Let Good Be

A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

What a sublime and elegant wine. I'd be turned off by the waiting list but now that I have my hands on a bottle...holy heck it is just so refined. Not a jam-monster, not too light...it is the Goldilocks of Zin. Blog review coming shortly but know getting on the list is good if you like an aristocratic Zin. If you don't it may not be your jam...literally. But I am INTO this. — 9 years ago

Dan, David and 9 others liked this
Dan White

Dan White

Delicious wines. And another nod to the greatest Zin producing region in CA, Dry Creek Valley! :)
Ellen Clifford

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@Dan White Tis true! I ordered a few while I could...I shall hang onto one to share with your family! Not sure if you have had the A Rafanelli goodness...
David L

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The Zins have had a following for decades now. Great pull @Ellen Clifford

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1985

Drinking at peak altho it should be good for several yrs — 11 years ago

Dunn Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

They say with age comes wisdom; in wine, comes stinky old leather and cigar box. Opens with a crazy almost gamey bouquet of baked earth, black licorice, cola and green herbs, with just a hint of dusty library. The palate sings with fruit, although it's just starting to hum. Only had a coravin pour so couldn't truly let it breathe; needs a good decant...and a seat by the fireplace (with cigars) — 11 years ago

Molly, Roy and 26 others liked this
Bill Bender

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Sounds like you should wear a smoking jacket as well!

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1999

Notes of blueberries and touch of camphor developing savoury flavours. Could easily be Left Bank Bordeaux. Good wine but a hard act to follow after their brilliant 1997 which awakened me to how good Napa Cabernet could be. 18- — 11 years ago

Heitz Cellar

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

A delicious well-balanced and not too brash Cabernet. Heitz has always been one of my favorites and this is why. Let this one breath for a good 30 after decanting. — 12 years ago

Ridge Vineyards

Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend 1998

Michael Meagher MS
9.5

From a 3 liter, about 10 years after "PD" suggested it was to be at its best. (This was a gift from my 21st birthday and the cork was beginning to show seepage so time to drink!). Seriously good stuff. The boozy side of Zin has settled, the structure and savory notes of the Petite Sirah and Mataro are emerging. Looking forward to this with grilled meat, lobster and whatever else we can cook up outside. @ridgevineyards #legend — 10 years ago

Justin liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Guidalberto Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Paul H
8.9

Off the bat this has a fresh cherries. Think of the produce isle fresh. Little bit of earth as well. Could be something else I dont know. The palate was a mixture of sweeter notes of cherry and raspberries or maybe a cranberry. It seemed to me to have too much oak. Side note this was not decanted and most likely should have had a good bit of time to open. Will revisit with proper time allowed to let it develop more. — 11 years ago

P, Mike and 1 other liked this

Caymus Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Amazing wine. If it's drinking this good this soon, I can't imagine how good it will be in three, five or ten years! — 11 years ago

Château Musar

Bekaa Valley Red Blend 2004

let it air for sure before drinking but so good. so bold, strong, structured. hints of olive, dark berries. a bit of cocoa and definitely tad bit citrus yet full bodied. — 11 years ago

Château d'Yquem

Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1966

I'm 30, this wine is 48! Can't believe it was still good. The cork pushed through into the bottle. Was pretty sure there was no way it would still be good at that point. Everyone agreed it was amazing. Had a wild and pungent aroma and super fruity taste. Cheers! — 11 years ago

Aaron liked this
Aaron Means

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That's awesome!

Turley

Hayne Vineyard Petite Syrah 1994

Chris Cottrell
9.5

In a really good place, no rush but if I had any left I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off — 12 years ago

Kristen, Vinny and 5 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2006

Pippali, bright black cherry, currant type fruit. Roast chestnut. Riper year it seems though no overripeness and totally fresh. A touch of fig maybe. Very well balanced with good acid. Seems to just be approaching secondary development. Awesome. Incense and secondary tobacco (stems?). — 12 years ago

Aran and John liked this
Garrett Pierce

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2006 Northern Rhone is for real
Phil Stice

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Do you know if he does malo in bbl or tank?
Rob Lateiner

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Almost certainly tank, which I believe is why we followed suit.

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2014

Drew Summers
9.1

Soft & Easy, as good Morgon should be — 10 years ago

Rachel Louie
with Rachel
Anthony liked this

Château Montrose

Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1975

Neck fill and cork tight and sweet sounding when you pull it. You almost can tell if a bottle will be good by how the cork comes out. Juicy still with dark cranberry notes, pure of fruit and melted tannins and acid backbone. Love it as not sure how these 75's would have aged. — 10 years ago

Eric liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Langhe Nebbiolo 2013

Pure classic light young Nebbiolo. Good now, bet it would be better/more 3* in a couple. — 11 years ago

Kyle liked this

Dunn Vineyards

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This is some seriously good Cabernet. Even though it is 10 years old, and eminently drinkable straight out of the bottle, it improves by at least an order of magnitude of you let it breathe for an hour or two. Highly recommended. — 11 years ago

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend

Morgan Harris
9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 11 years ago

Anthony, Hai and 22 others liked this

Château Potensac

Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Very nice pontensac - now past it's peak but still offering great nose and length. Not very tannic - very smooth. Has a nice earthy aroma! I would recommend decanting this wine for two hours. It would be a good idea to buy a case or two of the 2003/2009/2010 vintages! — 12 years ago