11/25/2023 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Second bottle in as many months. No decant but did pour into glasses about 30 min before dinner. Drinking very well and I believe at or near peak. Very enjoyable wine and highly recommended.

7/3/2023 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Last bottle was about 3 years ago and at the time I rated it a 92. Opened another yesterday and gave it a 4 hr slow ox before serving. This wine was singing and is in a prime dinking window. Amazing bouquet and extra long finish. It will continue to evolve for some time but in my opinion no need to wait. Best vintage of Corison we have tasted so far. Definitely won’t wait 3 years for the next one. Enjoy!

3/28/2023 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

First bottle of this vintage. Decanted 1.5hrs then back into bottle for serving. Drank over 2 days. My impression is that the wine is in an early drinking window but has a few more years to go before reaching peak. Day 2 was better than day 1. Will wait a year before revisiting.

12/26/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Needs 3 hrs in the decanter before serving. After this it really shines and i was surprised by some of the other reviews. This was not a thin wine from my perspective.

10/22/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Had with dinner at a restaurant. Big fan of these wines and this vintage is drinking well right now even at a young age. Agree with the other reviewer who said the vintage is underrated. Amazing QPR at $39 and bought a case immediately when I got home from dinner.

10/8/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

As expected. Tasted against a 2005 pride reserve cabernet in an east vs west bake off selected by a friend who i gave free reign of the cellar to. Paired with 80 day prime dry aged ribeye and NY strip in an evening of comparisons. Always fun. Hands down this was the better wine although i would say the pride may have held it's own better a few years ago.

10/8/2022 - ABECellar wrote:

Excellent with BBQ ribs and chicken for at home tailgating on first day of NFL. 3rd bottle of this vintage and even in a bad year the Rafanelli family delivers. In a great dinking window right now and one of best values in napa/sonoma.

10/8/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 1 hour then slow oxed for 2 more. The wine tasted muted upon opening and also after the decant. This is consistent with the experience i had with the last bottle i opened in 2020. However, over dinner with food (braised chicken thighs with cumin and paprika), the wine did open nicely and demonstrated a ton of complexity and character consistent with other seavey vintages. It may be just my inexperienced palate but this seems to be in an odd phase or it is just better with food. I will wait another year to enjoy the next bottle. Highly recommended but doesn't drink as well on its own.

10/8/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Outstanding with great complexity and balance. Glad i have another and will hold for a few more years to see how it develops.

8/24/2022 - ABECellar wrote:

Flawed

3/5/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hr. Outstanding. Slightly floral nose with red fruit on the palette. This wine is definitely at its peak. Drink up!

2/12/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Needs 1-2 hrs in decanter to fully open. Once open it was really singing. Tasting notes consistent with other reviewers. Don’t think it needs any more time and is drinking close to peak.

1/8/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

2 hr decant then back into bottle. Drinking very well right now despite being young. Highly recommended and fantastic value.

1/2/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Great bottle. Splash decant to remove sediment and served with ribeye and crispy duck fat potatoes. It was outstanding 30 minutes in. Drink up.

1/2/2022 - ABECellar wrote:

PnP. Drinking at or close to peak. Signature cherry flavor on the palette and a medium+ finish. Enjoyed with cheese and pate as a New Year’s Day snack. Really love this producer and the pommard clones is one of our favorites.

1/2/2022 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Drinking very well now. Excellent with sushi. Glad I have more. Highly recommended.

11/28/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Needs a 1 hr decant. Do not recommend waiting any longer on these. Was very good when it opened up.

11/26/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hr then back into bottle for serving. Drank over 2 days. It was best on day 2 and drinking very well now. Suspect it will be at peak in next 1-2 years. Red fruit on the palette with medium long finish. Great with thanksgiving dinner. Will revisit next year.

11/6/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Very young and needs 2-3 hours in the decanter to open up. Shines with food. Will wait 2 years on the next one. Lots of potential here once it becomes more integrated.

10/26/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Drank over 3 days. Really great wine. Day 2 was the best and this one needs some time to open up. Do not agree with the CT dates and think this could go a few more years in the bottle before hitting peak.

10/23/2021 - ABECellar wrote:

Wow. Would not have thought these would be so good when I layed them down a few years ago “just to see” what would happen. I have a magnum left which I will be saving until 2025. The QPR on Faust is outstanding and like one of the other posters I scooped up a case of the 17s at $29/bottle. A steal but definitely not in the same league as the ‘15. Dark fruit and plush mouthfeel. Medium-long finish. Pleasure to drink now. Bottles like these make me question some of the other much higher price napa cabs I collect to which I would give similar 92 rating.

10/17/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours and it was absolutely fantastic. This is very drinkable now or you can lay it down for a few years and see how it does once the tannins soften. Really enjoyed this bottle and their merlot is worth seeking out.

10/17/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Had at neighborhood restaurant so not sure the storage conditions but would say this is at the end of its drinking window. Drink up!

10/16/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

2nd bottle in 18 months. No decant prior to drinking but did slow ox in bottle for 2hrs. In retrospect a 1hr decant would have been best. Amazing bouquet from minute it was opened. Red fruit, tart, long finish. Really great wine and drinking well now. I can see this evolving for a few more years and will wait until 2022 for my next bottle.

9/27/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

I can see why others rated this sub 90 but believe this just needs time. Decanted 2 hours then back into bottle for serving. Drank over 2 days next to a 2018 pride merlot. Day 1 was very muted but day 2 was wide open. This is a very good wine and QPR but not ready to drink yet. Alas I only had one bottle but would wait 2-3 years on this one or a very long decant.

8/9/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Very young. An open bottle of wine in our house seldom lasts 3 days but after an initial glass we wanted to see how this would evolve over time. Day 1 was tight, almost muted, and not enjoyable. Day 2 much better. By day 3 the wine was singing. This is going to be great but really needs time. Will revisit these in 5 years.

7/13/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

2 hr slow ox and drank over 3 hours. Agree with others that it still has years of life left but in an outstanding place right now. Paired with a dry aged NY strip for a very memorable meal.

3/22/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Outstanding. 1 hr in the decanter. Dark fruit and fully integrated tannins. At its peak and drinking very well now.

2/16/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Outstanding. Drink up. Recommend 1 hr decant. Drank over 3 hours. Dark fruit medium finish. Think this is ready. Not sure it would benefit from any more age.

2/7/2021 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

2 hr decant then back into bottle for serving. Served with slow cooked beef stew. Outstanding. Floral notes on the bouquet with red fruit on the palate. Medium long finish. Glad I waited on these. Definitely do not think too young as some others have suggested but would say this is just entering into the start of its drinking window and if you like more age on your wine then I would hold 2-3 more years.

10/29/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Was hesitant to open so young but after reading a few reviews decided to go for it. 2 hour decant and drank over 2 days. Day 1: Blueberry and sour cherry with medium length finish. Day 2: a bit faded from day 1 but still excellent. Was pleasantly surprised at how well it is drinking and would recommend opening one now if you have a few bottles in your cellar. Absolutely worth trying and one of the best vintages i've had of this wine.

10/11/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Have had several bottles of this while dining at a local restaurant. It’s generally a go to for us at this particular establishment. Consistently good and showing very well with a 1 hr decant. Recommend buying as much as you can and laying down for a few years (if you can find it). Bright red fruit. Medium finish. Excellent with food.

10/10/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Go for it now. 2 hr decant. I usually try to give these 10 years but this was so good. Highly recommend it now although it is structured for another 20 years of bottle age. You won’t be disappointed.

10/10/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Fantastic. 2 hour decant. Great wine at this price point.

10/10/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Infanticide! Decanted 4 hours. Good but destined for great. Tannins still strong but mellowing. Next bottle will be in two years and I would definitely not recommend drinking sooner.

UPDATE 7/3/2022: opened another last night and it was outstanding. Still needs a few years but definitely in its early drinking window. Enjoy one now if you have a few bottles in the cellar.

10/10/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Decanted for 2 hours and paired with short rib ragu on pappardelle. Outstanding. Will hold for a year before revisiting my next bottle but if you have a few on hand it is definitely worth opening one now to see how it is progressing.

Update 11/6/2021: revisited this last night. 2 hr decant and back into the bottle for serving. Been over a year since my last bottle and would say this is at/near peak and will likely stay there for a few years. Not sure there is merit to more aging at this point. Drink up! Previous score of 92 holds up.

10/10/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

I did not decant but would recommend it. In a great place now for sure and really started humming after an hour in the glass. You won’t be disappointed.

9/24/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Crazy how good their second bottling is and how well they age. Punching well above its price point. This producer is a staple in our collection and will continue to remain there because of bottles like this.

9/24/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Under $40???? Wow. Just wow. Decant for 2 hours or cellar for 5 more years.

9/24/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Open and you won’t be disappointed. Clearly many years left. 2014 was a great vintage and every producer’s wine seems to drink well early. Hope my remaining 2 bottles last but suspect they will have a short life.

9/24/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Last tasted 2 years ago on release and was very underwhelmed. Had 2 bottles between 2018 and early 2019 and still underwhelmed. Like other reviewers I agreed that it needed several years. Opened a bottle this past weekend and was blown away at the evolution. Great wine and I do believe there is something more. Give it 4 hours in the decanter and you won’t be disappointed. Good stuff.

Update: last bottle was 2.5 years ago. Opened one yesterday. Came out tight. 2 hours in decanter and it was singing. Stand by 94 rating. Drink up. This is ready to go.

7/22/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Glad i waited on these. Decanted 3 hours prior and would recommend at least 2-4 hours. Once it opened up it was outstanding. Drinking well now and will continue to get better. Another outstanding vintage from Corison.

7/18/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Great DCV zin from a passionate winemaker. Really enjoyed this vintage. Would hold these another year or two but great now.

3/1/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Excellent. Dry. Drinking well above its weight class. Highly recommend.

2/18/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

PnP, no decant, drank over 2 hours. Overall an excellent wine although a bit on the pricey side. Drinking well right now and no regrets opening. Highly recommended.

1/6/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Serviceable wine but agree it is not the best QPR. Would not buy again but enjoyed the bottles I had.

1/6/2020 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

A hidden gem from rafanelli produced in small quantities. Drinking well now. Wish I had more.

1/6/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Have had 3 bottles of this vintage so far and every one was better on day 2. 90 points now with potential for 91-92 in a few years. Great with food.

1/6/2020 - ABECellar wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours. Drinking well now but needs a few more years of bottle age to reach potential. Either way you won’t be disappointed if you open sooner rather than later. Another outstanding vintage from Corison.

10/27/2019 - ABECellar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours. Drinking very well now and will revisit again in a year. Think a bit of age will do this vintage well. Great QPR.