Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Tasted with the owner/winemaker. Lighter medium body. Sampled via Coravin. Appropriate oak with plenty of zippy rhubarb, clove and spice festivities throughout. If blind, would have guessed Oregon. Three whole barrels made...then...75 cases or so. Not exactly on every street corner. Preferred the 2021 version (9.4) slightly but this was plenty substantial. Picked up a case. 12.04.24. — a month ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Supple and more elegant than muscular. Wonderful on opening and even more pleasant over next two hours. It has a richness and a meandering way. Less focused than some of the more recent vintages from Monte Bello. — a year ago

Rhonely Boy

9.3

Fantastic, fruity, decant two hours or hold for a bit. Personally didn’t decant, and wine was still holding its own on day 3. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.3

I followed this over two days. It was initially opened alongside a 2016 Maybach Materium, 2013 Kapscandy Roberta’s Reserve, 2002 Colgin Cariad and a 2006 Dalla Valle Maya.

Aside from BV’s Guest Cottage, this is the only wine from them I haven’t had. Sporting almost a 16%ABV, it poured like motor oil in to the glass. Thick, rich and heady aromatics. This has that classic high quality Napa cab smell to it...smells of expensive toasted oak, espresso, fondue dipped dark fruits, and spiced nutmeg. A meal by itself on the palate, this is a 2013 that is unsurprisingly massive and in need of food to cut through the tannins. Dark initially before it turns slightly red fruit forward at the finish...dark cocoa topped black cherries, espresso sweetness, and black currant. I’d hold at this point. Not sure a decant is doing much at this stage. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

So, I have confessed to drinking only Ca Chardonnay in the past. In 2001-02, I had the 99 Pine Ridge Stag’s Leap District and it was the first red wine I gravitated. This 97 Andrus is their flagship wine & a better wine & vintage than the 99 Pine Ridge Stags Leap District that I had so long ago.

I decanted half the bottle and reserved the rest. The decanted was very good, but the reserve is better.

Excellent wine tonight that has sentimental meaning.

I bought 2 bottles on the secondary market for a $100 recently, that included fees & tax. It is like stealing candy from a baby at that price point. This was slightly better two-years ago, but excellent tonight w/ Ribcaps.

The palate is rich, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries, sweet me raspberry tones, blue/purple fruit tones, dry, crushed limestone-rock, dry top-soil, some dry herbs, dry tobacco, leather, some black licorice to cola, melted chocolate, some grilled meats, steeped tea to black tea, dry stone, used barrel shavings, withering dark, red, purple flowers round acidity and a well balanced, tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and lands on dry minerality. — a month ago

Bobbi Jo Broxson

9.5

Another in between snow storms grilling night. This is one of our favorites. Decanted two hours, typical Rutherford dust. — 2 years ago

with Brian

Paul T HB

9.7

👍🏼aged Chardonnay
Many have their estate listed as the Montebello, two different wines, the Montebello is top notch — 4 years ago

Victor Hsu

9.0

Promising red fruit on the nose but a bit too tannic—decanting was de rigueur. After 45 minutes it was better but still tight. It took a full two hours to open up fully and show interesting notes of tobacco, earth and pencil shavings to balance the fruit and acid. Tells me that I should wait another five years before opening my remaining bottles. Enjoyed the 2021 vintage with prime ribeye cap steak from Costco, chicken liver pate and Taleggio cheese, with visiting family (William, Teresa, Xander and Samantha). — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured from magnum; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2 as the wine came into better balance. The 2015 “Caravina” pours a deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black cherry, brambles, tobacco, violets, herbs, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine with dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the acid plays a significant role, giving some real lift to the lush fruit. And while we’re on the topic, I’ll just share an observation that the acid is a significant characteristic for Seavey. In their youth, they are somewhat tough to fully appreciate (Ridge also has this reputation). I’m not suggesting Seavey is an analogue to Monte Bello, rather just stating they seem to be playing the long game…and I’m here for that. That being said, these are good now but will be more pleasurable in another couple years (at least in this format) and should be lovely through 2035. — a year ago

David Lee

9.0

A year or two past its prime, but still shows the beauty of Ridge. Ripe blueberries, blackberries and spice with surprising balance for 14.8 ABV — 4 years ago