Nathan Renfro

9.8

What can I say, I absolutely love this wine. — 2 months ago

Joel Lara

9.2

This is a full bodied wine providing intense, concentrated flavors of blueberries, raspberries, violets, and cassis, with an underlying layer of dried herbs. It has quite high tannins that provide a chalky mouthfeel, but it’s balanced nicely by med/high acidity. On the finish, notes of earthy bitter chocolate accompany the fruit and violets, and the tannins provide just a slightly drying mouthfeel. I think this wine would go well with something robust like ribeye, lamb, or smoked ribs/brisket. I had it with sausage and mushroom pizza, and after the first glass it became a bit too much. — 4 months ago

Ericsson

9.4

I love R Lopez de Heredia wines. Still made the way they were made hundred years ago. Wines for old souls who really appreciate timeless art and low intervention. — 9 months ago

Kristy Cropper

9.6

Oh, how I love this wine! — 5 years ago

with Jaime

Jay Kline

9.2

My first impression of the just released 2018 Zinfandel. Due to climate related issues, overall Zinfandel production was down in 2018 but regardless, Rafanelli only bottles about half of what they produce with the remainder being sold off to others. Some Petite Sirah (13%) made it into the final blend. Being so young, I opened the bottle around noon and poured it into a decanter with intentions to drink later in the evening. By dinner, this was more open and ready to enjoy. Obviously primary with loads of powerful bramble fruit, pepper, red rope licorice and baking spices. I absolutely love the balance. The acid that Rafanelli achieves in their Zinfandel always seems to bring a smile to my face; so much lift which balances the lush fruit giving an impression of freshness. Long, very satisfying finish. The tannins are pretty steep right now and they seemed to build as time went on. I expect this will be a vintage that can age very well. 18mos in a combination of new, 1-year and 2-year old French oak barrels. 6,500 cases were made. — 6 years ago

Emily Perkins

10

I love this wine — 8 years ago

Bret Barker

9.5

I love this 96, it is in a sweet spot. Garnet color with the classic pauillac nose. Red fruit and cedar with a very long finish. Amazing a 20 year old wine can feel so vibrant. A mouthful of flavor. — 9 years ago

with Adam

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Year in, year out, this is my fav Chianti Classico. To me it captures all what I look for in a good every day Sangiovese - freshness, a bit of tannic edge, juicy flow, a savory sweetness to the fruit. And food friendliness!
Enticing nose with red cherries, a bit of wet undergrowth & turned earth, a bit of tomato leaf, a flowery whiff. Joyful!
Medium bodied on the palate with great energy & flow. The tannins present, a touch rustic, but in a nice way, the acidity juicy & vibrant. Nice depth and long finish.
So drinkable but also has some seriousness to it.
Love Monsanto! — 2 months ago

Helen Arvanitopoulos

9.3

Wine was silk. Red fruits that were silky smooth that felt like a beautiful St Etienne Bordeaux will do. I am in love — 7 months ago

Stephanie Kline

9.1

I love this 2019. Layers with a smooth mouth feel. Sweet fruits with earthy undertones. Vanilla, bark, flower perfume. Beautiful legs. 15% kicker — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Bone dry with 12% ABV and searing acidity. Frigging delicious and buoyant but capable of scrubbing a layer of two of enamel from your teeth. I love these expressions of Amador county and lament my allocation numbers... but worth double the price. Cheers Tegan and team— you’re killin’ it! — 6 years ago

Joseph Lewinski

9.0

Wow. One of the most interesting Sangiovese that I have had. Nice under carbonic that brings out notes of rhubarb tart. Great with grilled vegetables in the summer. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

Gosh, do I love these wines. The American oak nose of vanilla, coconut and dill is intoxicating to me. Cedar, dried cherry and rhubarb pie, touch of barnyard funk on the tongue. Highly decorated wine and well deserving. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

I love Dominus as it is always made in a Bordeaux style with red & black fruits, earth , tobacco, cedar, leather & licorice spice. — 9 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2018 “S” pours a slightly hazy garnet/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry, licorice, purple flowers, green herbs and crushed rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. I love me some Lapierre. Drink now through 2038. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Both days outstanding but slightly different experiences. Day 1 was about power. Day 2 was about balance. The 2020 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a brilliant garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady, slightly funky notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, red & purple flowers, bacon fat, licorice, and dry rocky earth. On Day 2, everything was more open nit and the fruit showed more bruised with a slightly stewed profile. Lavender was the predominate floral profile too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is textbook Pégau and I love it. Drink now through 2045+ — 8 months ago

Alex Bell

9.0

I can’t tell you how many of these bottles of this I’ve enjoyed. Beautiful glou — 6 years ago

Anthony Pro

8.9

Fruit. So much fruit. A bit of sweetness on the finish.

I love this house.

Unfortunately it came second on the day. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured out of a 1.5L and this was lights out good. I love the 2005 vintage in Barbaresco and this was a beautiful example and seemed to have so much left in the tank! The fruit was still bright and full of life. Tannins are still firm. Great acid for food and paired beautifully with frutta di mare fra diavolo. Secondary characteristics are just barely creeping into the fore. Wish I had another mag to drink in 2029. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.7

🎉 Happy New Year dear friends 🎉

Have a fabulous evening & I wish you a fantastic 2018 full of health, happiness, love, peace & many more fabulous wine discoveries 😍

From Jan 1st 2018 I’ll be posting reviews from vintages 1961 through to 2018 😁 so get ready for a journey 🤪 then I can catch up with everything else I’m having tonight 🙃🍷🥂

For now this lovely Dom can kick off the celebrations 🎊 Enjoy yourself 🤗💃🕺

To 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ 🥂😘
— 9 years ago