Doug Powers

9.3

[41% Tempranillo, 29% Tannat, 22% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11.1% ABV] Uh, 2% CabSauv, and the wine is labeled as such in Delectable?? I guess I should just be happy they correctly identified this as the LCF Home Vineyard?? Anyway, l remember how, after the first 2-3 vintages (say, 2008-2010??), this was made in such small quantities, that even after begging Hank for my then-usual 6 bottles of this Sierra Foothills blend from the 10 acre (?) vineyard where their house and goats were being run, but always understood the super tight allocations. A field blend, with perhaps more rattlesnakes than grapes (of course, an exaggeration, though their dogs and cats might have agreed??), the complexity of this amazing field blend (the proportions of which ALWAYS varied year-to-year, depending on the weather and how the different varietals performed), which is why I always found myself begging for more, every year!! With all that said, I’ve found myself VERY SAD that Hank (winegrower/winemaker extraordinaire) and his beautiful French wife Caro (who made amazing goat cheeses from their herd of goats, it was always fascinating to me how the goats had ZERO issues with the poison oak all over their property), have closed down LCF!! Honestly, these two are the finest winery folks I’ve EVER had the pleasure of meeting and tasting their wines!!! — 13 hours ago

with Hank and Jim

Bob McDonald

9.2

Pale lemon in colour. From Campania arguably the home of Fiano not forgetting it is also grown in Sicily. Restrained aromas of pear, honeysuckle and apple. Those descriptors coming through on the medium bodied palate finishing dry with stacks of salinity. Refreshing and moreish. Had my last bottle 34 weeks later on 28th June 2026. Lime, acacia and thyme aromas. On the medium bodied palate appley flavours. From its spiritual home of Campania. A good winter white. — 8 months ago

Anna Sangiacomo

9.4

Two Miles from the Pacific Ocean with an elevation of 1500 feet. This is one of the most elegant wines of the three different sites.  Rose petals, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry.  — 4 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.4

[Tasted on December 24, 2021 at Home with Rachel, and again on November 8, 2025 at Philippe Chow in Nashville with Jay]

Black raspberry, black cherry and blueberry fruit, with roses, earth, vanilla and baking spice, and notes of mandarin orange and black tea. Beautiful balance and structure. Silky. Wine Spectator rated Wine #9 of 2020 Top 100. — 5 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on December 26, 2020 at Home with Jay Yalowitz]

Dark ruby in the glass. Black fruit and oak on the nose. Blackberry and blueberry fruit, with sweet cedar, cocoa, vanilla, peppercorn and clove. Beautiful mountain fruit. Wine #58 of Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2020. — 6 years ago

B

10

2005 Paul Avril Clos de Papes Chateauneuf du Pape. Decanted for an hour before the wine opened up. Dinner at home. Drank with curry. Took a while for it to open up, but always had a lot of layers to the nose. Fruit, spice, earth all in there. If we had blind-tasted, would’ve thought it was a Spanish wine. Not a lot of the peppery and gamey notes we were expecting. Time in glass and decanter was good and necessary. Really good after around 2 hrs in the decanter. — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Deep purple in color with a wide purplish rim.

Strong nose of red and purple fruits with light wood, spices, chocolates, herbs, black pepper and light earth.

Dry on the palate with sweet cherries, blueberries, black currants, light oak, chocolates, earth, spices, black pepper, tobacco leaf and dark coffee.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a delicious Single Vineyard Zinfandel from Alexander Valley in California. Fruit forward and elegant. Rich and nicely balanced, complex and entertaining. Alcohol is nicely integrated by now.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 88% Zinfandel and 12% Petite Sirah, from old vines. Aged in (10% new) French Oak barrels for 15 months.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$55. — a month ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2020. One of my last visits to the winery before moving back to Nebraska, so we had to have one of my favorite wines. This wine is aging really well! — 8 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

A little closed after decanting. Aromas of red cherry, menthol, pepper and also wet nappy. Just Medium bodied - a great food wine with home made pasta. Very Italian with a savoury balsamic note but I thought it might give more at 10 years. On the 2nd night very skinnsy with bitter notes. Will probably have the last one in around a year. Had the last bottle 40 weeks later on 7th January 2024. Not showing as well as previous note here. Menthol still very noticeable. 88 points. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Medium lemon with aromas of stone and citrus fruits with floral and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of ripe apple and lemon citrus, oak and vanilla, smooth with a crisp texture, lively acidity. Medium+ finish ending with citrus fruit and sweet savory mineral character. — 4 years ago

Brent Young

9.3

As this warmed above 50 degrees the flavors became quite complex and interesting. Herbal, vegetal, but unique and distinct flavors came out. Creamy in texture with umami in spades. Excellent — 5 years ago

Moe

9.1

From back label. Located on a high-elevation, steep glacial terrace in the Bendigo sub-region of Central Otago. This stunning site has clay and pedogenic lime soil, featuring schist and quartz.
A traditional aesthetic - respectful, patient, vineyard- focused- resonates in our approach, and frees the wine to express the unique tenor of our sites.

This wine was fermented using only indigenous ‘ wild’ yeast and matured for 17 months in French oak barrels. This wine was bottled unfiltered on 10th of November 2016. Careful cellaring will reward collectors over the next 10+ years. 1046 cases were made. — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.3

The 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel from Tablas Creek was a tough act to follow, but this elegant Rhône blend from Sonoma just did that.

The nose was quite similar with aroma of blue fruits and earthy elements with hint of violet, it was the palate that set it apart: soft, complex and deep, with great texture and beautiful acidity that adds the tension. Elegant and seamless.

Kale Anderson was the long time wine maker at Pahlmeyer, and Kale wines are all vineyard-specific. Worth seeking out. — 7 years ago

Graham

9.2

Still a lot of tannins. Red fruit. Good acidity. Really tasty but needs a little more time. Edit - day 2/3 - really tasty. — a month ago

Joe Fischer

9.3

Ruby with aromas of black cherry, violet, plum, and a bit of mushroom. On the bud, it’s rich and velvety with cherry, strawberry, and stewed fruit flavors. Medium finish. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

See previous notes. An amazing 4 Trophies at Australian wine shows. I still have 4 bottles of the 2017 Reserve which should be excellent. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Aromatic notes of rose and violet. Great depth of delicious flavour on the medium bodied palate. Red fruits - savoury and rich. See previous note for the 2014 - always excellent but 8 years of cellaring has enhanced this wine. To have won the Jimmy Watson Trophy for the Best One Year Old Dry Red at Royal Melbourne and still starring now at 8 years of age shows this is a wine for all seasons and all years. Should be a regular purchase. A Winner. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Nice holiday bubbly!! Roederer Estate sparkling wines are crisp & fresh reflecting the cool, fog-shrouded Anderson Valley, home to estate's 600 acres of vineyards. Blend of 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. Light salmon color, good flow of bubbles, firm mousse, aromas of berry fruits and biscuit notes. On the palate flavors of strawberry, ripe apple and peach with a dash of pepper spice. Long finish, lively acidity ending a tad creamy with toasty yeasty tones. Very Nice! — 5 years ago

Philip Deibel

9.3

Home alone for 24 hrs! The perfect time to open something older. Fully mature Bordeaux... I mean Napa! Dried fruit and tobacco, there is still a frame of tannins but they are well integrated and slightly chalky in texture. Enjoyable but more mature than I prefer. — 6 years ago

Peter Rosenfeld

9.4

Deep deep flavour for a pinot. Cherry at the end of many delicious layers. 2016 with xmas turkey. — 7 years ago