Jay Kline

9.4

Birth year wine for my daughter and since we had some family over and I had a couple bottles of this, I figured it might be fun to check in on it. The cork pulled perfectly with a thick cake of sediment on the end but no sign of creep. The wine pours the deepest of ruby colors, bordering purple. The core is completely utterly opaque with moderate staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and there is quite a bit of fine sediment clinging to the side of the glass. High intensity on the nose with an enormous amount of ripe fruits: dark cherries, spices and the most charming kiss of Brett giving it a slightly rustic sort of sensibility while remaining unmistakably New World. This just has Rafanelli’s DNA all over it. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (which is fairly well integrated at this point) and medium+ acid. Drop dead gorgeous fruit, some of it desiccated, confirming the dark cherries with some dark brambles mixed in for good measure along with baking spice, leather, and pipe tobacco. A wonderfully long finish and the texture gorgeous, completely enthralling. This vintage is voluptuous, sexy and real. Ready to drink now however it should drink very well over the next 5-10 years. The last glass was full of fine sediment. — 3 years ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.4

Great second wine...possibly the best one I've had. Drinking it with Chateau Ausone you instantly recognise the same DNA and this actually had more power. For a third of the price you are pretty much drinking the same wine... — 4 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

On to this nice little cabernet,
Perfect for some bbq hanger steak 🥩
These bottles have major distance in their DNA. Had a 2001 last year and was fantastic. This will keep another 20 easy — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

I think @Jordan Mackay described this wine to a tee. While I enjoyed it, I wonder if it’s 100% Carignan. Could there possibly be an error in the identification of the variety? It is actually quite common in Californian vineyards and especially older vineyards to have a mix of varieties or believe it’s one variety because that’s how it was bought, but DNA testing can be surprising. This seems much more Gamay to me. In Paso Robles for example I know of some pretty famous winemakers and important vineyards that thought they had Mourvèdre and it turned out to be Graciano. — 6 years ago

Mike Stricoff

10

I’ll tell ya what, if you ever get promoted and your sister gives birth in the same day this is the perfect special occasion wine to celebrate with. My mouth feels like my soul feels while FaceTiming with a newborn infant that shares 50% of the same DNA as me. The baby can only hope it ages as well as this world class wine I found in a tasting room a stone’s throw away from the Sonoma town square. Pairs well with a Cosmos marathon. — 7 years ago

with Jennifer

Lewis Chester

9.4

2006 vintage. Took an hour to open up. Pale ruby hue. Distinctive Rayas DNA- crushed strawberry and raspberry, animalistic, leather and spice, white pepper - very complex. On the palate, silky smooth and textural, medium body, fine tannins and medium high alcohol. Long and delicious sweet finish. This is still too young and I would suggest not opening for another 3-5 years. Potentially amazing. — 8 years ago

Paul T HB

9.6

New to Barolo, definitely a 2nd day wine in its youth. Much better than last nights glass,

James Suckling 98
"The fruit feels so comfortable here, in the ripe-red zone; it ranges from cherry kernel to chocolate-coated red plums to glazed cherries. Integrated hints of bark and sandalwood. Full-bodied with strapping tannins and muscular, imposing structure and power. Notwithstanding, everything is in striking balance and delivered with remarkable precision and grit."

Wine Advocate 97
"The Damilano 2016 Barolo Cannubi shows depth and a profound nature. This is the DNA of the Cannubi cru, maybe the most celebrated in the appellation with mildly compact, well-draining sandy soils (actually, a mix of 45 sand, 35 silt and 20 clay, to be precise). These conditions contribute to the dark concentration and the firm textural support found here. These assets are particularly apparent in this classic vintage. Dark fruit and dried cherry cede to earthy truffle and licorice. Of these various single-vineyard expressions, the tight tannins on this Cannubi definitely suggest a long drinking window. This wine is my favorite in this flight from Damilano, and this vintage of 40,000 bottles is distinguished by its sheer excellence." — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Deceptively simple?New Zealand syrah with a cool climate DNA. Waiting for day 2. And day 2: better, fuller, lovely. Smooth & velvety texture are the bywords.
— 4 years ago

Ron from VA

9.3

So hard to believe that this was built on two year leaf grapes. Talk about a great rookie season! Mostly cab sauv , this did indeed punch far beyond it’s expected weight class. Complex yet fairly linear and sequential, this has the dna of the championship level big boy (glen manor/rdv/linden). While only a 375 mL bottle, it had aged remarkably well and would be worth another library investment if available ;) — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

It’s fair to say that every Penfolds Cuvée (possibly with the exception of the entry level Rawsons Retreat) is made to cellar. This includes this 2010 Koonunga Hill which cost $16.99. Plummy mocha chocolate notes on nose and palate - showing the Penfolds DNA. — 6 years ago

Larry Frierson

9.6

I think French merlot has a different DNA than California merlot. Now in perfect balance. Like a chocolate dipped cherry. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣4️⃣

🗞 DNA fingerprint, Band Aid, AIDS, 🍏 Mac
🎵 Like a Virgin, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, I Just Called to Say I Love You, Jump
🎥 Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Footloose, Gremlins, 🥋 Kid
🗣 I’ll be back
🌍 4.726B

Fab drop @ £85 👍

🍷 Opaque ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Gravel, lead, flint & minerals through black berry/currant fruits w/ light mocha, herbs & liquorice

👄 Med body of mineral infused soft dark berry fruits w/ an earthy cocoa & liquorice tone

🎯 Med+ dry mineral finish of above — 7 years ago

Selim Batibay

9.0

The folks of Sassicia teamed up with top Sardinian vineyard to create this very interesting bottle....you can definitely pick up the Tuscan legends dna in there... — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Amazing to buy a 23 year old Penfolds Bin 128 as good as this for $125 - only at Penfolds HQ at Magill Estate Adelaide. Still the Penfolds DNA of Choc Malt Mocha on this lovely old Shiraz. Dusty plummy notes, some old wood and leather notes. Tannins resolved - everything balanced. Shows the quality and ability to age of all Penfolds Cuvées. — 4 years ago

Jonathan Shoup

8.9

Dark purple in color, not red. Strong tannins and very delicious. No acid. Really enjoyed — 4 years ago

with Jennifer

Ken Venezio

9.5

Loads of Hall DNA in this wine. To use an old 70s term, thus wine has Body and Soul. Loads of fruit and a great finish. Have it a good hour decant to really open up. — 4 years ago

Chip Hughes

9.4

To my mind, the quintessential $20 Oregon Pinot: explosive aromas of boysenberry and spice, with corresponding flavors, concentration and a superfine, acid finish. Burgundian in its lower alcohol and understatement, it’s the kind of confident, relaxed effort to be expected from a winemaker who has Burgundy in her DNA. — 5 years ago

Sarah Bushaw

9.0

Very tasty. — 7 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

An incredible story as well a great wine. Back in the early 2000s, The Vineyard team at Feudi di San Gregorio discovered three bush vines in their Anglianico vineyards that were not Anglianico grapes. After DNA research, it was determined the vines were the ancient Sirica grape varietal. FSG propagated these vines and eventually ended up with one and a half hectares of this grape. First release of a Sirica Single varietal was back in 2009. This vintage is a terrific red wine. Aromas of dark berries, leather, herbs and violets. Flavors of black cherry, blueberry, black pepper and cloves. Velvety tannins and fresh tasting. Beautifully balanced. This one is special and will get better with age. I need to find more! — 7 years ago

with John

Bob McDonald

9.3

Notes of mulberry - even without new oak it somehow has the Penfolds DNA of chocolate malt. Brambley savoury notes. Great to have a Penfolds red with no new oak just for a change. Still with a long future as with 90% of Penfolds Reds. Amazing to think that decades ago Penfolds released Grange and St. Henri at the same price. — 8 years ago