plenty of juice and charm here. — 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

Tina Peterson

9.4

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

carl thornblade

9.0

A little green in flavor (as in unripe), too acidic, but had some elements of tropical fruit, just not full and ripe. Has potential but not the best. — 8 months ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.3

Decanted 3 hours. Smooth and delicious like a typical Rutherford Cab — 10 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

Luna

10

Juicy red berries, eucalyptus, intense floral notes. Super funky, but yet so balanced. Playful. Like butterfies in your belly, it’s like a crazy romance. One of the best I drank in 2017! — 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

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

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

Dan Michael

9.2

Another spot on wine from Morgan, I love the back label story about his grandmother passing along the love of wine in their family. Grenache is so much about how it is grown, and the sourcing for this wine delivers great fruit. The winemaking is restrained which lets the fruit shine thru. What a lock with our Applewood smoked baby back ribs! — 4 years 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

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. — 8 years ago