The Language Of Yes

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2022

Young but the apotheosis of Dry Creek. Such depth and purity of Zin fruit (spicy black raspberry) and dry gravelly earth on the nose. Deep, fruity, but composed and minerally at the same time on the palate. A little clenched on the finish because yes I’m drinking it too young. But the stuffing, balance, and structure are there for many years development. I love these guys’ Zins. — 8 days ago

Ray, Ming and 18 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, it’s been many years (25?) since I’ve had a Rafanelli Zinfandel, we drank a lot of it back in the 1990s — great to hear they’re still killing it!!
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Doug Powers Dave’s daughter Shelly is making the wine now but the spirit is still there and fruit quality is paramount. IMO, their Zin needs time
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jay Kline, thanks for the info, they have great vineyards, so I’ve always thought they can make great wines!!

The Language of Yes

En Passerillage Grenache 2020

I tried my first bottle of this several months ago, and since then it’s really settled down and blossomed. Light color, but the nose pops with perfumey cherry and raspberry, along with subtle notes of moist earth, spice, and sandalwood. In the mouth, it’s got intense flavors in a floaty carriage, with deep red fruit and lots of savory notes. Long finish, with a teensy bit of tannin. Alcohol in check, and enough acidity to keep the intense fruit buoyed up. Superb. If you’re a Grenache hound like me, get some of this. — 3 years ago

Sharon, "Odedi" and 10 others liked this
MaJ CappS

MaJ CappS Influencer Badge

Sounds fantastic!

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1995

Scott C
9.0

Yes it’s beautiful, but I have had better vintages of this wine . — 3 years ago

Williams Selyem

Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Winner of the night. Yes 14.1% but still good. Plumy nose. Tannins fully resolved. Drink!!! Up. Lime, spices, Hint blueberry, violets. Touch cherry 🍒. Quite amazing. Who would have thought. Because typically i prefer Burghs. — 16 days ago

Scott@Mister, Zach and 7 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Y Ygrec Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 2020

Y stands for yes and this is indeed a good wine. Not my favorite year for the Ygrec and I will question the $145 I paid - probably closer to a $90 value for me. This is otherwise typical and refreshing but lacks some of the depth of the other vintages. Quite possible I opened it too early and it will evolve - still a few bottles left so we’ll see. — a year ago

Jonathan, Billy and 1 other liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Delectable Wine
9.9

The sample of 2019 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande sent to me last year was an absolute show-stopper. The bouquet needs a few minutes to open up, delivering intense black fruit, crushed stone and incense with time in the glass. Yes, the nose does remind me of Latour! The medium-bodied palate is endowed with unerring symmetry and poise. This is a powerful, multi-dimensional Pichon-Lalande, extremely precise, very deep and long. The 60% new oak is seamlessly integrated and feels just right. It reminds me of the 1996 in some ways, but with more finesse on the finish. Stunning. 14.12% alcohol (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2022)
— 3 years ago

Severn liked this

Purple Hands Winery

Holstein Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017

Founded by Cody and Marque Wright, yes that family of the great Ken Wright Pinot’s  very nice small production Pinot, 600 cases, from 115/777 clones. Medium+ Ruby, nose is a bit closed, with aromas of blue and red fruits with an array of spices, clove, tar and wet earth. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cranberry with notes of tobacco, citrus, floral and earthy tones. Fine tannins, lively acidity, long ending with fruit, spice, mineral and earthy notes. Will age a bit! Tasted twice! — 4 years ago

Daniel P. liked this

Noon Winery

Eclipse Grenache Blend 2013

Popped and poured into a decanter about 90min prior to service. The 2013 Eclipse pours a deep ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with red and black brambles, leather, black pepper and other 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 hard to hate on. Yes, it is an enormous wine and yet, somehow balanced at 16%. To this day, the wines from Noon remain elusive. Drink now through 2028. — 10 months ago

Severn, Ira and 6 others liked this

Hubert Lamy

En Remilly Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Chardonnay

Lamy’s ‘14 a Criot Batard Montrachet is up there as wines of my life so I was very excited to share this bottle with Cerasulo. Started strong with his magic work he does in Saint Aubin. I was anticipating a emotional ride, but the wine evened out and the richness took over the reductive steeliness. Felt out of balance. Delicious, yes! But a walk in heaven. Not so much. — 2 years ago

Ely liked this
Dave Mayers

Dave Mayers

Like a warm loving lemonade hug - Cerasulo

Daou Vineyards

Pessimist Paso Robles Red Blend

Bold yet smooth. Contradiction? Yes. Lots of vanillar and star anise. Delicious rip red fruits yet not jammy, like one would think. Fun wine to share only with Zin lovers. Pinot drinks won’t understand — 3 years ago

Joanna Clark
with Joanna