Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and slightly desiccated, black and red fruits: black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, purple flowers, dry rocky earth, a touch of leather, and a combination of cool and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (that is well integrated), and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Showing really well and squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2034. — 10 hours ago

Norman

8.9

I have a lot of these and most have been ok but this one was further along in its development. Knew I needed to drink these. Faster is the word of the day. — 3 days ago

Andrew Eddy

9.3

Superb. New Year’s Eve 2025.  — a month ago

with Lisa

Brian S

9.1

This wine was an absolute beast, it's more like 16.5 abv but was still in control you could taste fruit, had deeper notes but balanced. Not my style but a glass will make me happy. — 21 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.4

These are recalled impressions, not contemporaneous notes, from two nights ago, when the family council of elders met for a steak/wine pairing event at my brother Angelo’s house.

Another consensus favorite, the ‘16 version is stellar. So deep, but with that elusive (for Zin) old-world sense of balance, structure, and restraint. Paired beautifully with both kinds of steaks — a month ago

with Dan and Angelo

Norman

9.0

Wanted more from this. Lacked energy/acid — a month ago

Jerry Raphael

9.5

Well, here we are two years later, back at the same BYOB for New Year’s Eve with the same wine. I figured 35 years was enough—it was time to drink it.
Same treatment as in 2024: opened and decanted, then poured about two hours later. This time the nose offered noticeably more—cedar, a touch of vegetal character, and dark berries. On the palate, dark berries again took the lead. The finish was good, but at the very end it seemed to stop just a bit short but still giving it a 95. At Anthony’s — a month ago

Kelley Raymond

9.1

A little jammy - needs air and time — a month ago

Heather Robinson

8.9

We have this at Bravo - nice and bold but goes well with restaurant dishes — a month ago

Charlie Tapp

9.3

Dark fruit, iodine, red candy and espresso. — 4 months ago