Should prove to be much better, with smoky black cherry aromas and flavors, meduim body, good acidity, but much more lushness and ripeness.

May turn out to be too austere because of the elevated dry tannin in the finish. It possesses a dark ruby color in addition to excellent black fruit characteristics mixed with smoke and minerals, but its aggressively tannic finish is cause for concern.

Moderately better than the 1999, offering sweet chocolately, cherry fruit as well as additional ripeness and texture.

Overly oaked, meduim-bodied, tart, austere, emaciated effort displaying notes of earth and red as well as black fruits. There is not much depth, texture, or length in this preposterously priced offering.

Exhibits an impressive color and attack, but narrows considerably in the mouth.

Medium-bodied, decent, slightly above average quality wine that is pleasant, but unexciting.

Tangy, with lemon, ginger root, earth and apple flavors. A disappointing effort from a former leader with the variety. Drink now.

This wine has many of the same characteristics of the 1999, another clipped, compressed, austere red offering little pleasure. However, it is beautifully packaged in a heavyweight, designer glass bottle. Form over substance.

Complex flavor profile, with nice, bright cherry fruit. Notes of leather, toasty oak and smoky bacon. Good length.

. . . this is pure Napa Valley fruit: black cherries with a hint of mint and good oak flavors. It is quite a mouthful.

The terrific, opaque blue/purple-colored 1999 La Muse (a 695-case blend of 89% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon) offers up gorgeous aromas of espresso, melted caramel, black cherry jam, tobacco, and flowers. It reveals an unctuous texture (amazing for a 1999) as well as a huge palate impact, yet great balance, purity, and overall harmony. This prodigious effort will be drinkable young, yet last for 20-25 years. I believe this is the same wine, with just a slight adjustment in the blend, that I referred to as the 1999 Merlot in issue #132

Even better, the 2000 Stature Chardonnay Santa Maria boasts phenomenally intense aromas and flavors of tropical fruits in addition to higher glycerin levels and a rare viscosity. Its pure tropical fruit essence is nicely infused with smoky, toasty oak. These are both sexy, exotic Chardonnays.

...the light green/gold-colored 1999 Stature Chardonnay Santa Maria...is a full-throttle, Santa Barbara-styled Chardonnay offering notes of honeyed pineapple, guava, and other exotic fruits. Full-bodied, layered, opulent, and viscous, with tremendous underlying acidity, this sexy, flamboyant effort...These are both sexy, exotic Chardonnays

The 2000 Zinfandel Eaglepoint Vineyard is a sensational effort. Its 16.4% alcohol is well-hidden by copious quantities of black raspberry and cherry fruit, and notions of spice, pepper, minerals, and smoke. Full-bodied and lush...

Another whopper from one of Van Williamson's favorite vineyards is the 2000 Zinfandel Piffero Vineyard. It possesses loads of berry fruit, good freshness and vibrancy, and a dense, full-bodied, monstrous personality. Long, deep, and appealing...

The terrific 2000 Pinot Noir Nine Barrels displays soaring aromatics of red fruits infused with smoke, mineral, and roasted meat aromas. More oak is obvious in the smoky, vanilla-like flavors. Dense, with good acidity, moderate tannin, and a chewy, fruit-filled finish...

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...A sensational effort, the 1999 Great Estates Chardonnay Sonoma Coast...This singular Chardonnay exhibits a big, smoky, leesy perfume of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, lemon rind, and ripe pineapples. Dense, rich, and full-bodied, this terrific white...All of these Chardonnays are excellent values considering their high quality.

Lastly, the 2000 Zinfandel Zeni Vineyard was still in barrel when I tasted it, but it revealed an inky black/purple color in addition to gorgeous aromas of blackberry liqueur, blueberries, huckleberries, licorice, and smoke. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured, it should prove to be the best of this impressive quartet.

Purple-colored, exhibits tremendous density, muscle, and power along with sweet black currant fruit, smoke, licorice, and earthy characteristics as well as great fruit on the attack. This deep, powerful, long 1999 will be at its finest between 2006-2018.

The denser 1999 Zinfandel Eaglepoint Vineyard tips the scales at 15.6% alcohol. Big, fleshy, and briery, this full-bodied effort displays abundant quantities of black fruits mixed with notes of earth and underbrush. Interestingly, there is 24% Syrah in the blend.

Similarly-styled, the 2000 Zinfandel Ciapusci Vineyard is a fat, heady offering with high alcohol, loads of fruit, a mouth-coating style as well as good purity and depth.

As its name indicates,the 1999 Chardonnay Nine Barrels is a selection of the finest Chardonnay barrels. Its attractive bouquet of peaches, acacia flowers, and hazelnuts is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine with ripe, nicely layered flavors.

The elegant, Domaine Dujac-styled 1999 Stature Pinot Noir Carneros reveals earthy, smoky, fig, plum, cherry, and strawberry characteristics along with hints of Asian spice. Sadly, there is only one barrel of this powerful Pinot.