Jay Kline

9.2

I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and 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 and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+. — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2000 vintage. Never a fave L-B vintage as it has always seemed a little too much sizzle and not enuff steak. FF two decades and said wine is drinking more like a Napa cab vs a BDX. Chunky and in a state of transition (discombobulated) but still medium-heavy body after two+ decades. The 2005 is more affordable and drinking better, imho, currently. Will this effort will ever round into form for dedicated L-B fans going back to the 1985 vintage? Not tasting it. Storybook fill and cork. Decanted and tasted immediately, after 30 mins and after two hours. Aggressive sed. 7.3.24. — 21 days ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Elegant and right in the window. Cigar box and a hint of chocolate. Well balanced and very pleasant. A tinge of dryness on the long finish. — 13 days ago

with Michael and David

Vino Joe

9.5

The complexity has arrived! Lovely color on this one. Not all my 2007 looks this dark yet but this one had a rich depth and most toasted fruit notes. This is a very good but not great vintage. — 12 days ago

Alan Weinberg

9.5

$168 a bottle on Italian Viking cruise. I know what I’m drinking every night. — 11 days ago

GaryWEdwards

9.7

Elegant and refined with dark berries and chocolate present in the best way. A beautifully structured wine that benefits from 2 hour decant. Enjoy. — 8 days ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

Pretty much always a safe bet with consistent notes. Lively fruit and acidity. Paired well with slow roasted lamb shoulder — 18 days ago

Scott Kahn

9.4

Deep in color and bursting on the nose and palette. A field of violets and subtle notes of vanilla - more red than black fruit in the glass. Very soft tannins and a balanced acidity. This wine is still very young with lots of runway for aging. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

It has been a little over a year since my last note on the 2018 vintage. Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2018 pours a pale garnet with transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with delicate notes of funky cherry, rose water, tar and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A touch thinner than some of the “bigger” vintages but no less charming. I’m sort of a sucker for the 2018 vintage in how enjoyable these are to drink in their youth. Drink now through 2038 — 12 days ago

Alan Weinberg

9.2

Overpriced at a restaurant but delicious and young. 2021. — 20 days ago