Prior Terrae

Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier

Clos de la Maréchale Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2019

Another excellent btl that was consistent with my prior notes — 6 days ago

Scott@Mister, Andrew and 7 others liked this

Penfolds

Grange South Australia Shiraz 1997

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 Grange pours a deep purple color with an opaque core moving towards a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: blackberries, raspberries, Fig Newtons, tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, coffee, some mint and other green herbs as well as 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 so long and there is remarkable density. I would say this is entering its early drinking window, but just barely. I find these wines need decades to shed their fat and really start to strut. Regardless, this is delicious now with a healthy decant and should drink well through 2057 without breaking a sweat. — 3 months ago

Juan, Jason and 21 others liked this

Bodega Catena Zapata

Fortuna Terrae Vino De Parcela Adrianna Vineyard Malbec 2013

Elegant nose - of cherry hint of tar and chocolate Rich mouthfeel and full bodied . Medium to long finish. — 7 months ago

David Stein
with David

Bodega Catena Zapata

Mundus Bacillus Terrae Vino de Parcela Adrianna Vineyard Malbec 2021

Wow! This is really appealing. First time tasted. I now understand it’s potential. Label a bit discutibile, personal taste..
Wine is really great.
— 7 months ago

Paul liked this

Prior de Pantón

Finca Cuarta Ribeira Sacra Mencía 2022

Nice! Never had mencia before. Lots of minerals and dark fruits — 2 months ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 1970

Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines… — 3 months ago

Ely, Jae and 28 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande it doesn’t happen very often for me…maybe once a year. But when it does, it’s an emotional thing
Somm David T

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Nice treat.

Marcel Lapierre

Morgon Gamay 2021

J Choi
9.4

Nice nose. Crunchy. Bright red fruit. Spice pepper on finish. Better than prior bottles. Slight funk. — 7 months ago

Aubert

UV-SL Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Ron R
9.5

See my prior notes. A beauty already. This should sail on for some time. — 8 months ago

Tom, Severn and 35 others liked this
jesus g

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Idk if the winery offers this, but I’d love to sit with their vineyard guys or winemakers and just dig deep! Like go over soil types and weather
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

nice Ron, ...

Château Léoville Poyferré

Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1996

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1996 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a lovely combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: cassis, brambles, horse blanket, cigar box, old leather, earth and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another lovely and immensely charming Poyferré. Drink now with a decant and through 2046. — 3 months ago

Daniel, Jeroen and 23 others liked this

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+. — 4 months 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.