Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed with a simple meal of pasta all’arrabbiata and over the course of a few hours. The 2021 pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, orange bitters, exotic spices, black tea, black licorice, some dried green herbs and gravely earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and lithe in body. I’ve long been a fan of Fèlsina fan and their Chianti Classico and Riserva especially so. When it’s a great vintage like 2021? Back up the truck. These will drink well through 2031 with ease. I can’t wait to try the CCR! — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly fresh, tart, vibrant red fruits: red brambles, red currants and tart cherries with some pyrazines, tobacco, some cool herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and bordering high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the body is perceptibly leaner than both the 1988 and the 2018. That being said, I love its transparency because it is clearly telling part of the story of the vintage. The frost was merciless in Dry Creek in the spring of 2008. So far, the evolution seems slow to me. Drink now with a decant but considering the structure, this has a long life ahead. If I had another bottle, I would open my next after 2028. — 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby/Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Stinky nose, as expected, and dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing black fruits with wood, earth, vegetables, spices, barnyard, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, tar, black tea and bitter herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a unique Syrah from Walla Walla Valley. Rich and extracted. Soft and elegant. Very much 'in your face' kind of wine.

This 7 year old is still young, and needs a few hours to open up properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced and complex with a nice mouthfeel. Not my usual style, but very tasty.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it always delivers.

Wine Spectator 94 points. Wine Advocate 96 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of Syrah with a touch of Viognier. Only 859 cases produced.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 17 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about 8 hours prior to service and Audouze’d. The 1995 pours a pale garnet with a transparent core and a watery rim. There significant variation of the rim too. The viscosity is medium and there is no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of bright red cherries, anise, garrigue, cedar forest, leather, dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is quite light and thin…but healthy. The finish is medium. Very pretty; very Burgundian. This bottle belies its age. Drink now and through 2030. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2019 “Isosceles” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark brambles, crème de cassis, tobacco, Fresno chilis, Mexican chocolate, dry earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This is a big, powerful wine but it’s fairly balanced. I would drink now though it probably wouldn’t struggle to see past 2029. — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of blackberries, black currants, black plums, light cedar, licorice, chocolates and coffee notes.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with currants, plums, sweet cherries, Mediterranean spices, light cedar, earth, chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and herbs

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This young Merlot from Israel needs 3 hours to open up properly. Rich, spicy and engaging. Drinking very nicely now, and good by itself or with food. Smooth and elegant.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years. Has good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

This 4 year old is robust and good by itself as a sipping wine. Will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. Unfiltered. Kosher and not Mevushal.

16% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 6 months ago

"Odedi"

9.3

#AgedWineTuesday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of black fruits, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, espresso, chocolates, earth, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, eacaliptus, Indian spices and black pepper.

Full-bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, black plums, light cedar, earth, herbs, light vanilla, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth, black tea and a touch of vegetables.

Long spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This second wine from the great 2010 vintage in Bordeaux, is drinking gorgeously now. Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Elegant with lots of fruits.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 2 hours in the decanter, when tannins show up. Changes every 20 minutes in the decanter. So nice to experience.

I had this vintage 5 years ago and it is drinking better now. This 14 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 to 10 years.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and paired nicely with dried meats.

A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot.

14% alcohol by volume.

93 points.

$90. — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and 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 and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1995 vintage. Good fill. Excellent cork with minimal saturation. Decanted and throwing a tad extra sediment…a nice mix of chunky and powdery sed. Tasted after 30 minutes and 2 hours open and decanted. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and earth in the nose. These transferred over and slapped on a fudge chocolate note on the finish. In a good place now and not improving. Would seem to hold steady in this standing for another 3-4 years. 6.6.24. — 4 months ago