This vintage has a stronger raisin and also green herbaceous notes than what I've drank previously. Also notes of blackberry, cherry, pepper, blueberry.
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Purple in color. 14.7% ABV. Soaring nose of red and black fruits, plums, earth and pepper. Medium body with just the right amount of acidity. Well balanced, perfumed and elegant with rich, earthy fruits. Black cherry, black raspberry, mulberry and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Outstanding Dry Creek Valley Zin from a stellar vintage. Best over the next 4-6 years.
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1st night is tight and concentrated. Lots of things are going on, some sediments are present and the acidity level is quite high. 2nd night is great, plum, blackberry, and red fruit are all showing up. It's quite oaky with a vanilla note prominent on the nose. It is still quite concentrated with some pepper, spice, and cigar notes—medium length of finish. I will hold my other bottle for some time before revisiting it.
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Fantastic. I almost gave up on it. 1st night, too tight. 2nd night beautiful Zin fruit, velvety but vibrant fruit long on palate. As I get older my palate seems to like these young vibrant Zinfandel wines. Had it with a breaded plump chicken cutlet and cheese ravioli with my home made tomato sauce from 2023 tomatoes. Both the chicken breast and raviolis' from the famous De Pasquale's Market in Newton MA. Their sausage is the best but their chicken breast are also 2nd no one else.
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Very prominent Rafanelli nose. Deep black fruit very evident upon tasting. Can detect quite a bit of oak as well. Not super tannic but definitely needs to open up for a few more years in bottle.
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Having this wine now 2 hours after opening. It has mildly improved with strawberry replacing the raspberry notes at the start. It's mid palette remains the same but it's finish is much more rich and almost rotted strawberry in flavor. Lovely !! Really my style.
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Raspberry nose with slight amounts of strawberry. In mouth the wine is much more strawberry than anything else. The notes are of a rather underdeveloped strawberry fruit over the more ripened notes. This underdeveloped fruit note grows into the finish as it becomes even more strawberry fruit dominated on the lingering notes.
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Beautiful floral nose of red berries and forest floor, garden mulch. Strawberry and raspberry pop rocks, beautiful acidity and smooth tannins. Served with blue cheese burgers!
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Really amazing zin showing well at this early juncture but definitely also has structure to warrant aging. Will be curious to see where this goes. Likely further upside from this already wonderful wine. Bravo!!
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Splash decanted and then poured back into the bottle about 5 hours prior to dinner. This is my first impression of the 2021 Zinfandel which is even more exciting than usual because the 2020 vintage was skipped due to the LNU Lightning Complex fires which rendered that crop a write-off. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core moving towards a magenta edge and a slightly watery rim. Medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. There seems to be some sediment already, however this is not uncommon with bottles of Rafanelli both young and old. On the nose, the wine is clean although I do detect some VA, well within the “charming” range. Very expressive fresh red and black fruits, primarily brambles: Marionberry, ripe blackberry fruit, and raspberries. These are accompanied by white pepper and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Alcohol is medium+ but not out of balance. Finish is medium. As usual, these wines upon release tend to be super primary but I like what I’m experiencing! Personally, I would recommend some patience when drinking these young. While they are no-doubt good, they tend to fill out with some time on their side in the cellar. Best after 2024 and should drink well through 2035. Oh…and this was an awesome pairing with grilled rack of lamb.
4/11/2024 - tedcholl Likes this wine: 91 Points
This vintage has a stronger raisin and also green herbaceous notes than what I've drank previously. Also notes of blackberry, cherry, pepper, blueberry.
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3/28/2024 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Purple in color. 14.7% ABV. Soaring nose of red and black fruits, plums, earth and pepper. Medium body with just the right amount of acidity. Well balanced, perfumed and elegant with rich, earthy fruits. Black cherry, black raspberry, mulberry and pepper on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Outstanding Dry Creek Valley Zin from a stellar vintage. Best over the next 4-6 years.
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3/23/2024 - Rwsmith5 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened up beautifully after a few hours.
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2/11/2024 - FoMoCo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Maybe a little young - but still very enjoyable. Will space our other bottles out and see how this evolves.
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2/9/2024 - lltl2021 Likes this wine: 92 Points
1st night is tight and concentrated. Lots of things are going on, some sediments are present and the acidity level is quite high. 2nd night is great, plum, blackberry, and red fruit are all showing up. It's quite oaky with a vanilla note prominent on the nose. It is still quite concentrated with some pepper, spice, and cigar notes—medium length of finish. I will hold my other bottle for some time before revisiting it.
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1/11/2024 - David B wrote: 94 Points
Fantastic. I almost gave up on it. 1st night, too tight. 2nd night beautiful Zin fruit, velvety but vibrant fruit long on palate. As I get older my palate seems to like these young vibrant Zinfandel wines. Had it with a breaded plump chicken cutlet and cheese ravioli with my home made tomato sauce from 2023 tomatoes. Both the chicken breast and raviolis' from the famous De Pasquale's Market in Newton MA. Their sausage is the best but their chicken breast are also 2nd no one else.
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11/1/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really good, glad I have a few bottles remaining.
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10/29/2023 - PinotAnyone? Likes this wine: 84 Points
Very prominent Rafanelli nose. Deep black fruit very evident upon tasting. Can detect quite a bit of oak as well. Not super tannic but definitely needs to open up for a few more years in bottle.
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10/11/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent Zin - balance, intensity, depth and length. Should continue to evolve very well over the next several years.
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9/20/2023 - wabi47 wrote: 91 Points
deep young and potent zin; would hold for my taste
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7/19/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent DCV Zin!
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7/12/2023 - tomoem Likes this wine: 92 Points
Having this wine now 2 hours after opening. It has mildly improved with strawberry replacing the raspberry notes at the start. It's mid palette remains the same but it's finish is much more rich and almost rotted strawberry in flavor. Lovely !! Really my style.
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7/11/2023 - tomoem Likes this wine: 92 Points
Raspberry nose with slight amounts of strawberry. In mouth the wine is much more strawberry than anything else. The notes are of a rather underdeveloped strawberry fruit over the more ripened notes. This underdeveloped fruit note grows into the finish as it becomes even more strawberry fruit dominated on the lingering notes.
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6/19/2023 - ralstenm Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful floral nose of red berries and forest floor, garden mulch. Strawberry and raspberry pop rocks, beautiful acidity and smooth tannins. Served with blue cheese burgers!
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6/18/2023 - bowmanbc Likes this wine: 91 Points
needs more time
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5/14/2023 - Winokdub wrote: 93 Points
Really amazing zin showing well at this early juncture but definitely also has structure to warrant aging. Will be curious to see where this goes. Likely further upside from this already wonderful wine. Bravo!!
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5/4/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A delicious, complete young Zin!
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4/6/2023 - bowmanbc Likes this wine: 91 Points
hold
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4/2/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 92 Points
Splash decanted and then poured back into the bottle about 5 hours prior to dinner. This is my first impression of the 2021 Zinfandel which is even more exciting than usual because the 2020 vintage was skipped due to the LNU Lightning Complex fires which rendered that crop a write-off. The wine pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core moving towards a magenta edge and a slightly watery rim. Medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears. There seems to be some sediment already, however this is not uncommon with bottles of Rafanelli both young and old. On the nose, the wine is clean although I do detect some VA, well within the “charming” range. Very expressive fresh red and black fruits, primarily brambles: Marionberry, ripe blackberry fruit, and raspberries. These are accompanied by white pepper and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Alcohol is medium+ but not out of balance. Finish is medium. As usual, these wines upon release tend to be super primary but I like what I’m experiencing! Personally, I would recommend some patience when drinking these young. While they are no-doubt good, they tend to fill out with some time on their side in the cellar. Best after 2024 and should drink well through 2035. Oh…and this was an awesome pairing with grilled rack of lamb.
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3/24/2023 - raiderwes wrote: 92 Points
we always open one right after receipt; bright and tart; will be fun to see this one age and develop
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3/24/2023 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright, lively red fruit. Excellent balance, depth and length. Very nice now and it will only improve.
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