Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1998 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black currants, mixed brambles, tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, some leather, dry organic earth and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is just exceptional, no other way to put it. While Rafanelli wines are fun when they are young, they become magical with some age. If you several, open one soon and enjoy where it’s currently at. If you have only one and you’re saving it for a special occasion, you’re in no hurry. This will drink well through 2040+. — 10 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — 4 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

I recently had a conversation with a few Joseph Phelps Ambassador’s at Pebble Beach Food & Wine in April. I said, I had every vintage of Insignia back to 2006 in storage. They said, “you should really drink up the 2006.” So, I coravined an 06 last weekend, a taste. I agreed then. But tonight not the case, it shows it still has a fair amount of life. Another 5-8 yrs and perhaps plus.

My Ribcap, a definition of Medium Rare Plus.

The nose reveals floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, softly layered baking spices, very underrated graphite, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola.

The palate shows well resolved, rounded, velvety M+ tannins. Nicely ripe fruits that are floral; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, poached strawberries, dark cherries and blue fruit notes. Melted dark chocolate, mocha, caramel river, softly layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanillin, warm caramel, dark Asian spices with palate burrowing heat, dry tobacco/ leather, cedar, grilled meats, very underrated graphite, sweet tarriness, black licorice, steeped tea, mid berry cola, red licorice, limestone powder, dry top soil, dry twig, red, dark candied to slightly withering florals w/ liquid violet cola, candied to withering; dark, red, blue florals wrapped in liquid violets, epic rainfall acidity, well balanced-structured-toned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on earth & heated spice.

95-96 peaking. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Reddish in color with medium intensity.

Fruity nose with cherries, fresh raspberries, light oak, spices, chocolates, earth, herbs and tobacco leaf.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with strawberries, raspberries, fresh cherries, light oak, chocolates, herbs, earth, light tobacco and black pepper.

Good length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This 3 year old Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley is starting to drink very nicely now.

Fruit forward and easy drinking, elegant and nicely balanced. Tangy and refreshing, complex and entertaining.

Will continue to age nicely in 5 years.

I gave it a light chill and had it all by itself.

100% Pinot Noir grapes were aged in (35% new) French Oak barrels for 9 months.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$45. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2023 pours a deep ruby/garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with heady notes of tart cherry, mixed brambles, spearmint, red and purple flowers, old school permanent marker, licorice, tomato, green herbs, clove and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the body is, ooof…very nice. Another delicious vintage of Cuvée Réservée. Drink now through 2043. — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Lynch-Bages 2023 – Pauillac, Grand Cru Classé, BDX, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A powerful, structurally driven Pauillac showing serious depth and long-term ambition, built on a 71% Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant blend with 22% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot support. The wine carries muscular architecture, dark fruit density, and firm tannic authority, currently showing some youthful rough edges but clearly positioned for future greatness with proper cellaring.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, cassis liqueur, blackberry skin, graphite, cedar plank, crushed gravel, tobacco leaf, dark cocoa and subtle savory spice.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied with firm, youthful tannins, strong mid-palate grip, vibrant supporting acidity, dense core concentration, and a long, structured finish that signals serious aging capacity.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, grilled lamb chops, beef short ribs, rosemary-crusted venison, aged hard cheeses, slow-braised meats.

Verdict
A high-potential Pauillac still in its formative phase. The structure, depth, and terroir signature are undeniable, but integration will require time. A climber rather than a polished performer today, patience will be rewarded handsomely.

🍷 Personal Pick
This feels like a future star in development, powerful, slightly raw, but absolutely loaded with upside. Not a wine for instant gratification, but one that will evolve into something truly special with time. I’d happily cellar this and revisit around 2029 when the polish finally matches the horsepower. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2012 Terrace Select pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of black currants, blackberries, tobacco, Poblano pepper, mixed flowers, dried herbs, fine warm spices and dry, gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is divine. At the very early stages of its window, this is already exceptional. Wonderfully complex and delineated. Drink now through 2047. — 18 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2022 Merlot pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fantastic notes of black plum, black cherry, cocoa, purple flowers, leaf tobacco, green chilis, dry earth and fine 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 with lovely texture. This is a phenomenal vintage of Merlot despite the challenges. Drink now through 2048. — 2 months ago

Donald Williams

9.4

Mother clone is always a treat. — 2 months ago

with Bonnie

Mo

9.2

A superb Zinfandel blend that tastes great now and possesses the requisite structure to age. Ridge sets the standard in American winemaking. Their corpus of high quality wines is unmatched in America and challenges the entire industry worldwide. — 3 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

2017 Ravine White Springs Vineyard Dry Riesling (Finger Lakes). Nine years old and still seems youthful. Great nose of zesty Granny Smith and slightly unripe Cortland apples and lots of high-toned stony minerality. Palate is concentrated and intense, lots of crisp acid to balance the deep fruit and intense stones. Lipsmackingly delicious. 9.3 (This is a re-post because @Delectable Wine deep-sixed the original) — 4 months ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.2

Just now getting a tiny bit tired. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have written a few times regarding my tale of Caymus & Caymus Classic. Their vintages post 2011 and their vintages pre 2011.

I have at event tastings that Caymus was pouring, encouraged their staff to talk with Chuck to make both Caymus & Caymus Classic. Recently, I emailed them to pass on my thoughts to Chuck asking him to make both. If you liked Caymus the way it was, I encourage you to do the same. There is a dwelling amount of older, well preserved Caymus Classic vintages. info@wagnerfamilyofwine.com should you be so inclined.

Their post 2011 Caymus Cabernets are picked at higher brix and syrupy sweet. I get why Chuck changed. Many like sweeter Cabernets that drink easy young. That is not my wheelhouse.

In my intermediate wine days, I aged and enjoyed many pre 2012 vintages. This perfect bottle bought on the secondary market at around $70 is extremely well stored. The cork when I cut the foil looked slightly depressed, when I pulled it with an Ah-so was next to new.

I enjoyed this with a Ribcap, not the best wine for that steak but, ok. This 07 is more filet or NY Strip.

The nose shows; a very dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush-blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, mellow dark spices, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry tobacco, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender.

This bottle now nearly 18 years in bottle has not faded. It is at its precipice and will hold a few yrs. 2007 a grand Napa vintage. Decanted a little over an hour and enjoyed over the next 90-120 minutes. With this experience, another hour in the decanter is even better.

M-M+ velvety, rounded, tannins. The palate is round, ripe, lush, ruby fruits of; dark core of sweet currants. Ripe-lush; blackberries, black cherries, the blackest of plum to pudding, stewed plum, black raspberries, poached/slightly baked strawberries, circling raspberries with notes of liqueur overtones, anise to black licorice, woven baking spices-cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, black licorice, dark berry cola, distinct dark, Caynus Classic spices w/ palate heat, herbaceous notes, sweet tarriness & dark earth, dry crush limestone/rock, moist, grey volcanic clays, dry top soil, dry river stone, charcoal, notes of menthol, dry tobacco, leather, dry oak barrel shavings, some sweet graphite, steeped black tea & withering/candied, dark, red flowers framed in liquid violets/lavender, perfect, round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted-toned-structured, elegantly/smartly polished finish that goes on and on and long sets on beautiful earth & spice.

94+ This experience is becoming rarer & rarer. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Checking in on the 2018 vintage. My notes from February 2024 still apply. If anything, this is more squarely in the window of where I like Rafanelli Zinfandel. Really delicious and I suspect it will remain that way for many years. Tons of sediment. Drink now through 2043+. — 19 days ago

Louis Martin

9.3

Excellent dry Riesling, vibrant apricot and orchard fruit accents and a silky, mineral-driven mouthfeel that paired well with an oily salmon dish at Hope Club American Wine dinner. — 12 days ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

My first of nine bottles. Good first look. 13 such an excellent & big vintage. This is still midway to the top of the bell curve. 15-20 yrs plus depending on storage & taste.

The 2013 fruit clusters had small berries that were nicely ripened by the season, which meant more skins vs berry that gave it tannins, structure & depth.

Epic vintage.

The nose reveals; a lift of sage & rosemary. Black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to pudding, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, grey volcanics, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers.

The palate is round, lush & thick. M+ dry, velvety tannins that penetrate deeply w/ teeth. Black raspberries, black plum, dark cherry liqueur, anise core to black licorice, sage, soft rosemary, dark chocolate to black plum pudding, caramel, dark spices w/ heat, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, vanillin, mixed cola, steeped tea, some black pepper, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry twig, moist clay, grey volcanics, leather, graphite, moist tobacco, oak barrel shavings, withering to dry; dark, red, purple flowers, round, rainfall acidity with a rich/lush, nearly balanced, still strongly toned/structured, elegant finish with length & teeth that lasts minutes and lands on spice & earthiness.

It is still a baby. Plenty of life ahead. It has much more to offer. 15-20 yrs depending on storage and age taste. Add 1-2 points in 10 yrs. — a month ago

C Burwell

9.4

fruit party. Argentina beats Cape Verde in a nail biter — 3 months ago

Tim O’Brien

9.3

Really good cab sav someone gave us for engagement, not bitter at all but still rich (in a good way) — 3 months ago

Angelo Casagrande

9.1

Deep purple hue. Mouthfilling plum, blackberry and raspberry, with some spice/ pepper in there. Not a fruit bomb. There’s nuance here. Had this with grilled porterhouse. Excellent. Finishing it solo- equally good. — 3 months ago

Michael Wehner

9.0

Apparently not a Tuesday wine — 5 months ago

with Margaret