Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

They might want to rename this bottling to, “Everything Including the Kitchen Sink”. It is a blend of mostly; Zinfandel 65%, Syrah, Petite Syrah. Tempranillo, Trousseau, Castets, Cabernet, Merlot, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Lenoir and more. 🤯

It’s aged in 25% new oak for 10 month and the rest in used oak.

It drinks like a Zinfandel that you might think has a couple other varieties, not that long list.

It is pleasant at pop & pour. But full disclosure, I don’t embrace much in the way of Zin’s. When I do it’s primarily Ridge’s blend.

This is juicy, red, purple & blue fruity fruits. Some dry top soil, some used leather, light pepper, moist clays, some herbaceous notes, dark chocolate to mousse, mid berry cola, lots of fresh, red, blue and purple flowers, pleasant, round acidity, a nicely balanced, lush, elegant, polished finish that lands on earthiness & wood powder.

It is not bad but at $54.95, there are Ridge’s I buy first for under this price point. — a month ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

Scratches that itch. Hard to tell whether it’s a “true champagne” or a very good cremant, but at closeout prices who cares? 90. — 10 months ago

Ming L

8.9

Spotted this 100-year co-op bottling front the great 16’ vintage for only $25, and could not resist to pick up one.
Stewed black and blue berries, black currant, ripe raspberry, dry herbs, hint of cured meat and leather on the nose. Medium body. The candied red fruits on the the palate feels a bit syrupy to me. The medium acidity leaning towards sour.
Predominately Grenache. Great price for a CdP. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.

Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.

No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — 4 months ago

Keith Hahn

9.1

Maybe just past it’s prime, decanted for 2 hrs and showed well. Heavy cedar and pencil shavings. Blue and heavy dried black fruit. Very nice with Hunters Stew. — 3 years ago

with Tim

Vino Kaela

9.3

Awesome co-fermented Syrah with Viognier. This wine is rockin’! Black, blue and red fruits earthy leather and spice notes. 2016 vintage is worth every penny. It’s only going to get better with more bottle age. — 4 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Elegant t yellow flowers.

Palate: hint of spritz. Elegant fruit.

Long — 8 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Nose ok
Palate: very delicious. Silky texture. Creamy. — 8 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Night and day difference in showing from this bottle in March. In hindsight, I think the last one may have had travel shock. Tonight, 2013 CSJ coming from 100+ year old vines is superb after a lengthy slow ox, soaring from the glass with crazy aromatic intensity showing a delicate oak framed red and blue fruited profile with winter citrus, cocoa bean and red roses. The palate shows Grand Cru depth, stunning elegance and purity with fine grained tannins and a penetrating salty mineral laced finale that goes on and on. It’s still young, but 13’s from the big dogs are really starting to shine. Hold the reductive 12’s and tannic 14’s and pop the elegant 13’s. — 3 years ago

Morgan Diamant

9.5

Drinking so beautifully for its age. Showing its complexity. Really floral on the nose, still has tart cranberry & currant with acidity still present supporting its structure. Red apple, raspberry, blue & black berries on the mid-palate, with mushroom & earthy finish. — 4 years ago