Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Ruby in color with medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose with lots of fruits, cedar and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing sweet cherries, currants, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, light earth, coffee, herbs, spices and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Delicious, complex and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft. Reminds me of a Left Bank Bordeaux.

This Single Vineyard is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine.

I paired it with a Florentine steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. A very small production of 1,500 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.0

As far as I’m concerned, these School House Mescolanzas are like, the anti-Napa Zinfandel. They are just so different from anything else out there. Until they get close to 10 years from vintage, they are backward; lean, green and mean. But if one has the patience, they eventually become quite charming. For this bottle, I did not follow my own advice.

Popped and poured, consumed over four days. On Day 1, this was completely coiled and the oak seemed a bit out of balance. I finished my glass and placed the cork back in the neck of the bottle. I checked in for a small taste on Day 2 and 3. By Day 4, it had opened enough to really enjoy. The 2016 School House “Mescolanza” Zinfandel Blend pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. There appears too be some very faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing. Expressive of dark bramble fruits, stone minerals, and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium(+). This has all of the trappings for very nice expression of this wine but it’s a little young to my taste. Best after 2025 and these will drink well through 2037…and possibly longer. — 2 years ago

DANIEL SMITH

9.5

A deep red yellow. Smells like fish by the sea. Juicy fresh flavor with texture. — 3 years ago

Rob Havana

8.9

Fabre meeting — 4 years ago

Adelia Shiffraw

9.0

Dry, tannic, smoky finish — 6 years ago

Eva Milcetic

9.3

Currants, castelvetranos, kale, dried mango wtf — 7 years ago

Wendi Hudson

9.0

Apricot and dried herbs on the nose and palate. Great texture and balanced acidity.
— 7 years ago

Karamo Nicoise

9.5

Rich darkness — 8 years ago

Elena Moroz

9.0

Kvevri, вяжет — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

The fruit from this vineyard was planted in 1886 by Joseph Spenker. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of fresh raspberries, lingonberries, Earl Grey, purple flowers, cool spices, and old wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and slightly spicy. This is one of the more elegant vintages of the Lodi Cinsault. Drink now with some air and through 2033. 13 barrels produced. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 1993 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated black fruit: cassis, blackberries, along with celery, tobacco, green bell pepper, forest floor, and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannins (integrated) and medium+ acid. The finish is medium and satisfying. This was a very nice showing for the 1993 and it’s clear that well-stored examples are drinking well right now and should continue to do so through 2031. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. It was very good on Day 2 but I think it was more interesting on Day 1 after about 90min of air. The 2015 Donjon pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, developing with notes of dark brambles fruits, some bruised strawberry, some garrigue, some stony minerals and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose with a touch of cracked black pepper there too. The finish is medium. To my palate, this has entered that awkward, quiet stage that some CdP’s enter between year 5-10. It’s trying to show some secondary character but it’s just not willing to use its voice. A lot of the ingredients are there though. Drink now with some patience and grace otherwise I wouldn’t try again until after 2025. FWIW, it was a lovely pairing with cassoulet. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Brought from my cellar to a friends house and paired with our dinner of burgers and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin. Popped and poured; consumed within about 90 minutes. The 2017 Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby color with a translucent, but near opaque core and only a small sign of sediment. Viscosity is medium+ and there is moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is intense: expressive of cassis, black and red bramble fruit, tobacco, green pepper, baking spices, espresso, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry and there is pretty significant structure, which I would place at medium+. The fruits and non-fruits are confirmed. Finish is long and comforting; like a warm blanket on a cool night. To my palate, the 2017 Cabernet is just entering its early drinking window. It's showing really well on the pop and pour with everything in deft balance. It's worth noting that this was consumed after enjoying a bottle of Christopher Tynan's "L'Enclume de Velours" and while that is a very nice wine in its own right, the Rafanelli really showed its pedigree. These should drink well over the next 10-15 years. — 3 years ago

jochen rueckert

9.0

Nice cheap orange not crazy — 5 years ago

Bob Dylan

9.1

smoky! no or minimal skin contact — 6 years ago

Monk Funkster

9.1

So much subtlety going on with this wine. Lots of flavors from great fruit and great minerality. Lots of complexity that is super fun to unpack. Definitely have the sensation of never being able to taste all of the flavors in this. — 7 years ago

aisforalan

9.0

delicious, but not for everyone. have an open mind and discover. some funkiness on the nose. earthy on the palette. super dark in color, you could dye clothes with it, but not too heavy, it’s really more a med-bodied wine. good tannins a little acid. some chalkiness. anise. dark fruit. buy again from fermented grapes. — 8 years ago

Jose Torres

10

Sweet and unique taste — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2022 pours a pale, slightly hazy ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe red fruit: raspberry, strawberry, maraschino cherry, watermelon, rose water and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This is impossibly easy to gulp down. Fresh, juicy and silky smooth. Drink now through 2032. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” 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 tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Woof. One smell of the 2020 Levet Côte Rôtie and you know it’s happening! The wine pours a deep ruby with a purple tinge and a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. No signs of sediment or gas. The nose: absolutely feral. Holy whole-cluster Batman! All of the rotundone your heart could desire. Funky dark bramble fruit, deli case, black pepper, blueberry crisp, lavender, dried green herbs, inorganic earth, and subtle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long with a generous streak of minerals. An awesome Levet that’s already showing off, in its relative youth. Drinking surprisingly well right now and I expect it will continue to do so, well through 2035. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.5

Not too woody like most extra añjeo tequilas that I have tried — 3 years ago

Konrad Ziegler

9.2

From Fermented wine shop in Canton. Chehamlem Mountains AVA — 4 years ago

Ben Norman

8.9

Good, weird — 6 years ago

Michael Everett

8.9

More Georgian! Dank — 7 years ago

Raffi Bloom

9.3

Def no sour grapes here. — 7 years ago

Pooneet K

8.9

Nice orange wine from Georgia. Gives the impression of sweetness without actually being sweet. Some real grip without tannins, sort of an interesting orange wine mouthfeel. Nice. — 8 years ago

jo wino

9.0

yup, this was a good choice with the ameribella. cheese from Indiana; who knew — 9 years ago

Matt FELDMANN

9.3

Very fine bubbles at first, fine acidity and structure, light not overly complex taste, hint of spring flowers. Very good aperitif wine. — 10 years ago