Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2017 (S) pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of mostly red, tart fruit: strawberry, raspberry, Montmorency cherry, licorice, dried green herbs, menthol, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and just a touch mousy but within the acceptable range. Refreshing and a lovely pairing with burgers on a warm Spring evening. Drink now through 2032. — 4 months ago

Lynn Poole

9.9

WOW!28 years and still rocking it. Delicious fruit. Smooth and balanced. Worth the wait. — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Slightly medicinal notes. Dark fruit, leather, cedar, plum and bitter cherry. Soft and long. — 5 months ago

with BOT, Paul and 1 other

Jay Kline

9.3

Decanted about an hour in advance and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Cuvée Réservée pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart bramble fruits: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, “Oops All Berries!!”, garrigue, red and purple flowers, black pepper, licorice, a balance of cool and warm spices, river rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose; particularly the power and quality of fruit. The finish is long. Early days for the 2022 Cuvée Réservée but holy smokes is it already pretty special. The ABV is a scorching 16% but you would never know it. The power and freshness of fruit with the titanic structure keep everything in balance. Drink now through 2042. — 6 months ago

Arturo Kassel

9.3

Been sitting on it for a decade and boy was it worth the wait. It’s everything I’d want in a St. Julien Bordeaux. Silky tannins, elegant mouthfeel, great balance of red fruit and earthy undertones. Sadly, that was my last one. — 8 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.1

Wine 1, with rack of lamb. As my drinking history shows, Raffault is a perennial favorite. 2017 is easy access with medium weight, wild red berry fruit, tomato leaf, and earth. Drink over the next five years. Holding ‘09, ‘14, ‘15, and ‘18 with patience. — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

This was a well-stored example and the cork was in pretty great shape; extracted with the aid of a Durand. Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter. Enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 pours a garnet color with a slight orange-ish rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with mostly desiccated notes of dark and red fruit: red currants, confected cherry, organic earth, mushroom, leather, eucalyptus, baking spice. Umami AF. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. While showing its age, this is very much alive. The entire bottle was enjoyed by all. Drink now. — 4 months ago

Robert Swart

9.1

Cedar, sour cherries, and pencil shavings on the nose. Dried fruit on the palate. Still drinking well! — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

From mag. Dark intense gravelly fruit. Leather and sour cherry. Serious and bridging still. Great aged Bordeaux. — 5 months ago

with BOT, Paul and 1 other

Ericsson

9.4

The fruit is still so alive, incredible! The finish is Napa essence. — 7 months ago

Leo Gentile

9.2

Dang this is drinking well. Subdued fruity nose and rich purple color. Great balance with spice and tons of black fruit. Tempted to say hold but not too long so one can enjoy the fruits — 7 months ago

Riccardo L.

9.3

This really over performs, considering it’s just a reserva. Might go down as one of the richest and flavourful riojas I’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious wine. Lots of oak and red fruit. Vibrant. Alive. — 9 months ago

Tom Gutting

9.5

Absolutely superb. Youthful color. Lively. Complex. Great fruit. Structure remains. Will go 10-15 more years. — 10 years ago

Jocholla

9.1

Big Napa fruit. — 5 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.5

Boom! From the first sip - this wine was explosive and delicious.

Dark and black fruits come out and then lend to some red fruit and while it has good depth, this wine is very smooth.

Seems like it’s in the drinking window — 4 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Plush and delicious and lucid. Haney fruit and grip. A great bottle — 5 months ago

with David

Eric Crane

Sommelier & Educator Empire Wine Distributors

9.3

Still fresh. The fruit is really ripe. — 6 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Calm and precise. Soft plummy fruit with some contained and polished fruit. Very good. — 7 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Lyn Farmer

9.8

Exceptional wine - deep ruby color with a huge bouquet of violet, plum, black pepper, black cherry, licorice, vanilla, clove, prune and dried rose petal. Velvet tannins, the alcohol is well balanced with the fruit and full-bodied texture. Still in its infancy but already delicious, this wine has a stunning future — 8 months ago

Nick Benz

9.3

Tons of dark fruit, roasted plum and black currant, leather and black olives — 9 years ago