Purchased at auction with good provenance. Mild bricking on the edge but still a youthful core of red. Although the cab franc is the smallest component, the nose reminds me a bit of a mature chinon or can franc heavy bordeaux with red berry with a really strong herb and green tobacco core. There's a mineral hint in the background. On the palate, very similar with the herbaceous and green tobacco notes buttressed by red fruit flavors. Bright acidity with integrated alcohol. Tannins are a little dry compared to the remaining fruit.
Interesting wine that would speak more to fans of chinon and cab franc heavy bordeaux. I'm guessing this had more life 3-5 years ago and now on the slow decline given the tannins outliving the fruit on the finish. Cool vintage perhaps playing a role as well. Still a good experience drinking a mature Washington cab blend.
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Beautiful example of a well aged WA wine. Some bricking on the edges, nose showed some secondary notes of leather and tobacco. Palate opened through the night and the last glass was the best. Still showed some fruit though definitely mature. Would buy again.
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Tasted during Taste Washington Quarter Century Seminar
65% Cab, 25% Merlot 10% Cab Franc. Light Ruby with some browning edge. Huge nose of Deep Black Cherry, Plum. Soft palate of pie cherry, beautiful deep juicy youthful fruit. Crisp long grippy chewy tannins. Harvest on Halloween 1999 at 23.9 Brix. 92+
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Decanted 2 hours. Darkly colored with a clear rim. Really doesn't look its age. Nose of savory herbs, black fruit jam and plum skin. Silky smooth, still viscous black fruit and sweet spice flavors. Full bodied and quite long. This is really hanging in there. I'm having a good run with these '99s. Drink now through 2015.
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Bricking at the rim showing its 11 years of age. Very complex nose of cherry, minerals and forest. Initially there was a tart or green edge to the taste. This blew off however after 10 minutes to reveal cherry, currants, and some spice in a medium bodied, precise, well detailed package. Quite complex, with a decent finish (maybe 20 seconds?). Somewhat lacking in stuffing at the mid-palate, for my tastes. I would rate it 91, but others with more of a leaning towards elegance may find my rating miserly.
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Harrison Hill (Delille) 1997-2005 vertical (Scott G's house): Winner! This was the only wine of the HH vertical that I would ever consider purchasing. The fruit presence was much increased, as was the tannic structure. The tinge of greeness, ever present in this blend, was there but not overpowering. In comparison to other years, this one smelled sweetly smokey at times.
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Well, at least this bottle was educational. It really highlighted the difference between Old School WA winemaking, and today's winemaking styles. This was very herbal and had a ton of green pepper notes. This was over the hill, but still drinkable. Glad I just had the one.
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Hmmm....a very herbal nose...in the mouth, the fruit seems tired...I wouldn't have expected this wine to be past its prime, but that's what this bottle seems to be.
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I had a few bottles of this last summer, and it was a soft, chocolatey bomb. I opened one on Friday, 8/1. However, out of the bottle this stuff seemed tight and a bit green, so I corked it back up and let it sit for a day.
Re-opened at Lampreia with Suzi, Mom, Bob, Jason & Tracy. Fortunately, day 2 was a different story. On the nose this shows an oakey but pleasant element of burned caramel. On the palate this is soft and silky. There are some dill notes evident, but they are accompanied by ample fruit, brown sugar, and a nice spine of acidity. The finish is medium length, pleasant, but not overly powerul. Clearly this wine has shut down and is somewhat awkward right now. I would wait a few years on this one.
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3/6/2021 - budosyu wrote: 89 Points
Purchased at auction with good provenance. Mild bricking on the edge but still a youthful core of red. Although the cab franc is the smallest component, the nose reminds me a bit of a mature chinon or can franc heavy bordeaux with red berry with a really strong herb and green tobacco core. There's a mineral hint in the background. On the palate, very similar with the herbaceous and green tobacco notes buttressed by red fruit flavors. Bright acidity with integrated alcohol. Tannins are a little dry compared to the remaining fruit.
Interesting wine that would speak more to fans of chinon and cab franc heavy bordeaux. I'm guessing this had more life 3-5 years ago and now on the slow decline given the tannins outliving the fruit on the finish. Cool vintage perhaps playing a role as well. Still a good experience drinking a mature Washington cab blend.
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5/8/2015 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 90 Points
A very classic and stylish Bordeaux blend. Drinking well but definitely more to come. I like this producer very much indeed.
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2/26/2015 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Beautiful example of a well aged WA wine. Some bricking on the edges, nose showed some secondary notes of leather and tobacco.
Palate opened through the night and the last glass was the best. Still showed some fruit though definitely mature.
Would buy again.
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4/3/2012 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 92 Points
Tasted during Taste Washington Quarter Century Seminar
65% Cab, 25% Merlot 10% Cab Franc. Light Ruby with some browning edge. Huge nose of Deep Black Cherry, Plum. Soft palate of pie cherry, beautiful deep juicy youthful fruit. Crisp long grippy chewy tannins. Harvest on Halloween 1999 at 23.9 Brix. 92+
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12/11/2010 - jfagan wrote: 91 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Darkly colored with a clear rim. Really doesn't look its age. Nose of savory herbs, black fruit jam and plum skin. Silky smooth, still viscous black fruit and sweet spice flavors. Full bodied and quite long. This is really hanging in there. I'm having a good run with these '99s. Drink now through 2015.
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6/28/2010 - paristrout wrote: flawed
waited too long, undrinkable.
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5/3/2010 - Stirling wrote: 91 Points
Bricking at the rim showing its 11 years of age. Very complex nose of cherry, minerals and forest. Initially there was a tart or green edge to the taste. This blew off however after 10 minutes to reveal cherry, currants, and some spice in a medium bodied, precise, well detailed package. Quite complex, with a decent finish (maybe 20 seconds?). Somewhat lacking in stuffing at the mid-palate, for my tastes. I would rate it 91, but others with more of a leaning towards elegance may find my rating miserly.
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12/31/2009 - sithinfiltrator wrote: 94 Points
Herbfarm New Years 2009. Raspberry and leather on the nose. Smooth taste. Mixed berry compote with very mild tannins.
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4/26/2009 - mlawren1 wrote: 91 Points
Layers of plums, currants, and blackberries. Finishes with a hint of chocolate.
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4/6/2009 - mlawren1 wrote: 92 Points
Smooth and silky wine. Nice flavors of cherries, plums and currants. Long finish with hints of tobaco and chocolate.
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10/25/2008 - tarheel17 wrote: 91 Points
Harrison Hill (Delille) 1997-2005 vertical (Scott G's house): Winner! This was the only wine of the HH vertical that I would ever consider purchasing. The fruit presence was much increased, as was the tannic structure. The tinge of greeness, ever present in this blend, was there but not overpowering. In comparison to other years, this one smelled sweetly smokey at times.
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4/11/2008 - last chance wrote: 82 Points
Well, at least this bottle was educational. It really highlighted the difference between Old School WA winemaking, and today's winemaking styles. This was very herbal and had a ton of green pepper notes. This was over the hill, but still drinkable. Glad I just had the one.
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4/11/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 84 Points
Hmmm....a very herbal nose...in the mouth, the fruit seems tired...I wouldn't have expected this wine to be past its prime, but that's what this bottle seems to be.
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7/17/2006 - Eric wrote:
Green, candied, cherry, tired fruit. This is pretty typical Walla Walla wine. I should have drunk up about 3 years ago.
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7/16/2006 - rturko wrote:
Past it's prime. Fruit was gone.
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8/2/2003 - Eric wrote: 89 Points
I had a few bottles of this last summer, and it was a soft, chocolatey bomb. I opened one on Friday, 8/1. However, out of the bottle this stuff seemed tight and a bit green, so I corked it back up and let it sit for a day.
Re-opened at Lampreia with Suzi, Mom, Bob, Jason & Tracy. Fortunately, day 2 was a different story. On the nose this shows an oakey but pleasant element of burned caramel. On the palate this is soft and silky. There are some dill notes evident, but they are accompanied by ample fruit, brown sugar, and a nice spine of acidity. The finish is medium length, pleasant, but not overly powerul. Clearly this wine has shut down and is somewhat awkward right now. I would wait a few years on this one.
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