Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, organic earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — 8 days ago

Stuart Pollack

9.6

Cranberry, pepper, and spice. Strongly flavored and full bodied New World style Syrah. Perfect for Persian lamb stew. A paradigm of the fruit forward style of Syrah. — 3 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.6

Intense, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon that needs steak. Extraordinary flavor and great elegance and smoothness in the finish. An excellent Napa Cabernet, and a paradigm of this big style of wine. — a year ago

Stuart Pollack

9.4

Classic, elegant, and smooth Cabernet Sauvignon. Not complex but a paradigm of California Cabernet Sauvignon. Perfect with steak. Red fruit, oak, smooth tannins in finish. Open and drink: this wine will not get better with further age and does not need to breathe. — a month ago

Stuart Pollack

9.6

Now this wine is ready to drink, unlike 5 years ago when I first tasted it. It still needs a lot of air to open up. Bitter, deep brooding black fruit and licorice. Bitter chocolate and smooth tannins in finish. A paradigm of Merlot from Bordeaux. A great buy now. — 2 months ago

P Plusquellec

9.5

This wine continues to improve, Long finish — 4 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.0

Juicy, jammy American-style Syrah for those who like this style. I am not a fan of this style but this wine is a paradigm of the jammy style. Very fruit-forward so good with wings or taco night. A good value at $31. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Heidi and Bo Barrett wine dinner
Lazy Bear Restaurant

WINE
2024 La Sirena Muscat
2009 Montelena Chard
1994 Paradigm merlot
2019 La Sirena cab/syrah
1985 Montelena cab
2008 Montelena cab
1983 Buehler cab
1990 Dalla Valle cab
2015 Barrett & Barrett cab
20-year Montelena ruby port

FOOD
SF Bay halibut salad
Monterey spot prawns
Liberty duck
Morel au poivre
Coal roasted wagyu A5 ribeye
Dandelion chocolate — 2 months ago

with Brenda

P Plusquellec

9.4

Peaking, Wounderful velvety mouthful, hitting all of the right spots — 3 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.7

Beautiful Syrah. Cranberry and leather and earth. So complex. Earth and red fruit nose. A paradigm of Syrah. — 4 months ago