Jerry Raphael

Jerry had this 6 days ago

Jerry Raphael

9.1

Very unusual Zin. There were hints of brambles and blackberries, but the real difference was the texture and taste—smooth as silk from the first sip straight through to the end of the finish. — a month ago

Jerry Raphael

8.8

Nice refreshing lager — 2 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.1

Very enjoyable wine. The nose shows abundant blackberry and other dark fruits layered with cedar, toast and subtle spice. On the palate, dark cherries and more black fruits mingle with hints of smoke and cedar. The finish is long and elegant. I have two more bottles of the 2017 and plan to enjoy them this winter. — 4 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.2

Very enjoyable, with a lot going on. Loaded with blackberry and dark fruits, along with violet, licorice, spice, and floral notes. A nice long finish to round it out. This was a 375 ml bottle and cost $16.99 back in the day—hard to argue with that value.
I still have some older Vintage Ports resting in the cellar and will get to them in due time—no rush. NYE dinner at Anthony’s in HH was a great way to cap it off. — 11 days ago

Jerry Raphael

8.9

Very nice NZ SB and a lot going on. Drank over 2 days. — a month ago

Jerry Raphael

8.8

Very nice light drinker with some berry notes all around — 4 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.5

Well, here we are two years later, back at the same BYOB for New Year’s Eve with the same wine. I figured 35 years was enough—it was time to drink it.
Same treatment as in 2024: opened and decanted, then poured about two hours later. This time the nose offered noticeably more—cedar, a touch of vegetal character, and dark berries. On the palate, dark berries again took the lead. The finish was good, but at the very end it seemed to stop just a bit short but still giving it a 95. At Anthony’s — 11 days ago

Jerry Raphael

9.5

I purchased this wine for $60 as a Bordeaux future offering from MacArthur’s in DC, with the hope of opening it when my younger son—born in 1982—was old enough to share it. We finally did just that this Thanksgiving, celebrating both him and the bottle.
The fill was mid-shoulder, but the family was together and it felt like the right moment. I gave it about an hour in the decanter before dinner. Early on it showed blackberries, a touch of veg, lead pencil, cedar notes and a smooth elegant finish. As the evening went on it opened a bit more, gaining some depth.
A few hours later I revisited the small amount I’d saved and found it had dried out some—but that was expected for a 43-year-old First Growth. Ultimately, it was a wonderful experience and a memorable way to share both the wine and the moment with family.
— a month ago

Jerry Raphael

8.9

About the same as my review in April. Got to get some more. — 4 months ago