Tasted with: 2018 Biale , 2015 Bedrock and a Turley that was damaged so will remain nameless. The difference between Napa and Sonoma was fascinating made for a fun and delicious tasting Color:deep purple with a fuller body Nose: dark fruit, bell pepper that faded as the wine sat in the glass, light oak/ vanilla Palate: blackberry, stone fruit, initially with some nutmeg Lovely finish, wine got better and better with glass time Reminded me of the Ravenswood old vine zin of the 90’s
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Beautifully integrated - polish of oak, ripe fruits, lush mouthfeel, sueded tannins, long finish. This wine has always had a powerful elegance, but the power of the fruit and alcohol has settled in wonderfully. I can't imagine it getting better than now, though so far it has nary a sign of maturity.
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Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Grape Aid, berries, plums and cherries. Flavors of raspberries, berries and cherries. Medium to tart acidity, resolved tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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Different than past notes - black cherry, a little spice, oak and great acidity. Tasty! I always say that rafanelli is a cab lovers zin. As it ages it becomes more and more cab-like. This is 9 years and still going strong!
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Brambles, plums, anise, freshly oiled baseball glove, mushrooms, and black pepper on the nose. On the palate: brambles, dark cherries, espresso, tobacco. Medium acid...still a touch tannic. So enjoyable. A wine in a great place.
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PnP. Wonderful aromas and nice fruit components. Definitely mature now. Started out very pleasing but then went a bit flabby after a couple of hours open. Nice pizza wine.
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Smooth leathery (some cigar) notes on the nose, nice ripe blackberry flavors in the mid-palate. Excellent grippy tannins. This was a delicious wine with lamb! It seems that it age for many more years.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of smoke, Kirsch, black berries and soapstone. Flavors of plum, boysenberries and cherries. Medium acidity,medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold. I'd lean towards drink now.
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Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Super nose of black and red fruits, licorice and flowers. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Rich and jammy with a great core of sweet fruits. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, boysenberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is exceptional. Great Zinfandel from one of the top producers in Dry Creek Valley. Is it just me or does Rafanelli still manage to fly under the radar after all these years? The 2012 is Rafanelli at their very best. Drink over the next several years.
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Cloudy, garnet with slight rim browning. Fennel, cinnamon, black plum. Medium to low acids, medium to low tannins. Black pepper. Medium, slightly acidic finish. Acorn dinner.
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Color - Med to dark Garnet Nose - Raspberries, plum, cherries Palate - Good balance, raspberries, boysenberries, medium to big fruit, drink now or soon nearing its peak.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, boysenberry and black cherries. Flavors of black boysenberries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Last bottle of this gem, showed very similar to prior note, shame I didn’t hold a couple more years as imagine it will get silkier and integrate into balance even more. Just solid benchmark for DCV Zin quality which only a few others do year after year.
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Medium ruby purple Bright raspberry fruit Balanced acidity and enough fruit to balance the alcohol (14.7%) I feel like this is the quintessential American zin. Plenty of fruit and flavor but classy enough to avoid getting too heavy or tiresome Fabulous for this category
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Giant 'yum' from wife, dark cherry & bramble-berry fruits, dark chewy chocolate with spicy and licorice scents swirling about, balanced acidity, med-long finish, just smooth and ready to soak up the smiles as usual. Even better on Day 2, benefits from long air time.
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This bottle was different than others that I have had of this offering. Was pure sour cherry upon opening but opened up as the evening went on. Better with lunch the next day.
Color - Medium Garnet, a bit lighter than previous vintages. Nose - Alcohol up front with a lighter nose, Blackberries, Cherries, raspberries. Palate - Dark berries, Cherries, plum, balanced, mild tannins, lighter style than other vintages. Drink now or within a year.
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Drank back to back with same vintage Seghesio Rockpile Zinfandel. Everyone liked the Rafanelli better, even though the Rockpile is a great wine on its own merits. The Rafanelli had more structure, depth and longer finish. Just overall more complex and interesting. Drinking great now, popped and poured.
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Drank this with some homemade jalapeno cheesburgers with coffee glazed bacon and ranch dressing (so, some fancy burgers), and the flavors just exploded. One of those magical pairings that elevated both food and wine. This has for years been my favorite Zin, and favorite BBQ pairing, but this just took it to another level. This wine is very much in its prime. Drink up and enjoy!
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Sorry for my inconsistency, or maybe it is the wine. I enjoyed this bottle and had no problems with it like I did the prior bottles. Restrained and unfruity in a style I enjoy. I would let it breathe for a few hours hours or decant. Great the second day.
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Medium ruby color with nice clarity. Nose of brambly red berry fruit, some sweet spice notes, a bit of fresh mint and purple florals. Very pretty nose. Mostly pure red fruit flavors on the palate with some baking spice, holiday fruitcake type flavors and just a touch of oak in the background. Medium acid and tannin and body. Drank very light and elegant for a zin. Quite good.
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Popped and poured at a restaurant, featuring various pastas this week. We had opened a bottle last night, and thought it would go with the pastas, which were great. That may have influenced our perception of the wine, but it tasted even better tonight. Wonderful.
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Dark garnet, no hints of age yet. Wonderful expressive nose, fruit forward, but forest floor, tobacco and a hint of tar that I sometimes smell with Nebbiolo. Big, smooth palate, again fruit forward, but so much more: dark spices, some leather, some earth. Long finish. This was really good tonight.
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Deep purple hue, opened quickly. Lovely nose. Solid punch to it. Good spice and long finish. Balanced. One of the better zins I’ve had in a while. Will check out some other vintages.
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Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Scrumptious nose of red and black fruits, pepper, plums and earth. Medium to full bodied with juicy acidity. Nicely balanced. Black raspberries, blackberries and white pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. Super Zinfandel from one of the top producers in the Dry Creek Valley. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar.
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Dinner with 8 folks. Fantastic wine!! Totally killed it against the 2012 Dutcher Crossing Maple Bill's Block and the 2012 Seghesio Pagani. One taster thought it was a bit sweet but I didn't get that.
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Popped and poured at an Italian restaurant. Dark garnet, no signs of age. Fruity, peppery nose. Big wine, lots of fruit on the palate, but also plenty of structure. Needed some air to open up and come into balance, but once it did, it was quite good. Long finish. This seems to have a bit more depth than the 13, which we had earlier this summer.
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A dark garnet body; rim still purple. Zinfandel aromas of blackberry, raspberry, black pepper, spice, rose petal and vanillian oak. Similar aromas, along with some blueberry. Rich, intense and full bodied fruit. Good structure and balance. A very long and peppery finish. Drinking very well at this point, and has a couple years left. Good pairing with meat pizza. Too bad I did not buy more.
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Although not one of my favorite varietals, this is a very pleasant and well crafted Zin. Expressive nose of dark berry, cracked pepper, and briar. Smooth on the palate with more spiced blackberry and well integrated tannin. Ready for consumption now. Paired with Texas chile and maple infused cornbread.
We love this wine. We bought it at the winery 2 years ago and every time we grill up a steak we open a bottle. Soft on the palate. Dark fruits and spice. On of my favs.
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Taste and aroma of charred blackberries, complex and flavorful wine. Supple and long on entry, the wine highlights mostly forest aromas, wild grasses, and a nod to sweet blueberry. Just wish it did not finish with an uncomfortable glow in the throat -- comes off as simply too hot when drunk without food.
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I'm pretty sure that the Rafanellis make my favorite Zinfandel. Drinking with enough sunlight left to pierce through the black ruby core to see through to the weighty plushness looking really pretty for the last few sips. I just grilled a fat ribeye so am still smelling smoke along with some raspberry jam you wanna dive into and take a bath in. The nose offers anise, olives and peppers and everything else that makes you want to fake being Italian. Seems to be exceptionally food friendly with anything you could throw at it.
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Popped and poured. Medium to dark purple color. Nose of dark, ripe red fruit with traditional brambly fruit and black pepper notes and some toasty oak. Similar flavors on the palate with a ripe (but not over ripe) raspberry note with a bit of berry and red currant jam, baking spice and pepper. Medium to medium+ acid, medium+ tannins with a smooth mouthfeel and finish that does not show alcohol. Very well made, traditional Dry Creek Valley zin.
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Didn't "Like" it--Loved it. This bottle was exceptional. Color, fruit(s), taste and plenty of lingering effect. All good things; for all of the right reasons.
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It appeared dark and heavy; but tasted lighter and thinner. Great with the Crab Cake entree. This family never disappoints. They make 2 or 3 varietals, but do them right. Known on the street as "do what you can do; and leave the rest to someone else".
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This was opened for about 2 hours but not decanted . We started this bottle with an appetizer and really liked it, second glass started with dinner and again it was great with food. The end in our glasses without food isn't quite as good as it was with food and would have been scored a bit lower. There is rich dark fruit, some pepper and spice and a long finish.
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The color is purple with red violet towards the edge, very slight haze, and opaque. The smells are dark chocolate, raspberry, cherry, wet stone, and red licorice. The tastes are cherry, herbs, stone, red berries, and olive. The finish is fruity and the tannins are sour and dry. Nice lengthy finish.
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Inky red color. Nose is strong red fruits at first, but opened up a bit with bay leaf and a bit of spice. On the palate it was definitely rich with velvety tannin and great structure. A nice big wine but not jammy. I still should have held on for another 1-2 years to be in the sweet spot for my taste, but its a great wine. I'll try to be more patient with my 2013s.
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This is drinking quite well now, especially after being open for a couple hours. Big cherry flavors with a ton of spice and some hints of tobacco. Very rich, enjoyable.
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Fresh and appealing with zesty fruit and a throwback feel and style. The score is not an insult, as I like the style, but it's just a gut call on the very good, but not outstanding designation.
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Dark garnet. Potpourri of red berries, black fruit, spice and lavender. Rich and luscious but not clumsy. Excellent zin. The most enjoyable I have poured recently. This punches well above its price.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Keeps better already, and can't wait to hold the rest for a couple years from now. Got lots of cherry chocolate and wonderfully smooth. A group favorite at the end of the night.
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Deep purple color, red cherry and bright fruit aromas on the nose. Acidic flavor. Red cherry, cassis, bell pepper, black pepper and grapefruit on the palate.
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3/27/2024 - j5614.person@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent Zin tasting
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9/17/2023 - Mdog wrote: 91 Points
Tasted with: 2018 Biale , 2015 Bedrock and a Turley that was damaged so will remain nameless.
The difference between Napa and Sonoma was fascinating made for a fun and delicious tasting
Color:deep purple with a fuller body
Nose: dark fruit, bell pepper that faded as the wine sat in the glass, light oak/ vanilla
Palate: blackberry, stone fruit, initially with some nutmeg
Lovely finish, wine got better and better with glass time
Reminded me of the Ravenswood old vine zin of the 90’s
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1/26/2023 - Windacre in the Slope Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice juicy zin. Not too hot, but maybe a little too austere.
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11/10/2022 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully integrated - polish of oak, ripe fruits, lush mouthfeel, sueded tannins, long finish. This wine has always had a powerful elegance, but the power of the fruit and alcohol has settled in wonderfully. I can't imagine it getting better than now, though so far it has nary a sign of maturity.
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3/27/2022 - Moonlight Farms Likes this wine: 93 Points
All around solid wine. Perfectly aged zin. Wish I had more. For those that don’t age quality zin, give it a chance and you will be rewarded.
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7/27/2021 - Winokdub wrote: 90 Points
Nice and balanced but rapidly losing the Zinfandel vigor that I prefer.
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6/21/2021 - jemannix wrote:
Very delicious!
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5/31/2021 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of Grape Aid, berries, plums and cherries. Flavors of raspberries, berries and cherries. Medium to tart acidity, resolved tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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4/17/2021 - BGK810 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Different than past notes - black cherry, a little spice, oak and great acidity. Tasty! I always say that rafanelli is a cab lovers zin. As it ages it becomes more and more cab-like. This is 9 years and still going strong!
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11/26/2020 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
Brambles, plums, anise, freshly oiled baseball glove, mushrooms, and black pepper on the nose. On the palate: brambles, dark cherries, espresso, tobacco. Medium acid...still a touch tannic. So enjoyable. A wine in a great place.
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11/14/2020 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Still drinking nicely. With pizza again. Didn't last long.
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9/21/2020 - BGK810 wrote: 91 Points
Red fruit, spice, juicy acidity. Delicious.
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9/10/2020 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Wonderful aromas and nice fruit components. Definitely mature now. Started out very pleasing but then went a bit flabby after a couple of hours open. Nice pizza wine.
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7/28/2020 - Winokdub wrote: 90 Points
Nice overall but may be getting a bit tired. Probably better to drink sooner rather than later.
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4/30/2020 - LordValentine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth leathery (some cigar) notes on the nose, nice ripe blackberry flavors in the mid-palate. Excellent grippy tannins. This was a delicious wine with lamb! It seems that it age for many more years.
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4/3/2020 - Lion King Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drink now. Still drinking reasonably. Even better the 2nd day. Hint of vanilla on palette and nose.
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2/2/2020 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of smoke, Kirsch, black berries and soapstone. Flavors of plum, boysenberries and cherries. Medium acidity,medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold. I'd lean towards drink now.
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1/25/2020 - tomlee wrote: 95 Points
Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Super nose of black and red fruits, licorice and flowers. Medium body with mouth watering acidity. Rich and jammy with a great core of sweet fruits. Black cherry, raspberry liqueur, boysenberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is exceptional. Great Zinfandel from one of the top producers in Dry Creek Valley. Is it just me or does Rafanelli still manage to fly under the radar after all these years? The 2012 is Rafanelli at their very best. Drink over the next several years.
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12/24/2019 - BGK810 wrote: 92 Points
Red fruits, great acidity. Delicious.
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12/13/2019 - CJM wrote: 90 Points
Cloudy, garnet with slight rim browning. Fennel, cinnamon, black plum. Medium to low acids, medium to low tannins. Black pepper. Medium, slightly acidic finish. Acorn dinner.
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9/12/2019 - Jamul Wino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Color - Med to dark Garnet
Nose - Raspberries, plum, cherries
Palate - Good balance, raspberries, boysenberries, medium to big fruit, drink now or soon nearing its peak.
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9/2/2019 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, boysenberry and black cherries. Flavors of black boysenberries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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8/25/2019 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Give this 30 minutes to breath and this will reward you with a nicely balanced excellent all around zin. Not overdone but done right. Yum!
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8/17/2019 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last bottle of this gem, showed very similar to prior note, shame I didn’t hold a couple more years as imagine it will get silkier and integrate into balance even more. Just solid benchmark for DCV Zin quality which only a few others do year after year.
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5/16/2019 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Medium ruby purple
Bright raspberry fruit
Balanced acidity and enough fruit to balance the alcohol (14.7%)
I feel like this is the quintessential American zin.
Plenty of fruit and flavor but classy enough to avoid getting too heavy or tiresome
Fabulous for this category
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4/14/2019 - Laz4wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Giant 'yum' from wife, dark cherry & bramble-berry fruits, dark chewy chocolate with spicy and licorice scents swirling about, balanced acidity, med-long finish, just smooth and ready to soak up the smiles as usual. Even better on Day 2, benefits from long air time.
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1/20/2019 - Growler69 Likes this wine: 87 Points
This bottle was different than others that I have had of this offering. Was pure sour cherry upon opening but opened up as the evening went on. Better with lunch the next day.
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9/2/2018 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last of our 2012’s. Still drinking wonderfully. Same as my notes back in January.
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8/2/2018 - Jamul Wino Likes this wine: 89 Points
Color - Medium Garnet, a bit lighter than previous vintages.
Nose - Alcohol up front with a lighter nose, Blackberries, Cherries, raspberries.
Palate - Dark berries, Cherries, plum, balanced, mild tannins, lighter style than other vintages. Drink now or within a year.
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7/21/2018 - Mark Reinhold Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lovely silky texture. Perfect right now.
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7/17/2018 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still getting the oak, but felt it was almost integrated. Otherwise, I love the restrained ( for a Zin) style.
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7/13/2018 - csillabu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank back to back with same vintage Seghesio Rockpile Zinfandel. Everyone liked the Rafanelli better, even though the Rockpile is a great wine on its own merits. The Rafanelli had more structure, depth and longer finish. Just overall more complex and interesting. Drinking great now, popped and poured.
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7/13/2018 - gmbdds wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of zesty berry ranging from raspberry up to blackberry. Sleek, juicy and balanced. The better of the two bottles I've had.
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7/3/2018 - gparadise Likes this wine: 96 Points
Drank this with some homemade jalapeno cheesburgers with coffee glazed bacon and ranch dressing (so, some fancy burgers), and the flavors just exploded. One of those magical pairings that elevated both food and wine. This has for years been my favorite Zin, and favorite BBQ pairing, but this just took it to another level. This wine is very much in its prime. Drink up and enjoy!
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6/16/2018 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Not much nose. Tastes of cherry and red & darker berries. Smooth on the tongue.
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6/10/2018 - daveste Likes this wine: 93 Points
Peaking! Needs only a bit of air. Smooth body, fine aroma, soft tannin, balanced acid. Would keep a couple more years but superb now.
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6/5/2018 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Bright cranberry, raspberry fruit,
Nicely structured, avoiding any heavy, jammy flavors.
Dry, mouthwatering finish.
A classy zin
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5/19/2018 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Sorry for my inconsistency, or maybe it is the wine. I enjoyed this bottle and had no problems with it like I did the prior bottles. Restrained and unfruity in a style I enjoy. I would let it breathe for a few hours hours or decant. Great the second day.
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4/21/2018 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby color with nice clarity. Nose of brambly red berry fruit, some sweet spice notes, a bit of fresh mint and purple florals. Very pretty nose. Mostly pure red fruit flavors on the palate with some baking spice, holiday fruitcake type flavors and just a touch of oak in the background. Medium acid and tannin and body. Drank very light and elegant for a zin. Quite good.
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4/10/2018 - dlduchon wrote: 85 Points
Having a hard time with the hit of front end oak. Currently disjointed.
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3/24/2018 - phattyjrb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big flavor yet amazingly silky
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1/16/2018 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured at a restaurant, featuring various pastas this week. We had opened a bottle last night, and thought it would go with the pastas, which were great. That may have influenced our perception of the wine, but it tasted even better tonight. Wonderful.
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1/15/2018 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark garnet, no hints of age yet. Wonderful expressive nose, fruit forward, but forest floor, tobacco and a hint of tar that I sometimes smell with Nebbiolo. Big, smooth palate, again fruit forward, but so much more: dark spices, some leather, some earth. Long finish. This was really good tonight.
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12/23/2017 - youvebeenhearnedLLC Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep purple hue, opened quickly. Lovely nose. Solid punch to it. Good spice and long finish. Balanced. One of the better zins I’ve had in a while. Will check out some other vintages.
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12/19/2017 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Crimson in color. 14.7% ABV. Scrumptious nose of red and black fruits, pepper, plums and earth. Medium to full bodied with juicy acidity. Nicely balanced. Black raspberries, blackberries and white pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. Super Zinfandel from one of the top producers in the Dry Creek Valley. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
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12/14/2017 - Sonoma Duck Likes this wine: 92 Points
I buy this wine every year and really enjoy this vintage. Well balanced and drinking well right now.
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11/19/2017 - thesternowl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar.
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10/29/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice, balanced Zin. A hint of oak on the nose when opened. Decent acidity, not overripe, balanced. Lingering finish. Can withstand some spicy parings.
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10/15/2017 - daveste Likes this wine: 91 Points
Soft tannins, still nice fruit and enough acid. Fine with chicken in red wine sauce. Wish I had more of this year.
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9/2/2017 - raiderwes wrote: 93 Points
drinking well; fantastic
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8/23/2017 - Redteeth wrote:
The bottle was in good shape and the wine was very nice.
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8/14/2017 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner with 8 folks. Fantastic wine!! Totally killed it against the 2012 Dutcher Crossing Maple Bill's Block and the 2012 Seghesio Pagani. One taster thought it was a bit sweet but I didn't get that.
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7/26/2017 - kristamck Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really a wonderful wine. Aged very well. Sorry to say we have now drunk up the last of the 2014 in the cellar.
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7/25/2017 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
viable... just didn't seem special!
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7/20/2017 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured at an Italian restaurant. Dark garnet, no signs of age. Fruity, peppery nose. Big wine, lots of fruit on the palate, but also plenty of structure. Needed some air to open up and come into balance, but once it did, it was quite good. Long finish. This seems to have a bit more depth than the 13, which we had earlier this summer.
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6/19/2017 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good zin from a great producer
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6/4/2017 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
A dark garnet body; rim still purple. Zinfandel aromas of blackberry, raspberry, black pepper, spice, rose petal and vanillian oak. Similar aromas, along with some blueberry. Rich, intense and full bodied fruit. Good structure and balance.
A very long and peppery finish. Drinking very well at this point, and has a couple years left. Good pairing with meat pizza. Too bad I did not buy more.
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5/18/2017 - SaraAndMark wrote: 94 Points
By far one of our favorite Zins. Smooth, but full bodied across the palate.
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3/11/2017 - jpkelleher1 wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic showing. Not sure it gets much than this for Dry Creek zin
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2/20/2017 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 91 Points
Better the second day - always tough to follow a Turley
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2/8/2017 - drdan8 wrote: 90 Points
Although not one of my favorite varietals, this is a very pleasant and well crafted Zin. Expressive nose of dark berry, cracked pepper, and briar. Smooth on the palate with more spiced blackberry and well integrated tannin. Ready for consumption now. Paired with Texas chile and maple infused cornbread.
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1/27/2017 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
Solid zin. Tasting great now but I suspect it will benefit from more age. Lots of pepper and spice. Nice finish.
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11/13/2016 - kristamck wrote: 95 Points
We love this wine. We bought it at the winery 2 years ago and every time we grill up a steak we open a bottle. Soft on the palate. Dark fruits and spice. On of my favs.
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10/13/2016 - cpdwines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still a bit young
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8/21/2016 - Rktekt3 wrote: 90 Points
Very nice zinfandel.
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8/14/2016 - LinkEvans Likes this wine: 90 Points
This one is in a great place.
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8/10/2016 - swapdoc wrote:
Taste and aroma of charred blackberries, complex and flavorful wine. Supple and long on entry, the wine highlights mostly forest aromas, wild grasses, and a nod to sweet blueberry. Just wish it did not finish with an uncomfortable glow in the throat -- comes off as simply too hot when drunk without food.
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7/10/2016 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellence squared is the only description necessary.
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5/30/2016 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 98 Points
I'm pretty sure that the Rafanellis make my favorite Zinfandel. Drinking with enough sunlight left to pierce through the black ruby core to see through to the weighty plushness looking really pretty for the last few sips. I just grilled a fat ribeye so am still smelling smoke along with some raspberry jam you wanna dive into and take a bath in. The nose offers anise, olives and peppers and everything else that makes you want to fake being Italian. Seems to be exceptionally food friendly with anything you could throw at it.
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5/10/2016 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Medium to dark purple color. Nose of dark, ripe red fruit with traditional brambly fruit and black pepper notes and some toasty oak. Similar flavors on the palate with a ripe (but not over ripe) raspberry note with a bit of berry and red currant jam, baking spice and pepper. Medium to medium+ acid, medium+ tannins with a smooth mouthfeel and finish that does not show alcohol. Very well made, traditional Dry Creek Valley zin.
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5/1/2016 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 91 Points
Didn't "Like" it--Loved it.
This bottle was exceptional. Color, fruit(s), taste and plenty of lingering effect. All good things; for all of the right reasons.
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3/13/2016 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 91 Points
It appeared dark and heavy; but tasted lighter and thinner. Great with the Crab Cake entree. This family never disappoints. They make 2 or 3 varietals, but do them right. Known on the street as "do what you can do; and leave the rest to someone else".
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2/16/2016 - blabbott wrote: 90 Points
This was opened for about 2 hours but not decanted . We started this bottle with an appetizer and really liked it, second glass started with dinner and again it was great with food. The end in our glasses without food isn't quite as good as it was with food and would have been scored a bit lower. There is rich dark fruit, some pepper and spice and a long finish.
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1/9/2016 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 90 Points
I don't know if it is bottle variance or just maturity but this bottle was much better than the last
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12/18/2015 - redzins Likes this wine: 88 Points
Garnet color. Blackberry, menthol, and spice aromas. Blackberry and jam flavors meld to and med body and finish wine
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12/5/2015 - drinkinsailor Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank with Advisory Committee. Beautiful fruit and big but balanced. Seemed a little smoother than usual Raf.
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12/3/2015 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 92 Points
The color is purple with red violet towards the edge, very slight haze, and opaque. The smells are dark chocolate, raspberry, cherry, wet stone, and red licorice. The tastes are cherry, herbs, stone, red berries, and olive. The finish is fruity and the tannins are sour and dry. Nice lengthy finish.
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11/27/2015 - drinkinsailor Likes this wine: 92 Points
All you expect from Rafanelli Zin, with the rustic feel and bright flavor. I like but not love the vintage
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11/22/2015 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine:
EVERYTHING that you could ask for, or ever desire, was in this bottle.
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10/22/2015 - AndersonWoodinvilleWines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Hints of pepper, anise and crushed red pepper on the nose. Tannins are soft a touch of dried cherries and very balanced with a medium long finish.
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10/21/2015 - Kevdog Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice zin, good fruit and structure and balance
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9/30/2015 - ex-sommelier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Inky red color. Nose is strong red fruits at first, but opened up a bit with bay leaf and a bit of spice. On the palate it was definitely rich with velvety tannin and great structure. A nice big wine but not jammy.
I still should have held on for another 1-2 years to be in the sweet spot for my taste, but its a great wine. I'll try to be more patient with my 2013s.
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9/19/2015 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 90 Points
Say what you want--these people know how to make wine.
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8/31/2015 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 87 Points
Too vegetal for my taste
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8/18/2015 - Chateaux Baer wrote: 96 Points
Bold, fruity and wonderful! Soft and smooth texture.
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7/10/2015 - bbcc66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Soft & medium-bodied with tastes of fruits, cinnamon & spices. Not as big & bold as some CA Zins.
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6/21/2015 - oolah wrote:
This is drinking quite well now, especially after being open for a couple hours. Big cherry flavors with a ton of spice and some hints of tobacco. Very rich, enjoyable.
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5/25/2015 - gmbdds wrote: 89 Points
Fresh and appealing with zesty fruit and a throwback feel and style. The score is not an insult, as I like the style, but it's just a gut call on the very good, but not outstanding designation.
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3/19/2015 - cpdwines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Young. Not ready as it is a bit tight.
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2/6/2015 - Robwild wrote: 91 Points
Crimson color. Peppery. Subtle. Smooth finish. Tobacco, with some licorice.
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1/24/2015 - thesternowl Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. Too young to accurately assess but the pieces seem to be there and the future is bright.
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1/19/2015 - short and confused wrote: 93 Points
Dark garnet. Potpourri of red berries, black fruit, spice and lavender. Rich and luscious but not clumsy. Excellent zin. The most enjoyable I have poured recently. This punches well above its price.
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12/21/2014 - metldr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth and with a nice level of fruit.
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12/19/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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11/26/2014 - bowmanbc Likes this wine: 92 Points
just fantastic
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9/15/2014 - metldr wrote:
- Garnet color with fast forming legs - Very nice Zin. Rate 91
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8/27/2014 - oolah wrote:
Big huge cherry chocolate. Bit over-the-top for me. Will wait a year to drink the rest of my bottles. Love these about 2-3 years post-delivery.
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8/23/2014 - MMiazga Likes this wine: 93 Points
Keeps better already, and can't wait to hold the rest for a couple years from now. Got lots of cherry chocolate and wonderfully smooth. A group favorite at the end of the night.
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8/16/2014 - wirelesswine wrote:
Needed a lot of time to open up.....this is going to be nice stuff!!!
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8/14/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still with a bit of a tannic edge, these will only improve.
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7/20/2014 - CJM Likes this wine: 88 Points
Deep purple color, red cherry and bright fruit aromas on the nose. Acidic flavor. Red cherry, cassis, bell pepper, black pepper and grapefruit on the palate.
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6/30/2014 - BHP1994 wrote: 91 Points
Back on the Rafanelli list after a several year hiatus. Forgot just how enjoyable and delicious this Zin really is...
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6/30/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really good!
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6/14/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasty, but will get even better.
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5/19/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great DCV Zin.
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5/11/2014 - Robertjohnkane wrote: 91 Points
Very pleasant wine. Not as full bodied as previous vintages; but this one is still young. Will try again in another 6 months.
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4/19/2014 - metldr wrote:
- Ruby color with fast forming legs with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Excellent Zin
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4/18/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just what you'd expect from this producer in a great vintage.
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4/18/2014 - metldr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasting very well for a newly available wine. Nice smooth taste of traditional berries. May be best A Raf Zin in some years.
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