Writers Tears

Pestoni Family

Three Tears Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Ruby in color with medium plus intensity.

Fruity nose with lots of fruits, cedar and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.

Showing sweet cherries, currants, cedar, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco, chocolates, light earth, coffee, herbs, spices and black pepper.

Long finish with soft tannins and cherries.

This 7 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 5 years.

Delicious, complex and fruit forward. Nicely balanced and soft. Reminds me of a Left Bank Bordeaux.

This Single Vineyard is easy drinking and good by itself or with food. A great sipping wine.

I paired it with a Florentine steak.

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Aged in French oak barrels for 20 months. A very small production of 1,500 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$125.
— a month ago

Doug, Ted and 7 others liked this

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+. — 14 days ago

Shay, Lyle and 10 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2012

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and showed very well throughout. The 2012 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some browning towards the rim; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with secondary characteristics just starting to show themselves. Also, the solar nature of 2012 is showing through with loads of truffles and overripe and desiccated red and black fruits: tartufo bianco d’Alba, dried cherry, bruised raspberries, red roses, leather, Fig Newtons, dried herbs, and some dusty and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, drying and savory. I’ve been a vocal fan of the 2012 vintage of Produttori since release and this might be the best showing yet. This is my last 750mL. My remaining bottles are magnums and I’ll look forward to enjoying those over the next 10-15 years. No rush, but this is a fun time to drink these as the truffle character is starting to peak through. — 2 months ago

Juan, Vanessa and 14 others liked this

Eos Estate

Tears of Dew Late Harvest Moscato 2013

Nice viscosity
Sweetness
— 23 days ago

Domaine du Pegau

Cuvée Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2005

Opened and poured into a decanter about four hours prior to service. The 2005 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. One the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, cool spices, leather, licorice, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, tart and sapid. A wine of pedigree and yet, has a rusticity that gives a nod to its origin. Drink now through 2035+? — 8 days ago

Andrew, Raun and 12 others liked this

Produttori del Barbaresco

Langhe Nebbiolo 2022

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a couple of hours. The 2022 pours a garnet color with a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry compote, red flowers, and gravely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and just a touch hot. Not the most memorable Langhe Nebbiolo from Produttori in the last decade or so but it’s totally authentic and still a great value. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years. — a month ago

Brian, Scott@Mister and 8 others liked this

A. Rafanelli

Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2018 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe, tart black and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, tobacco, some bell pepper, herbs and rich 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 and rich but has some great zip thanks to the acid. Easily the most rounded of the three and, in true Rafanelli fashion, I don’t find the oak to be fully integrated at this point in its evolution. But it will. Better after 2028 through 2048+. — 2 months ago

Aaron, Juan and 6 others liked this

Château Roc de Cambes

Côtes de Bourg Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

Opened about 8 hours prior to service and Audouze’d. The 1989 pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim; medium viscosity and light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles, poblano pepper, smoked and candied pork belly, leather, mint, damp decomposing earth, gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and still pretty grippy. What’s wild is how relatively “modern” this wine comes across; especially considering the more humble Côtes de Bourg appellation. Drink now. — 9 days ago

Ira, Lyle and 8 others liked this

Domaine de Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils)

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1995

Opened about 8 hours prior to service and Audouze’d. The 1995 pours a pale garnet with a transparent core and a watery rim. There significant variation of the rim too. The viscosity is medium and there is no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of bright red cherries, anise, garrigue, cedar forest, leather, dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is quite light and thin…but healthy. The finish is medium. Very pretty; very Burgundian. This bottle belies its age. Drink now and through 2030. — 10 days ago

Jan, Peter and 6 others liked this

Pheasant's Tears

Kisi Kakheti 2019

Love it! Refreshing with a little funk. You can nearly taste the clay pots. — 2 months ago