An explosion of aromas confirm that this wine is still amazingly youthful. Violets and hibiscus, ripe and jammy fruits - ripe red cherries, blackberries, jammy blueberries and raspberries. Also a potting soil earthiness. Blockbuster wine - the palate replays all the same fruit flavors and a dash of brightness from macerated raspberries, and a glycerine coating. Alcohol is high and totally in balance. Some coconut/macaroon, anise, and sweet mint. Tannins are still present, portending some more life to come. Everything comes together in harmony.
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P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which transitions into a LONG finish with a bitterswtness (40/60) to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins, While drinking SUPERBLY right now, this may not QUITE have peaked (?), & will EASILY go beyond its 15th! My EXCEPTIONAL-!
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over roughly an hour.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, boysenberry and cherry. Flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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Bright crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. Savory nose of red and black fruits, pepper and wet pavement. Medium body with juicy acidity. Perfect balance. Blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry and black pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. One of the few Zins I trust in my cellar to show well for up to 10 years. In a great spot right now. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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Wow, I remember drinking this at the vineyard when I bought it. In the years since, it's perfectly integrated tannins and alcohol into a beautiful wine. White pepper, bright red fruit, raspberry pie. Smooth tannins and drinking great. Pop those bottles!
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Typical Rafanelli Zin,great balance and lots of red and black fruits with a bit of white pepper. Not overbearing at all, not too much alcohol. Very enjoyable.
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PNp. Expected a bit more from an old favorite. Fruit not so evident but well balanced with moderate tannin and still good acid. Maybe needs air? Next day (kept in a half bottle): Wow, much better, fruit evident, nice bouquet, long finish. Decant an hour or two before drinking. Revised points up to 91.
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Still kicking. Not as insanely fruity and more reserved, but the structure holds up and some leather has appeared. Still plenty of cherry spicebox. Good, but drink soon.
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Purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Brambly red and blue fruits, pepper and lavender on the nose. Medium body to go with medium acidity. This Zinfandel glides across the palate with flavors of blueberry, raspberry and boysenberry. White pepper and baking spice are also present. Great precision and balance. There are dusty Dry Creek tannins on an exceptionally long finish. Probably best consumed over the next two years.
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Dark, brooding wine with some savory character, a little tartness, firm tannins, some earth, and dried herbs. Oak pretty well integrated, but still apparent and a touch heavy for my palate. Nice mouthfeel. Overall, very enjoyable, but I don't think fruit, acidity, tannins are all in harmony at this stage - perhaps another year or two will help bring it all together.
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Dinner with the Gilchoa's; 2/16/2014-2/18/2014 (My House): Although there was nothing wrong with this wine I just felt that it lacked showing it's grape varietal. This wine seemed very young and has plenty of time left in it. Maybe I caught it at a dumb phase? It was a clean and enjoyable wine with nice flavors coming through. A lot of sediment in our glasses. Only had one pour so not a lot on the notes of this one.
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Contrasts. This wine is sweet and rich with dark fruit but still balanced. Yes, there is still lots of oak in play but somehow it's not obtrusive. Nice.
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Very dark and brooding, especially for a zin. The nose was very inviting with blackberry cocoa dust. It had kind of an old world flavor with savory notes pushing the dark fruit. There was just the right amount of oak that didn't over power the fruit. The wine went great with my Bolognese Gnocchi
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Peppery and smooth at the same time. Last one. Might not have gotten any better, but was quite nice tonight. Paired with spicy grilled tuna, worked wonderfully.
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First one since visiting the winery 3 years back? Really? Great color in the glass 3hours in after a steak dinner w Noan. That dusty Raffy nose, and yes a bit of funk on opening. Medium weight, sweet and dry all at the same time, hardly a typical Cali Zin. Delicious factor in play, I think this feels more Merlot than Zin, rich, sweet but savory, went really well w steak, onions/peppers and caprise salad. Got some spicy Zin fruit now on the nose. This is very Old World approach, does not disappoint. Tannins, fruit acid all perfectly balanced. Drink now right into the glass or hold for a few more years.
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Had a bit of funk that had to blow off, but once it did, this opened up very nicely. Medium bodied, with subtle red/black berry fruit, spice, and a good tannin and acid structure. A very elegant and well-balanced Zin.
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Peak drinking.....great nose and body with a smooth and velvet mouthfeel....blackberry and a hint of spice on the nose and palate..with a lingering finish ...this is very good stuff
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Drinking very well right now. Perfectly balanced straight out of the bottle. On first sip I felt I could drink a gallon. Unusual subtle peach noes on the nose.
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This one opened up virtually identical to my tasting at the winery about 2 years ago - subtle and restrained with almost a watery texture. (Unlike at the winery, the initial aromas from this bottle showed a mild funk, which had me concerned.) I put my glass aside for 30 mins or so and what emerged was much more round and pleasing, though still on the light side for this varietal in arguably its most fitting AVA. Although pleasurable, it lacked the briar and brawn that I've come to expect from this, my favorite Zin producer. Most definitely far short of the Extraordinary examples that they produce in good vintages and so, the lowest score that I could ever imagine a Rafanelli Zin getting.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, berries, talc and plum. Flavors of berries, currants anc cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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Flashy, juicy, unctuous yet amazingly not over the top zin... was a bit cloying with food this time, not the balance I like more in my fave Italian/French wines, but still a nice wine.
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Well balanced. Full flavored. A. Rafanelli remains my favorite Zinfandel. Plum, some dark berries, a bit of pepper. Buy it if you can find it. The 2008 is ready for consumption.
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Tasted non blind with dinner. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet to perhaps purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, light pepper notes, currants and berries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and a hint of boysenberry. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3-5 years would be optimal in my opinion.
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This defines the very best of a challenging 2008 vintage for dry creek. The Rafanelli wines are always interesting for me, but it's old school and better than anyone else in the area vintage after vintage.
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Bold, blackberry and smoke aromas. Intense black cherry, cracked pepper and spice flavors, smooth tannins. Juicy. Great on it's own but would be super with a big juicy burger hot off the grill.
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Decanted for about an hour. Shazaam!! These cats know how to do Zinfandel. This stuff has all the proper traits of the varietal and the Dry Creek terroir...the fruit, the brambles, and oh my that wonderful black pepper...all packaged with such finesse. This is not a Zinfandel you want to spread over toast. This is the one you want to serve to anyone who says that "they don't like zinfandel" or still think it makes inferior wines to the noble grapes. This one was still on the young side but drinking very fine with an hour decant. Paired brilliantly with burgers. Get some.
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Day 1 red fruit as well as cassis nose. Juicy, some chocolate. Rich. no heat, and I was very pleased. On day 2 was surprisingly flat, nose was tight and went one dimensional (raspberry-ish). Hot, with a clipped finish. Can't explain this experience v. others except initial serving was cooler--maybe 62 deg. Rec'd the bottle last Oct., shipped from the winery and cellared.
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This is very young. Tight brambly fruit nose. Tart blackberry, plum, licorice, and earthy minerals on the palate. Nice acidity. Firm, yet round, tannins. Needs a couple years at least.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Medium garnet color. Dark fruit and nice spice in the nose. Very juicy in the mouth with dark briary fruit and white pepper notes. A light to medium weight wine - overpowered by food (shy of acid and a slightly short finish). Needs time.
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great at pull and pour - got smoother after being open 1 hour to 1.5 hours .I will decant next time if I can control my self and wait . yummy juice- allways a favorite even with the high alcohol.
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Really juicy for a Rafanelli, yet subdued and rustic all at once. Big fruit both on the noe and mouth -- ripe cassis, pomegranate -- lot's of mouthfeel and texture. Another great effort by A. Rafanelli.
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Inky dark and brilliant in color, a very rich and round red but a sleeker style than overly jazzy zins. Could also have been a rich merlot or something. So rich it's almost sweet/maple on the palate. Crowd pleaser.
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What an enjoyable example of Dry Creek zin. Big mouthful of red/purple fruit with spicy nose and finish. 14.8% alcohol listed on the bottle, but not hot or out of balance. Muscular wine without going over the top. Great.
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Rich dark magenta color. Fantastically fragrant nose, with lots and lots of fruit. Opens with cherries and red fruit, some pepper and closes with a heady mix of christmas spice (or maybe that's just the new tree?). Clove, cedar and spicebox. Really delicious wine.
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PnP'ed the first night. Very dark in the glass with long legs. Dark fruit with that zin spice apparent on the nose, but with more oak than you usually get with a Cali zin. Complex wine but wasn't quite wowing me the first night. The 2nd night, the wine opened up nicely. Brambly spice with some nice raspberry and a little plum. Medium finish. Overall a very nice wine with good balance. I believe a few years of bottle age will help this big zin.
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Hmmm. Not sure what the deal is, but I didn't love this like some of the previous bottles -- a little bit too much oak, lacks some depth, and finishes somewhat short. Bottle variation, my changing palate, dumb phase? Still pretty good, but not the knockout bottle I was hoping for.
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Beautiful garnet color. very nice spice and zin fruit on nose. Good structure with much potential. Fruit is great dark fruit with a spicy and zin bramble edge. On second day still had good structure and fruit, which bodes well for this vintage.
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Popped and poured a lovely drink sweet tannis, vanilla, white pepper, but not a classic Zin right from the bottle. A half hour in the glass and the brambliness I was looking for began to surface along with the bright red fruit. I love these with some age so I plan to wait a bit before opening another.
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This is such a fantastic summer wine, and one of the few Californias I really enjoy these days. This may be my favorite Rafanelli vintage of the last 3 years -- it's still young, but wow, it's just got great fruit without being over-the-top.
Smooth, with candied cherry, oak and spicebox and a bit of pepper. Big nose full of red fruit and cedar. Will age well, but just delicious and fresh now.
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Enjoyed this again with roast pork loin. Wonderful spice and fruit and very well balanced. This should age very nicely. It's a shame to be drinking these so young, but my Dad's 84 and he doesn't want to wait too long to enjoy these.
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Fragrant nose with berries, spice and florals which carried through to the palate. Smooth and silky mouthfeel with nice balancing acidity and a finish of fine tannins. Another great effort for this producer, fast becoming my favorite for Zin. Probably should be cellared for a while, though it's hard not to touch these. To me, this is the epitome of true California red wine. Love this stuff.
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10/30/2021 - Ellenkf Does not like this wine:
No longer alive
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5/19/2020 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 92 Points
An explosion of aromas confirm that this wine is still amazingly youthful. Violets and hibiscus, ripe and jammy fruits - ripe red cherries, blackberries, jammy blueberries and raspberries. Also a potting soil earthiness. Blockbuster wine - the palate replays all the same fruit flavors and a dash of brightness from macerated raspberries, and a glycerine coating. Alcohol is high and totally in balance. Some coconut/macaroon, anise, and sweet mint. Tannins are still present, portending some more life to come. Everything comes together in harmony.
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11/22/2018 - Theamaronefan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not as good as the 2007, but still a nice effort. Dark fruit, hint of vanilla and some spice. Paired well with turkey.
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11/7/2018 - huberww wrote:
P'nP - This was a fantastic zin. Solid fruit with some nice spiciness. Quintessential Dry Creek zin? Still plenty of life here. Sadly our last bottle.
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5/4/2018 - srh Likes this wine:
Friday Tasting Group; Unthemed (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Slightly closed; Some spice, brambleberries? More to give?
P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which transitions into a LONG finish with a bitterswtness (40/60) to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins, While drinking SUPERBLY right now, this may not QUITE have peaked (?), & will EASILY go beyond its 15th! My EXCEPTIONAL-!
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2/16/2018 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious, balanced and well integrated wine. Dark fruits, chocolate and spiciness fill the palate.
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12/29/2017 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mid-dark garnet; spicy, peppery, wood nose; brambles; mid-body; nice structure; balanced; good fruit and flavor; long semi-chewy raspberry finish. w/beef. 16-16.5
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3/18/2017 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over roughly an hour.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, boysenberry and cherry. Flavors of plums, berries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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12/24/2016 - BGK810 wrote: 92 Points
Superb. Great fruit and delicious long finish.
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12/5/2016 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Bright crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. Savory nose of red and black fruits, pepper and wet pavement. Medium body with juicy acidity. Perfect balance. Blackberry, black cherry, boysenberry and black pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. One of the few Zins I trust in my cellar to show well for up to 10 years. In a great spot right now. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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4/23/2016 - Kresolution wrote: 93 Points
Wow, I remember drinking this at the vineyard when I bought it. In the years since, it's perfectly integrated tannins and alcohol into a beautiful wine. White pepper, bright red fruit, raspberry pie. Smooth tannins and drinking great. Pop those bottles!
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4/10/2016 - kmicho Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious. Complex, smooth, long finish. Not sure it's a $40 bottle, but I'd buy it for $30.
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3/23/2016 - daveste Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 1 hr. Smooth, well balanced, v.g. bouquet. Tannin gentle and still good fruit+acid. Drink up.
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1/15/2016 - aaronfeigin wrote: 91 Points
Typical Rafanelli Zin,great balance and lots of red and black fruits with a bit of white pepper. Not overbearing at all, not too much alcohol. Very enjoyable.
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7/12/2015 - Rich S Likes this wine: 91 Points
In a very nice spot right now. Definitely more restrained but still some spicy red, brambly fruit and a peppery finish.
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3/13/2015 - WineDoctors wrote: 91 Points
cleaar, ruby to garnet, unfiltered. bramble, med. acid, med/full bodied, long fiish, tafetta tannins, long finish cranberry, plum (italian prune just ripe). drinking perfectly.
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1/17/2015 - Winokdub wrote: 90 Points
A slightly muted nose b&b t great mouth feel, tannins and finish. Cedar and spices. Fruit better after an hour. Really good wine.
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11/10/2014 - daveste Likes this wine: 91 Points
PNp. Expected a bit more from an old favorite. Fruit not so evident but well balanced with moderate tannin and still good acid. Maybe needs air?
Next day (kept in a half bottle): Wow, much better, fruit evident, nice bouquet, long finish. Decant an hour or two before drinking. Revised points up to 91.
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10/31/2014 - redzins Likes this wine: 87 Points
Ruby red, alcohol nose, dark fruits in aroma and flavor, med body, balanaced finish. Drink it soon.
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10/12/2014 - oolah wrote:
Still kicking. Not as insanely fruity and more reserved, but the structure holds up and some leather has appeared. Still plenty of cherry spicebox. Good, but drink soon.
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8/31/2014 - candyman wrote:
decanted 3.6 Hrs /alcohol on nose great wine balanced went with Toms Porchetta bellissimo
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7/2/2014 - daveste wrote: 90 Points
Showing well, ready. Maybe not the intense fruit of other years but nice food wine. Tannin smooth, nice balance with acid and body.
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5/28/2014 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Purple in color. 14.8% ABV. Brambly red and blue fruits, pepper and lavender on the nose. Medium body to go with medium acidity. This Zinfandel glides across the palate with flavors of blueberry, raspberry and boysenberry. White pepper and baking spice are also present. Great precision and balance. There are dusty Dry Creek tannins on an exceptionally long finish. Probably best consumed over the next two years.
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3/13/2014 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Dark, brooding wine with some savory character, a little tartness, firm tannins, some earth, and dried herbs. Oak pretty well integrated, but still apparent and a touch heavy for my palate. Nice mouthfeel. Overall, very enjoyable, but I don't think fruit, acidity, tannins are all in harmony at this stage - perhaps another year or two will help bring it all together.
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3/9/2014 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blackberry core, cacao, lavender, fine tannins. A lovely bottle of wine, nicely integrated.
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2/21/2014 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine:
Good wine with good food, the perfect duo.
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2/18/2014 - Griffeyfan04 wrote: 88 Points
Dinner with the Gilchoa's; 2/16/2014-2/18/2014 (My House): Although there was nothing wrong with this wine I just felt that it lacked showing it's grape varietal. This wine seemed very young and has plenty of time left in it. Maybe I caught it at a dumb phase? It was a clean and enjoyable wine with nice flavors coming through. A lot of sediment in our glasses. Only had one pour so not a lot on the notes of this one.
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12/8/2013 - greenblanket wrote:
Contrasts. This wine is sweet and rich with dark fruit but still balanced. Yes, there is still lots of oak in play but somehow it's not obtrusive. Nice.
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11/11/2013 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very dark and brooding, especially for a zin. The nose was very inviting with blackberry cocoa dust. It had kind of an old world flavor with savory notes pushing the dark fruit. There was just the right amount of oak that didn't over power the fruit. The wine went great with my Bolognese Gnocchi
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11/8/2013 - BGK810 wrote: 91 Points
Briary dark fruits, nicely oaked, and deftly balanced. This is great zin.
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11/2/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 90 Points
See note for 2007
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9/29/2013 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Peppery and smooth at the same time. Last one. Might not have gotten any better, but was quite nice tonight. Paired with spicy grilled tuna, worked wonderfully.
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9/22/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 91 Points
We enjoyed this very pleasant bottle; comlete with friut, nose and the ever present lingering effect. In fact it made the steak taste better.
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8/14/2013 - tplskylrk wrote:
First one since visiting the winery 3 years back? Really? Great color in the glass 3hours in after a steak dinner w Noan. That dusty Raffy nose, and yes a bit of funk on opening. Medium weight, sweet and dry all at the same time, hardly a typical Cali Zin. Delicious factor in play, I think this feels more Merlot than Zin, rich, sweet but savory, went really well w steak, onions/peppers and caprise salad. Got some spicy Zin fruit now on the nose. This is very Old World approach, does not disappoint. Tannins, fruit acid all perfectly balanced. Drink now right into the glass or hold for a few more years.
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8/2/2013 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had a bit of funk that had to blow off, but once it did, this opened up very nicely. Medium bodied, with subtle red/black berry fruit, spice, and a good tannin and acid structure. A very elegant and well-balanced Zin.
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7/29/2013 - CCestaro wrote: 93 Points
Peak drinking.....great nose and body with a smooth and velvet mouthfeel....blackberry and a hint of spice on the nose and palate..with a lingering finish ...this is very good stuff
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6/29/2013 - Ellenkf Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb elegant refined perfectly ready to drink
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6/2/2013 - rxlaw95 wrote:
Agree with my prior note. These guys did it right in 2008.
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5/18/2013 - artoopeo wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well right now. Perfectly balanced straight out of the bottle. On first sip I felt I could drink a gallon. Unusual subtle peach noes on the nose.
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5/5/2013 - daveste Likes this wine: 89 Points
Blackberry and spice fruit, softening tannins, rich and pretty smooth. At its peak, drink up.
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1/20/2013 - golfwine wrote: 86 Points
This one opened up virtually identical to my tasting at the winery about 2 years ago - subtle and restrained with almost a watery texture. (Unlike at the winery, the initial aromas from this bottle showed a mild funk, which had me concerned.)
I put my glass aside for 30 mins or so and what emerged was much more round and pleasing, though still on the light side for this varietal in arguably its most fitting AVA. Although pleasurable, it lacked the briar and brawn that I've come to expect from this, my favorite Zin producer. Most definitely far short of the Extraordinary examples that they produce in good vintages and so, the lowest score that I could ever imagine a Rafanelli Zin getting.
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11/3/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - November 2012 (Michael Byington's house in North Dallas): WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of soapstone, berries, talc and plum. Flavors of berries, currants anc cherries. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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10/29/2012 - danstrings wrote: 88 Points
Flashy, juicy, unctuous yet amazingly not over the top zin... was a bit cloying with food this time, not the balance I like more in my fave Italian/French wines, but still a nice wine.
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10/27/2012 - mdp.blue wrote: 93 Points
Well balanced. Full flavored. A. Rafanelli remains my favorite Zinfandel. Plum, some dark berries, a bit of pepper. Buy it if you can find it. The 2008 is ready for consumption.
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9/30/2012 - blabbott wrote: 91 Points
Great fruit, blackberry and spice. Quite enjoyable.
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8/30/2012 - ersmith Likes this wine: 94 Points
This wine is ageing extremely well. I think the next twelve months will be the top of the curve for this one.
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7/12/2012 - mcubed wrote: 91 Points
Nice, supple, classic Rafanelli zin. Drinking well now.
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6/30/2012 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind with dinner. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet to perhaps purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, light pepper notes, currants and berries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and a hint of boysenberry. Medium to tart acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3-5 years would be optimal in my opinion.
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6/11/2012 - daveste wrote: 88 Points
Holding well, not quite ready.
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5/9/2012 - rxlaw95 wrote: 92 Points
This defines the very best of a challenging 2008 vintage for dry creek. The Rafanelli wines are always interesting for me, but it's old school and better than anyone else in the area vintage after vintage.
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9/14/2011 - acox wrote:
Bold, blackberry and smoke aromas. Intense black cherry, cracked pepper and spice flavors, smooth tannins. Juicy. Great on it's own but would be super with a big juicy burger hot off the grill.
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9/6/2011 - thesternowl wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Shazaam!! These cats know how to do Zinfandel. This stuff has all the proper traits of the varietal and the Dry Creek terroir...the fruit, the brambles, and oh my that wonderful black pepper...all packaged with such finesse. This is not a Zinfandel you want to spread over toast. This is the one you want to serve to anyone who says that "they don't like zinfandel" or still think it makes inferior wines to the noble grapes. This one was still on the young side but drinking very fine with an hour decant. Paired brilliantly with burgers. Get some.
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7/28/2011 - bowmanbc wrote: 92 Points
swoon. not afraid to say that when referring to this wine. smooth, rounded flavors and textures, great food wine or to open with good friends.
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5/8/2011 - strno wrote: 90 Points
Day 1 red fruit as well as cassis nose. Juicy, some chocolate. Rich. no heat, and I was very pleased. On day 2 was surprisingly flat, nose was tight and went one dimensional (raspberry-ish). Hot, with a clipped finish. Can't explain this experience v. others except initial serving was cooler--maybe 62 deg. Rec'd the bottle last Oct., shipped from the winery and cellared.
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4/8/2011 - cartime wrote: 90 Points
This is very young. Tight brambly fruit nose. Tart blackberry, plum, licorice, and earthy minerals on the palate. Nice acidity. Firm, yet round, tannins. Needs a couple years at least.
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4/8/2011 - Taylor56 wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Medium garnet color. Dark fruit and nice spice in the nose. Very juicy in the mouth with dark briary fruit and white pepper notes. A light to medium weight wine - overpowered by food (shy of acid and a slightly short finish). Needs time.
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4/5/2011 - candyman wrote: 89 Points
great at pull and pour - got smoother after being open 1 hour to 1.5 hours .I will decant next time if I can control my self and wait .
yummy juice- allways a favorite even with the high alcohol.
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3/19/2011 - blabbott wrote: 90 Points
Nice nose and dark fruit. An enjoyable bottle.
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3/14/2011 - sirwine wrote: 92 Points
Really juicy for a Rafanelli, yet subdued and rustic all at once. Big fruit both on the noe and mouth -- ripe cassis, pomegranate -- lot's of mouthfeel and texture. Another great effort by A. Rafanelli.
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2/10/2011 - danstrings wrote: 89 Points
Inky dark and brilliant in color, a very rich and round red but a sleeker style than overly jazzy zins. Could also have been a rich merlot or something. So rich it's almost sweet/maple on the palate. Crowd pleaser.
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1/14/2011 - JoelZ wrote:
What an enjoyable example of Dry Creek zin. Big mouthful of red/purple fruit with spicy nose and finish. 14.8% alcohol listed on the bottle, but not hot or out of balance. Muscular wine without going over the top. Great.
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12/31/2010 - bowmanbc wrote: 90 Points
big hit at dinner - based on other reviews maybe we had a good bottle? really pleased with it.
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12/29/2010 - SonomaWineHead wrote: 86 Points
Needs way more time! I was disappointed...hope my last bottle is better a few years from now.
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12/11/2010 - oolah wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark magenta color. Fantastically fragrant nose, with lots and lots of fruit. Opens with cherries and red fruit, some pepper and closes with a heady mix of christmas spice (or maybe that's just the new tree?). Clove, cedar and spicebox. Really delicious wine.
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12/10/2010 - mattyboy76 wrote: 90 Points
PnP'ed the first night. Very dark in the glass with long legs. Dark fruit with that zin spice apparent on the nose, but with more oak than you usually get with a Cali zin. Complex wine but wasn't quite wowing me the first night. The 2nd night, the wine opened up nicely. Brambly spice with some nice raspberry and a little plum. Medium finish. Overall a very nice wine with good balance. I believe a few years of bottle age will help this big zin.
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12/9/2010 - biggwater wrote: 91 Points
Served at Bottega in Yountville. Great dusty fruit and a long finish
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11/18/2010 - difran wrote: 86 Points
Good fruit.
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10/29/2010 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Hmmm. Not sure what the deal is, but I didn't love this like some of the previous bottles -- a little bit too much oak, lacks some depth, and finishes somewhat short. Bottle variation, my changing palate, dumb phase? Still pretty good, but not the knockout bottle I was hoping for.
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10/10/2010 - craig1colo wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful garnet color. very nice spice and zin fruit on nose. Good structure with much potential. Fruit is great dark fruit with a spicy and zin bramble edge. On second day still had good structure and fruit, which bodes well for this vintage.
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9/25/2010 - oolah wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Chocolate cherry with pepper zing. The Platonic ideal of a California zin, still young and fresh and vibrant.
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9/1/2010 - danstrings wrote: 90 Points
LS Norma Jean -- Wow, an oozingly thick and unctuous red yet amazingly somehow in balance and possessing a silkiness. Rafanelli strikes again!
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8/29/2010 - sheyanne wrote: 92 Points
smooth and not too heavy. great balance. house of prime rib!
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8/26/2010 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
This one didn't show quite as well as the last two -- flavors were slightly off. Still good though.
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8/24/2010 - mtucker43 wrote: 90 Points
Excellent balance. Fruit still coming through. Definitely still young, just couldn't resist.
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8/6/2010 - TD2Irish wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured a lovely drink sweet tannis, vanilla, white pepper, but not a classic Zin right from the bottle. A half hour in the glass and the brambliness I was looking for began to surface along with the bright red fruit. I love these with some age so I plan to wait a bit before opening another.
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7/11/2010 - oolah wrote: 90 Points
This is such a fantastic summer wine, and one of the few Californias I really enjoy these days. This may be my favorite Rafanelli vintage of the last 3 years -- it's still young, but wow, it's just got great fruit without being over-the-top.
Smooth, with candied cherry, oak and spicebox and a bit of pepper. Big nose full of red fruit and cedar. Will age well, but just delicious and fresh now.
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6/26/2010 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed this again with roast pork loin. Wonderful spice and fruit and very well balanced. This should age very nicely. It's a shame to be drinking these so young, but my Dad's 84 and he doesn't want to wait too long to enjoy these.
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5/23/2010 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Fragrant nose with berries, spice and florals which carried through to the palate. Smooth and silky mouthfeel with nice balancing acidity and a finish of fine tannins. Another great effort for this producer, fast becoming my favorite for Zin. Probably should be cellared for a while, though it's hard not to touch these. To me, this is the epitome of true California red wine. Love this stuff.
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5/2/2010 - wirelesswine wrote: 89 Points
Typical Rafanelli zin (in a good way) but definitely too young at this point...needs a little time to settle down.
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4/11/2010 - raiderwes wrote: 89 Points
fragrant; a little young right now; very promising.
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