Prior Terrae

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black and red currants, black and red, bramble fruit, tobacco, leather, cocoa, earth, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Despite the character and quality, I didn’t find this to be a powerhouse rather, this was quietly confident. The finish is long, lovely…very demure. Looking great at 18 years young and there’s a lot of life left. If this is any indication of longevity, the 2006 “Terrace Select” might live forever. Drink now with a decant for air and sediment and enjoy through 2036 easy. — a month ago

Ming, Douglas and 12 others liked this
David T

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I still liked the 06, but it was my least favorite vintage. I’ve had from them now from 2006-13. Had I posted it, I would have given it a 93 as well.
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Oh! the rusticity of Rafanelli Cabbage...

Château Cos d'Estournel

Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 1995

Opened around 8pm the evening prior, double decanted and left in room temperature until service on Friday evening. In total, this was opened 24hours before service. The 1995 pours a beautiful garnet with transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate stating of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with surprisingly boozy dark fruit. Brambles, cassis, bell pepper, licorice, spearmint and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with great acidity. Overall, remarkably youthful. While it’s certainly ready to go, it will likely continue some positive evolution over the next couple of decades. Drink now with a long decant through 2045. — 5 months ago

Jan, Douglas and 15 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Amazing vintage for Jamet that you can drink now but will continue to develop for many years. Consistent with my many prior notes showing lots of dark cherry, raspberry, meat, blood, olive, pepper, spice & crushed violets — 6 months ago

Ira, Jan and 6 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. — 2 months ago

David Stein
with David

Aubert

UV-SL Vineyard Chardonnay 2018

Ron R
9.5

See my prior notes. A beauty already. This should sail on for some time. — 4 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

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nice Ron, ...

François Mikulski

Charmes Meursault 1er Cru Chardonnay 2017

Great producer of Meursault. Consistent with my many prior notes — 6 months ago

Jan, Aravind and 8 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010

Such is the way of life at López de Heredia, the 2010 Reserva was only released to the market last year, while most bodegas are currently extolling the virtues of their 2019s. Well, as a fan of Viña Tondonia, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the 2010, fabled year that it is, having enjoyed many a superb wine from other producers in this vintage.

Decanted for four hours, this wine is effusive from the glass, with a strikingly darker, richer aromatic profile compared to vintages such as 2007 and 2001, and more in line with 2008 - but better still. The oak provides a generous chocolate- and vanilla-laced bouquet that also has blackcurrants, blueberries, cranberries and kirsch, and bouquet garni. The palate is, predictably, very austere at this primal stage, but again has a richer, more rounded mouthfeel to prior vintages that is simply wonderful. Needless to say, this is a benchmark wine for the region and will age rather well, and what a wine it will be in decades to come.
— a year ago

Bob, Peter and 8 others liked this

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. — 2 months ago

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.
— 3 months ago

Paul liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1981

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 4 months ago

Bob, Ira and 12 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Pontet Canet was underachieving big time in 81. The 82 was great (I bought futures!). And after that it was a gradual climb back to the high quality level that had been lacking in the 70s.
Jay Kline

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@Tom Casagrande ‘81 was tough but they are still alive to tell the story. Agree that they have been on the ascendency since then.