Tom Garland

9.3

1 hour decant(little sediment). A striking deep dark magenta with bricking. On the nose: subtle seductive notes of dark red fruit, wet earth, eucalyptus, mushroom, toffee. Taste: silky, balanced, fresh, elegant wine with dark cherry, currants, leather, minerals, herbs, mint, and a earthy raspberry espresso long lingering finish. YUM! — 2 days ago

with Brenda

Conrad Green

9.3

Lovely and bright and precise. Slate and great acidity. Quite ripe but vivacious. — 16 days ago

with Paul and Ara

Jody Scharf

9.8

fantastic and hard to believe still felt like it can sit. anyway balanced acids that hold with dark rich fruits... — 16 days ago

Ming L

9.2

2013 is a great Napa Cab vintage, so I’m somewhat surprised that there is only 57% Cab in the blend.

Still quite stern and massive, I got this wall of dark fruit, tannins and extract, with acidity underneath it, but not necessarily a lot of charm. The structure softens a bit after 2 hours, revealing more fruits, herbs, and savory complexity. I think this needs another 4-5 years. — 21 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured into red Solo cups; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated black currants, blackberries, black cherries, tobacco, Poblano pepper, cocoa, fine warm spices and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Quite delicious and a really lovely example of the 2006 vintage. Drink now through 2036. — a month ago

John Malcolm

9.0

Not quite as great as I was expecting. May be a bit past its prime. Tasted mostly plum and some dark berries. The finish was a bit weak. — a month ago

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Big but hides abv. Smooth, dark fruits, some herbs and spices, overall a ton of fruit and bitter cocoa. It honestly needs more time. So good with steak au poivre at meritage St. Paul. — 11 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2021 vintage. Decanted and passed, with high air, between two decanters four times. If it were Caymus, woulda used a blender and forgotten. Last tasted 8.5.26 (9.6) Older (60's, 70's and early 80's) vintages more fruit driven which is quite the surprise in the current Napa Cab climate. Arguably the best GDL Private Reserve this estate has ever made. That goes back six decades. Supple, velveteen entry without the temptations of appearing over-extended. Structured mid-palate. A seeker's wandering, yet undeniably substantial finish. Taste it and you tell me. — 17 days ago

Conrad Green

9.5

lovely and pure. Cool fruit. Balanced. Very good — 16 days ago

with Paul and Ara

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.6

Deep ruby-purple in appearance. A brooding nose of cassis, blackberry, and dark plums, followed up by crushed graphite, mint, cedar pencil, and a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is full-bodied and statuesque yet supple, held together by firm, heavy tannins (7.5/10) and lively acidity. Layers of ripe black fruits, mocha, and sage are mixed with roasted earth and savory oak spice. The finish is long, plush, and persistent, marked by seamless texture, crushed stone minerality, and a lingering floral lift. Drink till 2050. — 9 days ago

with India

Graham

9.4

Amazing. This is why you wait to drink these. — 23 days ago

Bonnie Chu

9.1

California eureka tasting. Single vineyard. V clean — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Diamond Creek Vineyards
Decades of Rarities event...........
1993, 2003, 2013 library vintages along with the newly released 2023 vintage. With winemaker Graham Wehmeier.

All from 3Liter:
1993 gravelly meadow
1993 red rock terrace
1993 volcanic hill
2003 gravelly  meadow
2003 red rock terrace
2003 volcanic hill
2013 gravelly meadow
2013 red rock terrace
2013 volcanic hill
2023 gravelly meadow
2023 red rock terrace
2023 volcanic hill

@Diamond Creek Vineyards,  Napa — a month ago

with Brenda

Patti Gamboni

9.2

Exactly what I want from Zin. Fruit with restraint and finesse. Not hot or jammy. — 9 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2001 vintage. Good fill. Opened with a Durand and decanted with tons of sed. Tasted 20 minutes and one hour after decanted. Light-medium body. Laser-like intensity. Fully showing secondary and tertiary flavors. Previously picked up 3 bottles based on two early 90's visits with this wine/producer. Super-distinctive then. Super-distinctive now. Not your normal Napa Cab. Spring Mountain Cab actually showing as mountain Cab vs the overt attempts in the 80's, 90's and 00's for Spring Mountain properties to fool everyone into thinking/replicate Napa Valley floor Cab. F that. This producer got it then and gets it now. Lean and mean. Chiseled and durty. Just picked up the last 3 bottles available at very reasonable price. Instructive as to the possibilities of Napa Cab at a far edge of the spectrum. 10.23.26. — 3 days ago

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+. — a month ago

Henry Fuseler

9.0

10/2026. Nice finish. Lingering dryness. Good fruit. — 16 days ago

John Malcolm

9.8

Delicious. Dark cherries, plums, cassis. Fabulous bouquet. Opened up after a few minutes in the decanter. I have wanted to try Marcassin for a long time. I was not disappointed. — a month ago

Kim Bonnet

9.5

2009. Opened beautifully — a month ago

Riccardo L.

9.2

This was the first wine i put on my delectable account like 12 years ago. Tastes just as good today. — 2 months ago