January 25, 2023 - Still stellar!
July 6, 2018 - By far my favorite #zinfandel #wine producer, @arafanelliwinery #arafanelli. #2004 #winesofinstagram #drycreekvalley #healdsburg. Red fruit, pepper, herb, cedar. Plenty left to run, 93pts.
December 18, 2016 - This is truly an aged beauty. I've had this Rafanelli in my cellar since forever; well, probably since around 2005. Tonight was the night I decided to open it. No special occasion, just seemed right. It's a very cold night here and I have the fireplace going; the old Raf Zinfandel seemed like the right accompaniment. And it was. The cork crumbled on opening, but after decanting and straining to remove the sediment and cork bits, I was rewarded with this lovely old wine. The fruit was soft and mellow, but still very much a West Dry Creek Zin. Flavors of blackberry with overtones of smoke and leather, all in a very smooth and pleasing palette. This was after about 30 min following the double decanting. It will be interesting to see how this wine develops over the next hour and day. I'm pleased it has held up so well in my cellar, which has no special storage facilities, just an air conditioned room. I am partial to the Rafanelli Zinfandels.
August 15, 2016 - still drinking well;
June 19, 2016 - Popped and poured. Still has gobs of dark fruit and is totally smooth. Might want to decant if sediment is a problem for you. Really drinking great for a 12-year-old Zin.
April 17, 2016 - @ARafanelliWine Zin. Like one of your old favorites movies where you can't quite remember the ending, it still surprises and delights! I get spiced earth and blackberry. Nice to see it still have some weight after 12 years.
December 25, 2014 - This was a bit of a risk, bought over some aucition site for not much money (same as current release $). But it turned out to be balanced, mature wine. Soft brambly fruits with just a hint of acid remaining, plus some herb and greenish notes with lovely tertiary aromas of mushroom. After an hour the wine's finish also developed a bit more. Quite good! I'd still estimate a peak window of 5-8 years from vintage for this kind of wine though.
November 30, 2014 - Disappointing bottle. Has some faded primary fruit character, but no life. Tannins seemed brittle and dry. Dry finish, rather short. No harmony. The developed character was more akin to dried leaves and flowers turned to sepia.
July 18, 2014 - puts most other zins to shame. brambleberry caramel, coffee and wonderful structure. 10 years out and wonderful finish is lovely
November 27, 2012 - Dense crimson. Exuberant nose: brambly fruit, appropriately jammy (not raisiny) and spicy. Crisp attack, medium weight, ripe, with succulent fruit balance by crisp acidity and gently nervy tannic structure. Alcoholic in effect (i.e. heady) but not hot on the palate. Cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, red currant, lavender, hint of dried herbs and a subtle stony note. Medium to shortish finish, but clean, crisp and not hot. Terrific wine for its style.