A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

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+. — 20 days ago

Tom, Douglas and 12 others liked this

Jay Kline

@Douglas Braun worth seeking out. I think their Cabernet’s are as good as any in California.

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Go back with the Rafanelli Cabs to the 1988 vintage. Always workmanlike, solid and with plenty of rusticity/authenticity. Have consistently placed them at the top of Sonoma Cabs. Only producer from Sonoma I found that topped them consistently was the old Laurel Glen Sonoma Mountain Cabs with Patrick Campbell at the helm...and his Cabs were a definite ringer in CA Cab tastings. Sadly, that property doesn't seem to fire in the same way in my semi-frequent tasting visits. Rafanelli Cabs are a welcome change from the flightiness of the Napa brethren. Have zero experience with the reserve/select offerings as they are rarely seen in these parts.

Jay Kline

@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego those Rafanelli’s from the 80’s are still holding strong too. In fact, the 1988 was awesome this past spring when I presented it as part of a vertical spanning three decades of their Cabernet.

Ridge Vineyards

Three Valleys Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend

Neil Valenzuela

9.1

Deep ruby color. Aromas of black cherry, oak, violets and mocha. Red and black fruit on the palate, cocoa and oak on the finish. — 12 days ago

Tom, Bob and 11 others liked this

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Leo Gentile

8.9

Perfect deep garnet color. Fruit way too subdued for a 2019. Nose was flat. Jordan is a tried and true California cab. But this bottle was not a good showing for the $56 bucks at Costco. Just a nice red wine. Sorry — 2 days ago

Jordan Vineyard & Winery

Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Steve Anderson

8.9

Love the late’70s/early 80s bottlings. This one…blah. — 6 days ago

Shay and Lyle liked this

Sandlands

Sonoma County Trousseau 2016

Steve Anderson

9.3

Last 2016. Still lovely, but I’d call this a ‘sooner rather than later’ bottle if I had more. — 6 days ago

romo, Pinotman and 2 others liked this

Rivers-Marie

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2023

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2023 vintage. Maan, do I feel old reviewing this! Sourced from some eminently notable vineyards. Wine rolls up and down and back up again throughout the palate...almost as if you are tasting each vineyard source as stages vs a blend. Def interesting. Light-medium body. May hafta pick this up as a list placement as it is drinking nicely. Absolutely blowing through Oregon pinot tho. Resto pricing at $19 btg (waay too low) and woulda jumped on it but have another CA pinot currently btg that's an even better deal. 11.27.24. — 24 days ago

Ted, Tom and 9 others liked this

Shay A

Always a bangin’ value.

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Medium deep ruby , quite narrow rim . Touch of earthy menthol , tobacco , spicy blackcurrant, grafite . On the palate quite dusty , with earthy sous bois , blackcurrant, ripe blackberry , grafite and tobacco , cocoa hints. Quite rich but balanced , good acidity, quite dusty tannins . This is probably at peak now though will last well another decade perhaps . — 22 days ago

"Odedi", Severn and 5 others liked this