Marc

9.8

Very good. Not too dry. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Merry Christmas Eve-Eve everyone! 🎄🎅🤶⛄️❄️🎁🍷

On the nose, leap dark currants & cassis with bright red, dark, blue & purple florals at pop & pour. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals.

The body is; round, ripe, & rich. The tension, structure, length and balance are just beginning their sweet spot. The tannins are; rounding, tarry & still chewy. Plenty of life left in the 09...8-10 years. Dark currants & cassis. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherry kirsch, plum, mulberries, blueberries, poached & strawberries, cherries, black raspberries & raspberries. Black licorice, star anise, dark chocolate bar, volcanic & limestone, dry, crushed rocks, dry stems, steeped fruit teas, dark cola, sweet tarry notes, black, rich, turned earth, mid, dark spices, cinnamon stick, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, milk chocolate, mocha, caramel, barrel shavings with char, dry brush, leather, fresh tobacco, granite, some eucalyptus, mint notes, light, dry herbs with fresh & some withering red, dark, purple and blue, fresh and slightly candied florals. The acidity is round & spot on. The ripe, rich, ruby, elegant, balanced & polished finish is splendid and persists nicely on the palate with mid, dark spice on the long set. So much better with this much age. Really delicious tonight!

A steal now at under $35 upon release at Costco.

This wine is close to its peak and will hover there 3-4 years.

Photos of; the Estate, old large oak vats and David Heitz.
— 5 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.4

Thanks to @David L , I’m a believer. Loads of ripe melon, lemon zest, white grapefruit, lemongrass, and tropical fruits of all kinds; green guava, pineapple, kiwi. This is better with lots of air and closer to room temp. Jesse Katz is doing some really fun wines right now, and this stands out. I think this will age really nicely. Extremely interested to learn more about the oak treatment. When I heard Haut Brion Blanc barrels, my ears perked up. Check out @Greg Ballington ‘s post. — 6 years ago

with Diana

Severn Goodwin

9.1

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Our guest conductor David Newman is leading a live-to-picture performance of Leonard Bernstein’s score for “West Side Story”, originally directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, and with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
For live-to-picture productions, the orchestra performs the entire movie score in real time as the film unspools. (Vocals, dialogue and effects are isolated from the original music track.) The BSO installed very fancy and large LED screens on the perimeter of the Shed facing the Lawn, amazing!

Very strawberry, intense skin color extraction, very nice, in a year, I hope this is where the '16 is now. See my prior notes please. — 7 years ago

Amy Johnson Corbett

9.4

Not too dry. Fill bodied berry finish — 8 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.2

Almost 25-years old and drinking great! Drips with red currant and eucalyptus. Well balanced with softly dissolved tannins. — 5 years ago

Ryan GJ

9.5

Delicious. Strawberries fresh herbs nice bright acidity that’s well integrated into the other flavors and carries through to the finish. Medium body dash of tannin and mineral balanced it to be dry yet very fruity. — 5 years ago

Peter Marks

Master of Wine, Educator Constellation Brands

8.9

A nice, richer, dry styled rose. 100% Sangiovese from Mendocino. — 6 years ago

Eve M

9.5

Dry-ish and delicious — 6 years ago

Hayden B. Oothout

9.0

Such a hidden gem of Sonoma. Another superb wine from David Coffaro. Peppery, jammy, and oaky. Well balanced and extremely tasty. Aged for 16 months. Good juice! — 6 years ago

Austin Maples

9.0

Good body, juicy upfront. Mostly dry finish — 6 years ago

Rafael Solorio

9.3

2015 Ancient Vine Teldeschi Vineyard Zinfandel

How this beautiful wine got only 90pts? I don't know.

This is one I want around all the time.

Violets on the nose and dark fruits on taste. Everything you would want in a pie*

Did I mention this is on the list at the F.L.? Shhh



Have to have this one with BBQ — 7 years ago

Dan Savin

9.1

Great Italian blend. — 7 years ago

with Davi

Shilling

9.1

Very pleasant berry aroma on nose, tastes astringent and dry at first but given bit time, it was smoother and rounded after opening up . A very special bottle — 5 years ago

with Jeff

"Odedi"

9.1

Here is a beautiful wine to celebrate Cabernet Franc Day.

Dark ruby in color with a cloudy reddish rim.

Fruity nose of dried figs, blackberries, cooked cherries, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, coffee, cola, pencil lead, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco and light alcohol.

Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, blackberries, cooked cherries, dried figs, tobacco, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, herbs and coke.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Cabernet Franc from Lodi, California. Fruit forward, extracted and tasty, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 2 hours of airtime, when the tannins show up.

Delicious, but might be too sweet for some. I'd like to revisit it in a year or two.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. I paired it with cheeses and light appetizers.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$35. — 5 years ago

Dani Kaulakis

9.6

Fully bodied and dry! Lovely — 6 years ago

Heidi Ingelfinger

9.4

I can remember when JP and I went to visit Rafanelli back in ‘06. Broke and retooling at Davis and we were told we had to get it. Cult status stuff. And we bought two bottles and put them away. Met David and Shelly back then and it seemed by invitation only. What a beauty after all these years. Dense, viscous, blueberry and ripe red cassis. Smokey earthy Dominican cigar tobacco. Lingering and pillowy juice with subtle once chalky tannins. Heading toward ripe dried fig and graphite. All has integrated wonderfully. A bit boozy for my tastes but beautiful just the same! Yum! One last thing, after adequate storage and miles of travel the cork was pristine, barely and 1/8” of stain. — 6 years ago

with JP

Chris

9.0

Very smooth and fruity dry finish.
This was a recommendation from a local Italian restaurant owner. I fell it is smooth, has a bit of a blackberry finish and is smooth in the pallet.
Enjoyed with some super and some cheese. Would love to try with some chocolate!! — 7 years ago

Mary Kate LeViness

9.3

Dry and tasty and complex and earthy like biting into mud — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark inky in color with a purple rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, blackberries, figs, raisins, vanilla, sweet cherries pie, wood, smoke, spices, chocolates, peppercorn, coffee, pencil lead, mocha and licorice.

Full bodied, jammy and bold with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, raisins, oak, vanilla, licorice spices, chocolates, smoke, peppermint, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with well integrated tannins and tangy cranberries.

This red blend from Lodi, California is always enjoyable with nice complexity and balance.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up. Great wine for parties or as a sipping wine. Good wine to pair with BBQ too.

Big, bold and beautiful with a tangy finish. Yummy.

15% alcohol by volume. — 8 years ago