Ode Couple
A. Rafanelli
Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2006
I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and 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 and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+. — 6 months ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2005
The 2005 Palmer, picked from September 9 to October 10, remains deep in color. It has a lovely, intense bouquet with blackcurrant pastilles, raspberry, violet and juniper. It blossoms in the glass, gaining vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, structured and dense, strangely Pomerol-like in style, with touches of black pepper and truffle furnishing the finish. Robust and muscular, it lacks a bit of flair and precision (like many wines of this vintage). I would afford this another couple of years in the cellar. Tasted at the Palmer vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)
— a year ago
The Mascot
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Huge pedigree on this one, being from the younger vines of Harlan… not a true second label. Rich Oakville flavors. For the price point you can do better. Also could have improved with a couple more years in the bottle I think. — a month ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Insignia Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016
Blend of 84% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 3% Cab Franc sourced from estate-owned vineyards, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. Deep Ruby, dark fruits, spice, complex nose. On the palate flavors of rich berry fruits, spice and vanilla oak, well structured harmonious wine. Fine soft rich tannins, long finish ending with fruit, tobacco and sweet earthy tones. Tasting great, young and juicy, should easily last another couple of decades+ in the bottle. Wow! — 2 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Ode to Lulu California Rosé Blend 2021
Rose in October? Rose with ‘age’? Yes and yes, especially when it’s in the mid-70s in New York and it’s the ‘21 Bedrock Ode to Lulu. This wine gives you plenty of Bandol for the buck, based on old vine Mourvedre from premier vineyards. With another year in bottle, it was darker hued, subtler and perhaps even a bit sturdier than on initial release. A great wine for what feels like an endless summer. — 2 months ago
Château Lynch-Bages
Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001
Very nice but not quite at the same level as the one we had a couple years ago. Certainly extremely Bordeaux in terms of typicity. Paired with some La boite peppercorn blend crusted wagyu filets from Allen brothers. Definitely ready to go, opened with cork pop for 3.5 hours and decanted for 1. — 4 months ago
Olga Raffault
Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 2014
Worth a check in at 10 years. Always an outstanding nose. Needed hours of air and still pretty shy, fruit in particular is closed. Paired with NY strip tonight. Have half a case left of this vintage and will check in again in a couple years. — 10 months ago
Adam Gäfvert
I had the 2014 Latour a couple of years back. It was from a half bottle and I remember it was rather disappointing. But this wine has really come around. Or maybe it has been developing much better in a full size bottle. Today it’s graceful, with great posture and in perfect balance. A timeless beauty. I had a few 2014 (both left and right bank) lately and I find them very appealing right now. A unsung vintage that turned out pretty good imo. — a month ago