David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I would say this bottle sold on release for either side of $25. At this point, stunning with Chateaubriand.

This is at its peak. Excellent integration & evolution. It’s in its stupid faze.

The nose ripe blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, baked dark cherries & strawberries, pomegranate. Baking spices-clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & vanillin, dry herbs-sage, thyme, anise to black licorice, bight red, blue, purple florals,

The palate is ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, both plums, plum, strawberries, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, dark spice, dry twig, dark cola, black tea, anise to black licorice, crushed limestone, withering to dark, red flowers, perfect acidity, excellent tension, structure, balance and elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and lands on spice & earth.

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁 🎅 ❄️ ⛄️ — 16 hours ago

Bob Eisenbach

9.4

Delicious dark fruits and fragrant nose, opening up as time passed after uncorking. The tannins have all but melted away and the wine is fully mature and drinking beautifully. A little surprised that the mid palate was not as heavy as expected but it could be the impact of the 19 years of aging. Brought this one to the restaurant from home. — 13 days ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.4

No 2020 🔥 concerns with this acclaimed #threepalmsvineyard #merlot. A “relative” value for a 1.5L at a typically costly steakhouse wine list. Supremely elegant, didn’t have much time to properly taste at a customer dinner a fantastic wine with gossamer tannins. Beautiful pairing with a nicely cooked filet mignon. — 13 days ago

Steve Mitchell

9.4

Nice Zin. Paired with our lamb. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

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+. — 24 days ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Just a half bottle test.. way way too early. Decanted and it needed a solid hour before it unfolded at all. Great structure lurking but this experience was impaired by immaturity. — a day ago

Steven Lee

9.7

xmas 2024 drink. high anticipation for this ancient vineyard. sold and bought back. nose of orange rind and jasmine tea. palate is silky, fruity of strawberry, floral and a tad like barossa finish — 4 days ago

Mike Evans

9.1

Fading a bit, but pretty bing cherry fruit and tart acidity. — 10 days ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Tons of red and dark fruit. Mainly cherries and a bit of raspberry and spice. — 14 days ago

Paul J

9.4

1hr+ decant. Dark red, maroon color. Caramel and cherries on the nose. Wine is vibrant and deep, but has some tartness that made it seem disjointed. My prior bottle was much better. — 4 days ago

with Brooke