Jay Kline

9.4

Poured into a decanter about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a lovely mix of dark and red fruits, cassis, black and red brambles, tobacco, eucalyptus, leather, cedar box, green herbs, some cocoa, and beautiful baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The texture is silky, in fact, down right sexy. Brilliantly balanced. This is a profoundly sensual wine and one of the best young Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignons I’ve had in many years. These will age for a very long time and I can only imagine how epic the 2021 Terrace Select is going to be. Drink now with an extended decant and through 2051+. — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured. This bottle was consumed over three days and fairly consistent throughout. The 2021 RTW “Lodi” pours a ruby color with a transparent core, moving towards fuchsia/magenta on the edge and a slightly watery rim. No signs of particles. Medium viscosity with very light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is of moderate intensity with a mix of black and red fruits: predominantly blackberries and strawberries that are mostly bruised with some red and purple flowers, fresh basil and sort of crushed gravel and sand aggregate mix. On the palate the wine is dry with medium- tannin and medium+ acid. Alcohol is medium and the finish is medium. Overall impression: this is a wine of freshness and balance and a tremendously versatile red wine for food. 25 barrels produced from a blend of 3 varieties from 3 vineyards in 3 equal parts. Cinsault from the Bechthold Vineyard (planted in 1886), Carignane from Spenker Ranch (planted in 1900) and Zinfandel from Kirschenmann Vineyard (planted in 1915 & Teagan’s home ranch in Victor). — 2 years ago

Brent Young

9.2

Pure Joy
The nose is florality with some stony minerality and herbs
The palate starts with honeysuckle nectar and white flowers. The fruit is the usual riesling mix of apples and pears that veer toward peach and stone fruits on the sweet and lengthy finish

That’s the story of this kabinett riesling but also of the 2019 German riesling vintage overall. So much deliciousness from start to finish. Midpalates are plump with precise flavors. Properly ripe fruit with enough florality and balancing acidity to make them tasty & elegant. It’s hard to find a complaint — 4 years ago

Bruce Leboff

9.3

Cigar ox nose with a mix of leather a touch of Pierre a fusille. Drinking well for a dark, cold winter night smith with lists of backbone to this wine. Years left but expect it will evolve well in the glass — 5 years ago

with David and Danielle

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The 2015 Harbison Estate ‘The Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a simply magical wine at this young stage in its development. The aromatics of the wine are quite powerful immediately, as the wine showcases mocha, tar and exotic spices with creme de cassis and shades of black tea all entering the fray. Dense and plush, with a chewy mouthfeel and wondrous texture, this silky wine is not only rich but shows great freshness and finesse. Intense creme de cassis, espresso bean, dusty terroir, creosote with minerals all impress on this gratifying palate. An absolute delight to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine will provide drinking enjoyment for decades. Drink 2020-2045- 97 — 6 years ago

Vin d’Ottawa

9.1

Something around a mix of blueberry and raspberry but jammy & with some black pepper. — a year ago

with Gillian

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Leoville Barton is one of my favorite St. Julien producers and still one of the best values upon release of Left Bank Bordeaux’s. If my memory is correct, I think this was WS’s wine of the year a few years ago.

I haven’t had this since the release at UGC. It was so fresh then. It has definitely put on weight and showing some nice evolution. But, Anthony made his wines for the ages. This will rise 2-3 points with 20 years bottle age.

It is round and lush. Blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, purple fruits, blueberries, some creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Anise, light graphite, tobacco ash, leather, dark, rich earth with dry leaves, dry river stone, limestone marl, dark spice, dry herbaceous notes, hints of black olive, black licorice, dry stems, mix of dry & candied dark flowers, very nice round acidity and a well; balanced, structured, tensioned and polished finish that last minutes.

Would open this in 2032 and beyond. — a year ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.6

Ruby core , slight lightening at the rim. Mix of red and dark fruits , really exuberant and enticing , but also a mineral and earthy undertow. Very suave and persistent on the palate , red and dark fruits , rounded and velvety though with lovely mineral complexity . Refreshing acidity , ripe polished tannins, very long mineral tinged finish. Surprisingly enjoyable now though will be even better in 5-10 years and continue on for a further 20. — 2 years ago

Kevin Dale

9.1

Interesting wine. Almost a raspberry jam flavor without being sugary. — 3 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Tawny color, mostly opaque. Herbal nose. In contrast to the Roty red burg which is rich and silky, this is more angular and herbal – pairing well with food. Notes of red briary fruit, herbs de provence, dusty earth and some tobacco leaf. Great balance in the mouth with a great mix of fruit, acidity, structure and softened tannin. In a good spot right now. — 4 years ago

Alan Hyde

9.2

A spectacular mix of berries. Dark purple, great smells. I might give Palermo a slight edge. — 5 years ago

Brendan Devine

9.1

Raspberries. — 6 years ago

with Kevin

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.0

I was not impressed but that’s because of being partial to Oregon Pinot. — 7 years ago

with Amit and Joe

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

2nd Ribcap wine. Delicious!

2006 followed the grand 2005 vintage. It was overpriced based on 2005 & critically reviewed as a difficult vintage. I can tell you 06 was overpriced, but still a good to very good vintage depending on the region & producer.

The fruits are classic Bordeaux…nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, very dark cherries, black plum, plum, mix of strawberries & red cherries. Wet, volcanic clay, lead pencil for days, slightly, dry tobacco, dark spices, mix of mostly dry & fresh herbs, clove, nutmeg, some cinnamon & vanillin, volcanic ash, used leather, sandalwood to cedar, forest floor w/ dry leaves, dry river stone, steeped, dark fruit tea, withering, slightly candied; dark, red florals with hints of violets, round, fresh, river stream acidy, a plush, round, elegant, nicely; tensioned, structured, balanced and elegant polished finish that last 90 seconds. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 2 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Likely not an ideal bottle with what I felt was excessive volatile acidity. Nevertheless, the red fruits and spices were still clear, and the velvety texture was quite delightful. Finished with bright acidity and an acetic-mineral mix. Probably a showstopper if pristine. — 3 years ago

Rob Iracane

9.0

Surprisingly refined and restrained expression of Pinot noir. Paired with polenta and chicken not too overly seasoned to hide the subtlety of the wine. — 4 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.0

Solid OR Pinot. Light and balanced. — 4 years ago

Randall Brater

9.0

Green pepper, graphite and tobacco on the nose. Spice, raspberry, pencil shavings and leather on the palate. A little on the high end of alcohol, but it burned off a bit on the second day. — 5 years ago

Blue Dee

9.2

This is actually the regular wine, not the dry. It’s lovely!!! — 7 years ago