Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, 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 medium+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — 8 days ago

Adam Baker

9.1

Drank at VA with grilled chicken and mahi mahi, hummus, rice, and naan. Good pairing. Light oakiness, grass, very slight tang. I like it. Probably in moderation since I’m not generally a Napa chard fan. — 10 days ago

with Chris, Brud and 1 other

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite young looking lemon , just a hint of gold . very fine bubbles , that dissipate quiet quickly in a white wine glass . Lots of roasted nuts , toasted bread , caramel , and a oyster shell , caramelised lemon peel , saffron , lemongrass and a hint of curry . On the palate this has more of the caramel notes , with saffron , some lemon, mineral a quite tight , slightly astringent acidity and mineral finish. Not overly intense but quite good length , with mineral , oyster shell , toasty , brioche finish . This is fully mature and is at peak in magnum , drink now and over the next 5 -10 years . Disgorged March 2020 — 21 days ago

Luca D’Ambrosio

9.0

More tame fruiter notes than other American Zinfandels — 5 days ago

Billy L.

9.8

30th Anniversary Champagne 🍾 🥂@ Restaurant where I met my Wife 👍🏻👏🏻❤️
The Cristal was great!
Etiquette Question: What should the restaurant have done for compensation when our Server dropped my bottle on the floor; She dropped it like an “F1 Podium Scene”Cristal flying everywhere; after removing bottle foil, Cage & cork! Bottle bought upon release, cellared etc. Asking to be informed in case there is a next time! — 13 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

05 drinking superbly! Along with 2007, this is one of the best drinking vintages right now. (In this time period) — 6 hours ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite yellow gold colour , wide light lemon rim. Shows quite a lot of development . Quite toasty with roasted nuts , candied citrus peel , candle wax , ginger , saffron, curry powder, sea breeze. On the palate this is structured and quite full bodied with the nutty character , ginger and candied lemon rind , great intensity and grip , salty , balanced acidity and very long and balanced on the finish . Drinking well now but needs time to open , will probably continue at this high level for another 5-10 years and maybe even improve further — 21 days ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

A pristine bottle tonight, and I particularly love the vintage for the producer, as it captures the perfect balance of richness and focus. It’s exceptionally detailed, powerful and layered with lemon cream pie-white flower aromatics with a deep, creamy and mineral inflicted palate. In top shape, and may even outlast the surrounding 10/12 vintages which are almost always premoxed. — 6 hours ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

When 05 MDT is on it’s hard to beat. An absolutely pristine bottle tonight, in color barely having aged a day, still markedly youthful with captivating aromatics, a powerful, voluminous and waxy textured palate that comes with age, racy lemony acids and crystalline minerality. There’s such tremendous weight and density in this vintage yet it’s still chiseled and focused in its delivery. Just brilliant tonight. Thunder mountain ftw 🥳 — 13 days ago

Rob DeShane

9.3

2008: a very bright young feeling champagne at 17yrs of age. A resolute acidity carries the brioche and white fruits along! I am unapologetic about my fervor for Dom. — 10 days ago