Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. Last tasted 7.7.24 (9.3) and 3.15.24 (9.2). Medium-heavy body. Previously hesitant and reticent tannins beginning to creep into the finish right off the bat. Starts off fairly fruity, then tapers that down a bit at the end. Harmonious and über-pleasant. PNP now, double park it for a ten-spot or investigate somewhere in between. Consider the invitation proffered. Haut-Médoc doesn't move the needle at work (wish it did) but always more than happy to crush this Bordeaux bestie off premise. Consistent catch-all producer with "that's all?!" pricing. 12.03.24. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.0

This was a random, lonely bottle in my cellar and it was a Napa Cab sort of night so figured it was as good a time as any to give this a whirl. Besides, a few of my friends had recently made some comments about how well the 2015’s were showing so it was only more incentive to open this.

We pulled the cork a couple of hours prior and consumed over a several hour period. No formal notes. The first impression is “holy smokes this is absolutely packed with sweet, ripe fruits”. It was shocking. The quality of the fruit is seriously high…a black and red fruit combo with some baking spices…but it’s so jammy and primary that I couldn’t pull much more from it. Tannins were medium. Acid was medium/medium-. The texture is silky smooth. Finish is long-ish due to the mouth-coating fruit. Ultimately however, I struggled to fully enjoy this due to wonderful fruit being let down by the lack of structure which left it coming across a bit flabby. That being said, this style is intentional and arguably very popular. Drink now. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Poured into a decanter about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a lovely mix of dark and red fruits, cassis, black and red brambles, tobacco, eucalyptus, leather, cedar box, green herbs, some cocoa, and beautiful baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The texture is silky, in fact, down right sexy. Brilliantly balanced. This is a profoundly sensual wine and one of the best young Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve had in many years. These will age for a very long time and I can only imagine how epic the 2021 Terrace Select is going to be. Drink now with an extended decant and through 2051+. — a month ago

Devin Bray

9.1

Still absolutely gigantic and wound up, taking a whole day to give dried flowers and blackberry jam in addition to its massive, tongue-stripping, tannic backbone. Structure to lay down for another 25 years, easy. A bit hard to approach and intense now. — 2 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Albeit young, 2008 Cristal is drinking very well at this point in time, even if unsurprisingly not yet showing all that it can be. Drank solo over the course of 3 hours in a Burgundy glass, it had plenty of time to evolve and express. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 08 Cristal flaunts a gorgeous bouquet of fresh white flowers, yellow orchard fruit, baking spice, vanilla bean and crushed seashells. The palate is searingly intense with ripping citrusy acids, incredible elegance and pin point precision in its delivery before giving way to a saline and mineral infused finish that just keeps going. Again, very young, no doubt, and while already terrific, it’s easy to see what the fuss is about and how special the vintage will be down the road. But in my opinion there’s no harm in drinking now if you accept and enjoy the stage it will be in. — 2 years ago

Rob Wilson

9.3

Incredible now but could age for decades. Perfect choice to have before we hunker down for Hurricane Milton — 3 months ago

with Rio

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened several hours prior and decanted off sediment and a portion of the cork that had broke and crumbled before returning to the bottle. The 2007 “Howell Mountain” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and very slight rim variation. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of dark fruit: black currants, blackberries, tobacco, leather, earth and gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. This is firing on all cylinders right now and the structure suggests the power of the 2007 vintage is not slowing down anytime soon. Drink now with a decant and through 2037 with ease. — 3 months ago

web bond

9.0

At this stage Ferrando Carema White Label ‘16 blows away Produttori Barbaresco ‘16. Produttori is very ripe, and the alcohol is less in balance. The ‘16 normale does not really exhibit the freshness and elegance I associate with classic Barbaresco. Yes, the concentration and depth is impressive, and maybe at 10-20+ years the wine will achieve harmony. For now it exhibits more climate change character than the high tone energy desired. This is a Grey Market bottle purchased recently. I wonder if less than pristine storage and/or transit was an influence. I will compare notes with bottles purchased on release and via authorized Importer somewhere down the road. — 2 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Have not had since 2019. Nose is brambly with a cherry melange. Very earthy. Some wood shavings. A bit aromatically closed for now. Palate is juicy, very concentrated and sappy with great purity. Really long but also seems backwards. But terrific fruit and intensity. Very very sappy. Needs a few more years but you can the low yields of 16 gave this wine density and tons of material.

After an hour this has softened up and is super juicy and the tannins have calmed down. 9.2 to 9.3. Lavieres is such good terroir. — 3 years ago