Jurassic Terrace

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

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+. — a month ago

Tom, Douglas and 12 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Douglas Braun worth seeking out. I think their Cabernet’s are as good as any in California.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Go back with the Rafanelli Cabs to the 1988 vintage. Always workmanlike, solid and with plenty of rusticity/authenticity. Have consistently placed them at the top of Sonoma Cabs. Only producer from Sonoma I found that topped them consistently was the old Laurel Glen Sonoma Mountain Cabs with Patrick Campbell at the helm...and his Cabs were a definite ringer in CA Cab tastings. Sadly, that property doesn't seem to fire in the same way in my semi-frequent tasting visits. Rafanelli Cabs are a welcome change from the flightiness of the Napa brethren. Have zero experience with the reserve/select offerings as they are rarely seen in these parts.
Jay Kline

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@Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego those Rafanelli’s from the 80’s are still holding strong too. In fact, the 1988 was awesome this past spring when I presented it as part of a vertical spanning three decades of their Cabernet.

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Three Vineyard Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Delectable Wine
9.7

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Three Vineyard Blend is an experimental wine that was bottled a few times in Diamond Creek's history, but never officially commercially released. The 2013, a blend of 70% Volcanic Hill, 25% Red Rock Terrace, and 5% Gravelly Meadow is superb. What a wine. Rich, powerful and savory, the 2013 is just starting to enter the place where it is approachable, in relative terms of course. There is still plenty of hillside tannin, and yet there is so much about the 2013 that is alluring. The aromatic breadth, the intensity of the fruit and the wine's persistence are all so compelling. Wow. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 4 years ago

Beaux Frères

The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir 2021

Delicate, fresh, nice minerals. Beautiful. — 5 months ago

jesus, Pinotman and 1 other liked this

Rhys Vineyards

Swan Terrace Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir 2008

2nd place. Brownies in the oven nose, silky texture, some ink press and sous bouis. Very nice. — 7 months ago

Shay, Steve and 7 others liked this

Scherrer Winery

Scherrer Vineyard Shale Terrace Zinfandel

Delicious fruity zin that’s holding up beautifully. A bit of oxidation although no pronounced off aroma or palette. Remarkable how this rich ripe wine has consistently delivered fruit and supple tannins after 10+ years. Tribute to Mr. Scherrer. — 2 years ago

Diamond Creek Vineyards

Red Rock Terrace Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1984

Red cherries, currants, tobacco
Juicy despite its age but still silky and smooth. I’ll be thinking about this magnum for a very long time. A Napa Cab that tastes like a Burgundy after time. Simply perfect!
— 7 months ago

A. Rafanelli

Terrace Select Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

David T
9.5

2 1/2 hour decant and still shows semi-resolved, round, meaty tannins. I can only imagine how big this wine was at release.

Silly, silly. Dark chocolate cooking bar, smooth expresso, sweet tarriness, anise-black licorice, mocha, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, dark, resolved spice, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum & very, dark cherries. Fresh & candied, lavender, violets round acidity, balance, nice tension, structure, well knitted and really well polished lush, finish that lasts 90 seconds.

Yes, there are Sonoma Cabernet producers that stand right in there w/ Napa. This is certainly one.
— 9 months ago

Andrew, Shay and 21 others liked this
Jay Kline

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🙌🏽 ❤️ 🫦
Tom Casagrande

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💥💥💥

Habit Wine Company

Jurassic Park Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2018

Very good. Would definitely get again. — 3 years ago

Viña Nora

Rías Baixas Albariño 2019

Facing a natural terrace above the river Miño, located in the town of As Neves, within the wine region of Condado do Tea, bordering Portugal. Pale yellow with pronounced fruit and floral aromas. On the palate white flesh fruit flavors, citrus and herb notes with lively acidity and nice balance of minerality. Crisp on the finish ending with lemon zest notes. Nice! — 4 years ago

Daniel P., Romain and 3 others liked this