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La Rioja Alta

Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 2005

Paul J
9.6

This was awesome!! 1hr+ decant. Nose of a great Bordeaux. Super complex with cedar, dark fruit, some sweetness, and a touch of vanilla. Well structured and balanced. — 10 days ago

Brooke Weaver Jakubowski
with Brooke
Tom, Jan and 5 others liked this

Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

No formal notes . Slightly lighter than the others , but still ruby , touch of garnet at the rim. Spicer and rounder red and dark fruits . Finer and more mineral more elegant on the palate . Quite elegant . Refined and elegant , mineral , good balance and acidity . This came across as lighter than the others , though with no lack of definition . Mineral , grafite tinged finish . Showing well this is probably going to have a slightly shorter life than the others , but is great for medium term drinking , over next 5-10 years perhaps . — 12 days ago

Anthony, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Château Léoville-Las Cases

Grand Vin de Leoville du Marquis de las Cases Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Lots of promise, great on the nose, but the tannin clamps down hard right now. It has a bright future but isn’t there yet. — a month ago

Shay, Ira and 3 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

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+. — 2 months ago

Tom, Douglas and 12 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Douglas Braun worth seeking out. I think their Cabernet’s are as good as any in California.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

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

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@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.

Dom Pérignon

Brut Champagne Blend 2015

Medium lemon yellow , fine bubbles . Quite restrained and mineral focused on the nose , then lemon confit , quince, touch of orange flowers, with some pastry notes , white flowers , honeysuckle also . Quite intense and mineral on the palate , fills out well with some lemon oil and pastry notes also , but this is reserved and elegant in style , more mineral , chalky and more intense than the 2013 had last week. Really refreshing acidity . Long and complex on the finish , I would imagine this needs more time than the 2013 too. Come back in 5 years , will show well for a further 10-15 years , perhaps longer. Very promising . — 5 days ago

Ira, Bob and 14 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Quite light lemon yellow , very persistent , fine bubbles . Quite taut and strict on the nose , chalk dust , white flowers , honey suckle and elderflower , lemon peel , touch oyster shell and a touch of fresh baked bread . On the palate really good volume and density , lively acidity . Lots of citrus with good mineral , oyster shell notes . Long and mineral , saline, tinged finish , hint of toasty brioche on the end . This is really quite young and shows tighter and more mineral than the first bottle we had . Would leave this a few years and will have a long life , better in 10 -15 years and last well a further 10 or so . Great potential — 24 days ago

David, Jan and 12 others liked this

Marchesi Antinori

Tignanello Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2011

Classico Super Tuscan with a touch of family! — 2 months ago

Beto PaizVirginia De DiazChino Diaz M.
with Beto, Virginia and 1 other

Château Lafite Rothschild

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2007

No formal notes . Medium ruby . Bit more coffee and roasted character at first , touch of oak perhaps. Quite rich and rounded on the palate at first, good acidity , good length . More red fruit , more delicate after a while , mineral , oyster shell , mineral and leaner on the long finish . Very classic , grafite tinged . This improved with air and really gained in complexity with time . I would be tempted to leave this a little longer or give it a longer decant . No rush here , will continue well for a further 10 years . Tied as my favourite wine of the flight with the Latour. — 12 days ago

Anthony, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Château Gruaud Larose

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2010

Slightly deeper ruby with a little narrower , less garnet rim . This is quite deep and slightly more herbal on the nose, floral perhaps , a little more austere. Spicy Cassis , tobacco , herbal touches . On the palate this is slightly more velvety with a riper dark fruits , mixed with a touch of dark cherry , spice and subtler , riper tannin . Quite ripe , more polished tannin. A bit bigger and riper in style , alcohol a bit more noticeable . Quite good dark cherry , dark chocolate, cassis finish . This is a little more polished , but probably needs a little more time , better in 5 years and will last well a further 10 . Overall a good showing , a classy , polished performance — 5 days ago

Ira, Bob and 22 others liked this

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Intense cherry with a touch of tar. Iron and dense but very pure fruit. Good stuff but still tight and unyielding — 2 months ago

Bex Green
with Bex
Jeroen, Jay and 14 others liked this