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! — 2 years ago

Chris MacLean

8.9

Solid Monday night Asian takeout wine — 5 years ago

with Sarah

Arden Barnett

9.5

Grandparents wanted takeout burgers and a nice bottle of wine tonight so we did just that. Aromatic and inviting nose, full bodied. Dark red fruit, woodsmoke, cigar ash. Grainy tannins. Classic Saint Julien. Stunning bottle. — 5 years ago

Faith Emerson

9.5

NYE with takeout from Short and Main — 6 years ago

Darlene Yan

9.0

2020 Anniversary dinner, takeout from Agrodulce, really good! — 6 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.3

Takeout Companion 🥡 — 2 years ago

Nancy Burroughs

8.9

Chosen by Bobby during their visit, but opened on Friday takeout on Truby on 7/15/2022. — 4 years ago

Senator Tommelier

8.9

Takeout sushi from Minami in Yaletown, so grabbed this at a little wine shop next door. Okanagan white blend that leans towards Riesling. Medium dry, decent acid, lychee-citrus/apple. Gets the job done although sweeter than I prefer. $15 bottle sold for $35. Average wine is expensive in Vancouver. — 4 years ago

Drew Summers

Sales Northampton Wines

9.0

Takeout Thai Companion. — 5 years ago

Brendan Biggs

9.2

Yum. Paired with spicy Chinese takeout — 5 years ago

Faith Emerson

9.0

NYE with Short&Main takeout — 6 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.1

We’ve enjoyed a few of these throughout 2020. It continues to deliver & certainly did so tonight with Indian takeout. Bright & fresh. — 6 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Takeout at home. Mucci pappardelle with a Ribera del Duero — delish! — 6 years ago

with Deked1

JKT

9.0

For London Lees Edi Steph Cindy David Day late BD dinner. Sub for the’69 Martini Cab for mixed takeout menu from Vietnamese place. Bright and balanced and nice grip though I mostly drank the Martini. — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Beautiful full deep medium gold… surprising for such a young white wine. Enticing bright aroma of spring flowers and juicy dripping ripe orchard fruit. Every once in a while you run into a wine that just knocks you back a step.. this is such a wine. Rich, ripe, round, weighted, serious, lip-smacking good, complex, alive, smile-inducing, with a finish that makes you want to pour a glass for everyone you know. We consumed this wine with extremely well-made takeout Indian… Tikka Chicken, warm spicy Chana, and downright hot Lamb Vindaloo… this elixir stood up to the hodge-lodge and made it better. I need to buy this wine by the case. — 4 years ago

Nancy Burroughs

9.0

Brought by Jason & Sarah for Friday night takeout on 12/10/2021. — 5 years ago

Brian Hearty

8.9

2011. Very interesting up or down reviews on this wine. Several mention funky notes, where I tasted none. Several noted high tannins, where maybe mine had mellowed. Body was a little thin and it did take over an hour to start opening up, but I paired it with some Indian takeout and it paired great! — 5 years ago

Dave Chambers

9.0

Opened this ‘05 Castello San Sano to go with our Italian takeout feast from the Hunt. — 5 years ago

with Heather

BaroloDude

9.3

1997 #LaSpinetta Vürsü Vigneto Gallina. Long cork showing signs of seepage. Plenty of spine but soft enough to really enjoy. Classic fruit and mineral and nose opened up over the first hour. Lush, lovely Barbaresco paired with @acquerellosf xmas takeout! — 6 years ago

Jim Chen

9.1

Beautiful, elegant, lighter sibling for Pomarium. Pairing with takeout Peay-king Duck from Great China to celebrate. — 6 years ago