Presented double-blind; cloudy in the glass, sediment?…almost opaque but not quite. Color a deep ruby with a slightly lighter rim. Aromas of red and dark fruits with baking spice and damp forest floor. On the palate, very generous black and red fruit with baking spice, earth and leather. Apparent use of some new French oak. Medium plus alcohol, medium acid. Tannins are soft and integrated. Long, immensely satisfying finish. Most thought it had 5-10 years of age on it; Napa or Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Some thought Southern Rhone…noting that it shared some similarities in profile to Pegau and Rayas (!!!). Everyone swooned with it was revealed to be 2007 Rafanelli Zinfandel. FWIW, this wine has many years ahead of it.
Bought 3-4 bottles about 10 years ago directly from the winery for about 30/b. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Rich, dark purple color; mature red fruit nose with some oak; rich, semi-complex mature fruit, brambly, very good mouthfeel. Delicious with braai of sausages, sirloin, lamb liver "tortoises", and marinated chicken (not sure of herbs). Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I considered this notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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Very last bottle of my 2007 and my wife and I were celebrating a personal goal and paired it with a seafood pasta. Wonderful bottle--The nose was inviting with fruit and light alcohol. Deep red velvet color. Very balanced with a long finish and that musty well aged flavor that compliments decade old bottle California wines. I always leave just a swallow or two in the bottle to avoid sediment but wanted to savor every last drop of this. Sadly, there was a bit of sediment left in those two swallows but no complaints here. Solid 93 IMHO and higher if it would continue to age well--which it might but I'd sure drink mine now if I had more.
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Had with baby back ribs. Good and my wife throughly enjoyed but my struggle with many zins made in the past 1-2 decades. A bit hot, thin and over done for my liking. Nonetheless if you like this style you should be good to go.
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A veritable jewel. Best wine of the weekend, and for me personally, perhaps; best wine of the year. This wine is exceptional and defines perfection. No flaws. No sediment. Moderate rim variation. Dark ruby garnet color. Old world, earthy nose full of dark florals and fruits. Low tannin/low acid. Medium alcohol. Medium finish. If you have it drink it. I don't think this one can possible improve. But, plenty of bottle life left in this eau de vie.
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Oak starting to integrate, finally. Remains a big wine, but nicely balanced. Needs rich food to really work; in this case latkes topped with duck confit in mole sauce and/or pork belly confit with picked mustard seeds. Yum. Also, as expected, tons of sediment.
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Wine was properly stored from purchase at vineyard upon release until consumed. Strong red fruit basket; raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, boysenberries. Surprisingly, not a strong scent of plum as in other years. Delicious wine.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, boysenberries and raspberries. Flavors of raspberries, boysenberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next couple of years.
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To me this is the epitome of a California Dry Creek Zinfandel. Big and spicy, thick and chewy. This is my go to Zin as it has been consistently great for many many years.
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Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of rose petals, berries and raspberries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or may be held.
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Dark crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. Aromas of red fruits, pepper and vanilla. Spicy on the palate with medium body and acidity. Flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and plums. The wine seems to pick up some weight with a little time in the glass. Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel at its finest. Drink over the next 1-3 years.
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Consumed before dinner with friends. Brambly aromas and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, along with plum and vanillin oak. Brambly and jammy in the mouth. Rich, ripe and fairly intense fruit. Drinking at its apogee.
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Dark purple color. Right out of the gate the nose on this wine was big with jammy raspberry aromas, black currants, some vanilla and cream, warm toasty oak and a bit of chocolate. A bit hedonistic on the nose but on the palate this wine was really nicely balanced. Lots of the same flavors with dark red fruit and a good amount of sweet oak but balanced with good acidity, fine, sweet tannins, a smooth mouthfeel and long finish. This is still a bit primary but really quite delicious. If I had any bottles remaining, they would be in the 2-4 year range for me.
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A very good Zinfandel over all. Had excellent structure, very well-balanced. Great nose, mild tannins and fairly long finish. Not sure if this will get any better or if it peaking or peaked. Not the best Raf zin I've had but again, very very good.
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Took a little while to get going, but after an hour typical A. Raf. Bright bramble fruit, decent acidity, oak that adds to, rather than overwhelms the package. That said, I kinda feel this is in an in-between phase, and I expect it will be better in another year or two. I'll hold the rest.
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92 or better. As soon as the bottle was opened the arroma filled the room. When the 750 was consummed; it tasted like more. Did I like it? You bet your sweet bippee I did.
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Great as usual. By far one of my favorite red zin makers. I think it might be getting a bit old so drink up. I feel like this did not have as much spice as the 2010 does but still very good.
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Typical Rafanelli Zin, good but not overwhelming fruit, well balanced acid and tannin. Tannin mellowing. Not a Parker red, but a very good wine with dinner.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of berries, currants and raspberries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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A good classic Dry Creek Zin- I was expecting more in this bottle. Was still good, but it didn't wow me. Maybe bottle shock after spending 4+ hour in the car???
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Decanted 60 minutes. This wine has really improved with some cellar time. Dark garnet with a slight purple undertone and transparent rim. Nose of blackberries and raspberries and subtle hints of spice. Medium weight, good acidity and structure. Bright fruit (blackberries and raspberries) and spice (but not overpowering). Very long finish. Beautiful now.
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Took about 45 min for this one to open up and show its true colors. Fantastic cherry, cola and a hint of spice on the nose. Had a wonderful mouth feel with dark brambly fruit up front that transitioned to a hint of cola with a wonder finish of spice that lingered for what seemed like forever. One of my favorite wines. Glad I have one more.
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I'm more than a fan of Rafanelli wines; they just do such a good job year over year. With that said, I'm a little bit disappointed in this bottle. There's a wonderful nose of blackberry, cocoa and oak. But on the palate it's a bit thin by comparison. I'm not saying it's bad, just not as big as I'd expect, a little one-dimensional. We'll see how the last bottle fares.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black berries, raspberries and boysenberries that carry straight through to the palate. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3 years.
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Love the Rafanelli style. Med/dark purple, nice spicy nose. At a Zin tasting (my other bottle was a '07 Turley Ueberroth), was clearly the star, even better than the Turley. More complex, more going on in the mouth than the others, with lots of dark and red fruit, spices, and pepper.
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Served with grilled Korean chicken. Raspberry and blackberry fruit. Bramble with nice spiciness, touch of oak. Nicely balanced with a smooth, longer finish.
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Popped and poured. Bright purple color. Dark red fruit profile on the nose with a touch of mint. More dark red fruit flavors on the palate with just the right amount of oak and spice. Well balanced and smooth on the palate and the alcohol was in check. Could have used a touch more acid but overall, drinking well right now and the wine continued to open up as it remained in the glasses.
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Drank without decanting and served with grilled Teriyaki steaks. it was excellent; very concentrated with classic Zin, deep berry and spice, characteristics.
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Really good, elegant and brambly in the Rafanelli mold. Great balance, loves food - not overbearing in any way. FWIW the last glass some hours later started to show some stewed/riper fruits; probably a combination of warming to room temp and revealing it's true nature.
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Popped and poured. Enjoyed with grilled brats while watching the Rangers-Cards game 5. Rich blackberry palate. Substantial without being a fruit bomb or jammy. Recommend drinking over the next 2-3 years.
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Blackberry, black currant, chocolate and just a bit of cola. Excellent mouthfeel, low to moderate acidity and the oak is in great balance with it. Very nice.
This Zinfandel impresses year over year. It's quite drinkable right out of the gate with just a bit of air, but holds very nicely in the cellar. Still, I don't know how it will get much better than it is now, so the remaining two bottles in my cellar are MARKED!
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Showed better than 18 months ago . . . dark fruit -- plums, dark berries on the nose. Palate is similar and a touch rustic. Moderate tannins and acidity. Still quite a bit of oak but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Decided on this one to propose to my girl and it did not disappoint in any way. I think it's at it's peak now. Better than the 09 Turley Mead ranch I had last night.
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One of the best examples of what Rafanelli does with Zinfandel. Not over the top, but juicy fruit forward zinfandel but retains its elegance. So smooth and easy to drink, yet holds up to hearty foods and grilled and roasted meets. The first smell and taste reveals a lot of cherry fruit with just a hint of wood. Long and positively delicious taste in the mouth. A real favorite.
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Leather and dark fruit on the nose. Dark fruit and cola on the palate. Very limited acidity. No tannic bite. Nice rich body. Well structured and integrated. Best zin from that region that year.
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Dark red-purple. Strongly-oaked and deeply-fruited nose of plum, black raspberry, chocolate, black pepper. Medium tannin, medium acidity; very sturdy in the mouth.Very primary fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes with power, not a delicate zin nor an overripe, over-concentrated one. It's a little bit foursquare for me; improvements await with a couple years in the bottle, at least for me.
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Consumed with family for thanksgiving. The velvety feel of this wine with is non-overextracted qualities made it perfect for turkey and all the trimmings.
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Dark, nearly opaque garnet, nose is ripe crushed berry compote, maybe a hint of surmaturite; loaded with rich, dark zinberry fruit, spice, lacking a bit of acidity, turning just a touch flabby on the broad finish. Classic Dry Creek Zin, but lacks the verve and zip I expected from the vintage. Still, a very nice Zin.
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simply an outstanding example of what a zinfandel should taste like:medium body with nose of dark fruit that continues on the palate. no noticeable oak. well integrated. just a delightful textbook zin IMHO.
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A solid effort. Hard to find something that we like better. Yes, the alcohol is high, which matched the pasta Putenesca with fresh swordfish and scallops, mussels, and shrimp that I added to mine. Just a friendly, fruity, chocolatey dream.
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Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of boysenberry, currants and black berries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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This is a great tasty Zin- everything I want in a Zin and well balanced. My previous score might have been a little too high- but this is one of the best Zins out there and a good QPR @ $33. Highly recommend and this is a Zin that non-Zin people can appreciate.
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A bit softer than it was in September, but still very fruity and vivacious. Chocolate and cherries, with spicebox and some hints of tobacco. Glad I still have one more bottle of this.
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Disappointing. Didn't deliver the lush, spicy, brambly fruit that I've always experienced with Rafanelli. This was earthy, a tad hot, and the fruit was simply muted. Not enjoyable and certainly not up to the lofty standards to which I've been so accustomed with Rafanelli.
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This has lost some of the exhuberant tone noted when tasted in the winery and is replaced with elegance and balance. Flavors are now showing restrained, briary notes of ripe blackberry, clove and black pepper. 89
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Way better than the last bottle. A different wine it seemed...maybe it was just a bad batch last time. But this bottle was perfectly balanced and fruity. Did not taste the alcohol at all like last time. No noticeable heat. Really loved it.
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Drank on NYE toward the end of the night so no formal notes were taken but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I recall it being a bit closed and served a bit too cold but the wine had big, spicy red fruit on the palate and a nice finish although the alcohol seemed a bit high. I am looking forward to trying another bottle in a few months in better conditions.
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A disappointment. Had high hopes bringing a couple bottles back from the winery last summer, and opened a hot, unbalanced, alcohol-laden bottle. Not terrible, but I just couldn't get past the alcohol to taste any of the fruit or brambly goodness that Rafanelli delivers typically. Maybe it doesn't travel well (I'm on the east coast), or this is just a bad time for the wine, but I don't really understand the other reviews.
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Spicy, raspberry, vanilla nose with lots of heat. Palate is similar though finish was quite acidic (and made the wine out of balance). Settled down after 30-45 mins in the glass but alcohol was always evident. A bit more complex than first opened but expected more from a Rafanelli. I prefer Carlisle Zin's except for the '07 SC County. 86-88.
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The first of four bottles we brought back from visiting the winery in June 2009. This is more like a quick tasting impression than a tasting note, because I could barely drink this wine. First impression: hot nose, alcohol and oak. A completely overblown palate that tastes like cherry cream, vanilla and a shot of alcohol, almost like cherry-vanilla-benadryl, but with a creamy-oaky mouthfeel. Unbalanced is an understatement. A few hours later, the wine calmed down somewhat, but it had been sitting at room temperature which didn't do the alcohol level any favors. Most of the bottle remains for a second night, and hopefully it will show more like drinkable wine. UPDATE: the wine came down in size and attack, but was dominated by over-ripe cherry-new oak, very reminscent of a recent Buccella Merlot or Switchback Ridge. In fact, I struggled to find the Zin-ness of this Rafanelli Zin, any hint of briar, underbrush, spice, etc., but there was little to suggest that this was Zin at all. Blech. Maybe in a year or two, the oak will integrate and some Zin might emerge. Maybe not.
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came through again. Classic dry creek zin profile after about 30 minutes. I was actually struck by how tight it was when I first opened, I even considered that it was bad for a moment.That quickly changed. I loved it but may have to officially place it behind the Yoakim Bridge as my top Zin.
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Chocolate-covered cherries and really starting to kick into gear. This is delicious now -- much more open and approachable than it had been in the spring. Good structure and will continue to age well.
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The Last bottle I rated 88, but since then I've visited the Dry Creek Valley and the site of their winery on West Dry Creek Rd. As beautiful as the valley is, the site is something out of a movie. Their terraced hills and beautiful grounds are quite a setting and makes any wine taste better. The valley and their winery is a must visit. The wine is just what I look for in a Zinfandel. My summer barbecue red. Light not jammy, but spicey with the barbecue flavors brought foward by the wine and visa versa.
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Made in a robust, fruity style with very good concentration and length. Still a bit primary but showing delicious flavors of briary red and black fruit, tobacco, herb and earth.
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Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Hugely extracted royal aromas of waxy crayola crayons, dark brown gravy, cassis and dark cherry pie. Fantastic finesse on the palate. Old World in style believe it or not. Lots of earth...especially for a Zinfandel. Great round mouth feel. Not overdone at all with impeccable balance. Absolutely lovely.
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Tasted again side by side with the 2005 Ottimino Zin. This is an elegant and nuanced Cali Zin, still with big fruit, but with several layers of flavor and complexity. It doesn't hit you over the head like many others like some Turleys -- it invites you to take a ride from the beautiful nose to the long delicious finish. Still, this bottle did not quite show as well as the previous two bottles I've tried, so I knocked it down a point.
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Another outstanding vintage! This one's very refined, but has that active mineral component to it. Outstanding now, but one of the few zins I think age well.
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Drank with 2 other 2007 Dry Creek Valley Zins (Carlisle and Adobe Road) and this was head and shoulders everyone's favorite. I have been lucky enough to drink about 10 vintages of Rafanelli and I think this one is the best! Typical DCV Zin fruit prifle with red berries and smoke, but perfectly integrated bottle of wine for my palate. Where the Carlisle outshines this in brute strength, showing more oak and black fruit, this won hands down in finesse and balance.
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This is how I remember my young Rafanellis as this bottle was much more closed than the one I enjoyed three months ago. The energy and structure I remember are still there but the flavors are locked beneath. Definitely no more until next summer.
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Zin is usually not one of my favorite grapes, but I love this wine. It's got great bones. Well-structured and elegant, with deep purple color and spicy earthy aromas. Opens with some chocolate and cherries and lets loose with some dark black fruit. Really delicious, although still young and a bit closed. Will likely improve by fall.
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Popped and poured. Drank with 2007 Turley Old Vines Zin and 2005 Ottimino Zin.
Consistent with previous bottle from a few weeks ago. Strawberries 'n cream on the nose. On the palate, generous brambly and briary fruit but not jammy -- more elegant than the Turley. Long finish with some fine sweet tannins. Extremely delicious -- this is the kind of wine that I can taste when I am just thinking about it. Almost haunting. Rafanelli's are my favorite Zin at this point.
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Popped and poured. Beautiful nose of flowers and fresh strawberries. On the palate, this was just delicious, a beautiful expression of zinfandel. Started out with soft fruit and a silky mouthfeel, with the flavor increasing through the mid-palate leading to a long finish of sweet berries with just a hint of velvety tannins. 14.6% ETOH (very low for a big Cali Zin) but no hint of it, even at this young age. This is a big, fruit-forward Cali Zin to be sure, but it does not go jammy or over the top. Indeed, there is even an elegance to this wine. Well done. I've tasted the last few vintages from this producer and am impressed with their consistent effort.
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Young and fresh off the truck but just stupid good. Sure it's tight and a bit raw but it's lively and balanced and it builds from a bright spicy attack through a rich back palate to a juicy/floral and already medium long finish. Damn good right now but Greenblanket says "hold."
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1/25/2021 - thesternowl wrote: 93 Points
Presented double-blind; cloudy in the glass, sediment?…almost opaque but not quite. Color a deep ruby with a slightly lighter rim. Aromas of red and dark fruits with baking spice and damp forest floor. On the palate, very generous black and red fruit with baking spice, earth and leather. Apparent use of some new French oak. Medium plus alcohol, medium acid. Tannins are soft and integrated. Long, immensely satisfying finish. Most thought it had 5-10 years of age on it; Napa or Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Some thought Southern Rhone…noting that it shared some similarities in profile to Pegau and Rayas (!!!). Everyone swooned with it was revealed to be 2007 Rafanelli Zinfandel. FWIW, this wine has many years ahead of it.
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10/17/2020 - BoulderWine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow. This was amazing for a 13-year-old Zin. Superb nose and color. Still had nice sweet fruit and was very balanced.
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9/19/2020 - amanofwords Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still very jammy, which was unexpected with a zin of this age. Some vegetal notes, long finish. Excellent paired with homemade turkey meatloaf.
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2/1/2019 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought 3-4 bottles about 10 years ago directly from the winery for about 30/b. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Rich, dark purple color; mature red fruit nose with some oak; rich, semi-complex mature fruit, brambly, very good mouthfeel. Delicious with braai of sausages, sirloin, lamb liver "tortoises", and marinated chicken (not sure of herbs). Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: I've stopped giving scores on a "100-point scale" as I've become less convinced that they can be meaningful to others. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. I considered this notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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11/22/2018 - Theamaronefan Likes this wine: 93 Points
Soft tannins, jammy cherry and dark fruits with some spice. Drinking beautifully with 11 years of age. Paired well with Thanksgiving Dinner!
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8/20/2017 - WineAttic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very last bottle of my 2007 and my wife and I were celebrating a personal goal and paired it with a seafood pasta. Wonderful bottle--The nose was inviting with fruit and light alcohol. Deep red velvet color. Very balanced with a long finish and that musty well aged flavor that compliments decade old bottle California wines. I always leave just a swallow or two in the bottle to avoid sediment but wanted to savor every last drop of this. Sadly, there was a bit of sediment left in those two swallows but no complaints here. Solid 93 IMHO and higher if it would continue to age well--which it might but I'd sure drink mine now if I had more.
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7/11/2016 - JBVino wrote:
Had with baby back ribs. Good and my wife throughly enjoyed but my struggle with many zins made in the past 1-2 decades. A bit hot, thin and over done for my liking. Nonetheless if you like this style you should be good to go.
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11/26/2015 - Mark H. LeQuire wrote: 96 Points
A veritable jewel. Best wine of the weekend, and for me personally, perhaps; best wine of the year. This wine is exceptional and defines perfection. No flaws. No sediment. Moderate rim variation. Dark ruby garnet color. Old world, earthy nose full of dark florals and fruits. Low tannin/low acid. Medium alcohol. Medium finish. If you have it drink it. I don't think this one can possible improve. But, plenty of bottle life left in this eau de vie.
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8/2/2015 - BGK810 wrote: 91 Points
Can lovers Zinfandel. Big, rich, dark fruit.
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4/26/2015 - raiderwes wrote: 93 Points
still drinking well; big jammy; good finish
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12/21/2014 - stubbie999 Likes this wine:
Oak starting to integrate, finally. Remains a big wine, but nicely balanced. Needs rich food to really work; in this case latkes topped with duck confit in mole sauce and/or pork belly confit with picked mustard seeds. Yum. Also, as expected, tons of sediment.
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11/9/2014 - jdpearse wrote:
This wine was still there upon opening but greatly diminished over 90 minutes. Confirms my prior note from September. Drink it now.
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10/3/2014 - redzins Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red, aromas of black berries, dark cherries, and some cooking spice. flavors repeat the aromas to a clean finish.
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9/29/2014 - ebert Does not like this wine: 87 Points
A bit of bret and no good vibrant fruit
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9/13/2014 - WineDoctors wrote: 89 Points
tight or past, color almost to rim, not alot of nose, plum spice, disappointing; not as stellar as usual
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9/2/2014 - jdpearse Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very enjoyable but not holding up as well as the 2006 I had in February.
Enjoy it now.
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8/25/2014 - Wine_Bear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine was properly stored from purchase at vineyard upon release until consumed. Strong red fruit basket; raspberries, strawberries, pineapples, boysenberries. Surprisingly, not a strong scent of plum as in other years. Delicious wine.
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8/10/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of currants, boysenberries and raspberries. Flavors of raspberries, boysenberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next couple of years.
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7/18/2014 - aaronfeigin Likes this wine: 91 Points
To me this is the epitome of a California Dry Creek Zinfandel. Big and spicy, thick and chewy. This is my go to Zin as it has been consistently great for many many years.
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7/8/2014 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
Still tasting great but near the end of its peak tasting period.
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6/28/2014 - daveste wrote: 89 Points
Still a nice wine but fruit fading. OK acid, moderate tannin, good with steak.
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5/9/2014 - daveste Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP (bubbler). Rich, full, long. Big to medium body, balanced. The fruit is what this wine is about. Stands up to beef with horseradish.
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4/28/2014 - WineDoctors wrote: 91 Points
jammy, earthy, opaque, medium-full bodied, long finish; casis, low acid, medium tannin. lovely wine with bufala sopresata basil whole wheat flatbread. Lovely wine
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3/20/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind at a wine dinner.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of rose petals, berries and raspberries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and cherries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink with air or may be held.
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2/11/2014 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Dark crimson in color. 14.6% ABV. Aromas of red fruits, pepper and vanilla. Spicy on the palate with medium body and acidity. Flavors of boysenberry, raspberry and plums. The wine seems to pick up some weight with a little time in the glass. Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel at its finest. Drink over the next 1-3 years.
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1/11/2014 - Chainthroer wrote: 91 Points
Consumed before dinner with friends. Brambly aromas and flavors of raspberry, blackberry, along with plum and vanillin oak. Brambly and jammy in the mouth. Rich, ripe and fairly intense fruit. Drinking at its apogee.
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1/7/2014 - daveste wrote: 91 Points
Needs air to show well, starts a bit thin but opens after decanting to fine bouquet of berries and flowers. V.G. with spaghetti and meat sauce.
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12/28/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine:
Great dinner
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11/29/2013 - Mark H. LeQuire wrote: 94 Points
Just beautiful.
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11/17/2013 - Rich S Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple color. Right out of the gate the nose on this wine was big with jammy raspberry aromas, black currants, some vanilla and cream, warm toasty oak and a bit of chocolate. A bit hedonistic on the nose but on the palate this wine was really nicely balanced. Lots of the same flavors with dark red fruit and a good amount of sweet oak but balanced with good acidity, fine, sweet tannins, a smooth mouthfeel and long finish. This is still a bit primary but really quite delicious. If I had any bottles remaining, they would be in the 2-4 year range for me.
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11/2/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 90 Points
Botique is the proper word for this vineyard--it's that good.
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10/23/2013 - artoopeo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still drinking very well, a beautifully balanced wine. It won't improve with additional aging but should still have a few years left in this stage.
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9/7/2013 - WineDoctors wrote: 91 Points
plummy and very ripe; with Indian food
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8/12/2013 - Winokdub wrote: 91 Points
A very good Zinfandel over all. Had excellent structure, very well-balanced. Great nose, mild tannins and fairly long finish. Not sure if this will get any better or if it peaking or peaked. Not the best Raf zin I've had but again, very very good.
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5/27/2013 - Foodievines Likes this wine: 91 Points
as usual, very nice.
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5/11/2013 - stubbie999 wrote:
Took a little while to get going, but after an hour typical A. Raf. Bright bramble fruit, decent acidity, oak that adds to, rather than overwhelms the package. That said, I kinda feel this is in an in-between phase, and I expect it will be better in another year or two. I'll hold the rest.
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5/4/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 92 Points
92 or better. As soon as the bottle was opened the arroma filled the room. When the 750 was consummed; it tasted like more. Did I like it? You bet your sweet bippee I did.
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4/21/2013 - oolah wrote:
Smoother, more refined. Still very fruity, spicy, with more leather at the front. Still tastes young. Wish I had another one!
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3/2/2013 - Paul from the Oblong Table Likes this wine: 90 Points
This was a 90 plus bottle. First time vist to Colonial Fusion, excellent bottle to go with excellent food.
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2/9/2013 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Simply terrific, and perfectly timed to drink. Blackberry, dark chocolate, hint of leather. Best Zin this year by far.
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2/8/2013 - greenblanket Likes this wine:
Seems at it's peak and delicious for what it is. Smooth and rich are not usually my favorite adjectives but this was quite good.
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1/13/2013 - ScottZuehlke Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great as usual. By far one of my favorite red zin makers. I think it might be getting a bit old so drink up. I feel like this did not have as much spice as the 2010 does but still very good.
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11/13/2012 - daveste wrote: 90 Points
Typical Rafanelli Zin, good but not overwhelming fruit, well balanced acid and tannin. Tannin mellowing. Not a Parker red, but a very good wine with dinner.
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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 berries, currants and raspberries. Flavors of berries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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10/28/2012 - Paul from the Oblong Table wrote:
Not a good test--small glasses, not relaxed, squeezed in at Testimonial affair. Not bad, but certainly not evaluated.
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9/14/2012 - VinoPKM wrote: 90 Points
A good classic Dry Creek Zin- I was expecting more in this bottle. Was still good, but it didn't wow me.
Maybe bottle shock after spending 4+ hour in the car???
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9/10/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 92 Points
Nice classic dry creek zin. Really well balanced with lots of brambly dark berry fruit, pepper and spice.
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9/2/2012 - Paul from the Oblong Table wrote:
Never disappoints.
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5/11/2012 - Fishboy wrote: 88 Points
Very nice zin
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5/11/2012 - Taylor56 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 60 minutes. This wine has really improved with some cellar time. Dark garnet with a slight purple undertone and transparent rim. Nose of blackberries and raspberries and subtle hints of spice. Medium weight, good acidity and structure. Bright fruit (blackberries and raspberries) and spice (but not overpowering). Very long finish. Beautiful now.
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5/2/2012 - Rmwood69@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Took about 45 min for this one to open up and show its true colors. Fantastic cherry, cola and a hint of spice on the nose. Had a wonderful mouth feel with dark brambly fruit up front that transitioned to a hint of cola with a wonder finish of spice that lingered for what seemed like forever. One of my favorite wines. Glad I have one more.
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4/4/2012 - Leomania Likes this wine: 87 Points
I'm more than a fan of Rafanelli wines; they just do such a good job year over year. With that said, I'm a little bit disappointed in this bottle. There's a wonderful nose of blackberry, cocoa and oak. But on the palate it's a bit thin by comparison. I'm not saying it's bad, just not as big as I'd expect, a little one-dimensional. We'll see how the last bottle fares.
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4/3/2012 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about 90 minutes.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of black berries, raspberries and boysenberries that carry straight through to the palate. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 3 years.
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2/19/2012 - sirwine wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with my earlier notes. Aging well but can last a couple more years with no deterioration in fruit.
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1/20/2012 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 94 Points
Love the Rafanelli style. Med/dark purple, nice spicy nose. At a Zin tasting (my other bottle was a '07 Turley Ueberroth), was clearly the star, even better than the Turley. More complex, more going on in the mouth than the others, with lots of dark and red fruit, spices, and pepper.
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12/28/2011 - acox wrote:
Served with grilled Korean chicken. Raspberry and blackberry fruit. Bramble with nice spiciness, touch of oak. Nicely balanced with a smooth, longer finish.
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12/28/2011 - Rich S wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured. Bright purple color. Dark red fruit profile on the nose with a touch of mint. More dark red fruit flavors on the palate with just the right amount of oak and spice. Well balanced and smooth on the palate and the alcohol was in check. Could have used a touch more acid but overall, drinking well right now and the wine continued to open up as it remained in the glasses.
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12/1/2011 - MCUBEB wrote: 92 Points
This wine was singing with notes of raspberries, cherries, caramel and vanilla. Very silky finish with pepper notes.
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11/10/2011 - raiderwes wrote: 90 Points
still drinking well; dark and jammy. Classic Rafanelli.
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10/31/2011 - greenblanket wrote:
Like Redteeth said. This had a big frut driven core of spicy flavor under which I am hoping lies enough structure to allow some aging.
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10/30/2011 - Redteeth wrote:
Drank without decanting and served with grilled Teriyaki steaks. it was excellent; very concentrated with classic Zin, deep berry and spice, characteristics.
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10/29/2011 - stubbie999 wrote:
Really good, elegant and brambly in the Rafanelli mold. Great balance, loves food - not overbearing in any way. FWIW the last glass some hours later started to show some stewed/riper fruits; probably a combination of warming to room temp and revealing it's true nature.
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10/24/2011 - Oskiwawa wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Enjoyed with grilled brats while watching the Rangers-Cards game 5.
Rich blackberry palate. Substantial without being a fruit bomb or jammy. Recommend drinking over the next 2-3 years.
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10/24/2011 - Oskiwawa wrote: flawed
Corked
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8/21/2011 - greenblanket wrote:
Excellent at this point; full and expressive without in your face extraction and weight. A wonderful match to grilled lamb
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8/5/2011 - simmy wrote: 92 Points
full-bodied, cherry nose, nice time to drink
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8/4/2011 - Leomania Likes this wine: 91 Points
Blackberry, black currant, chocolate and just a bit of cola. Excellent mouthfeel, low to moderate acidity and the oak is in great balance with it. Very nice.
This Zinfandel impresses year over year. It's quite drinkable right out of the gate with just a bit of air, but holds very nicely in the cellar. Still, I don't know how it will get much better than it is now, so the remaining two bottles in my cellar are MARKED!
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8/4/2011 - raiderwes wrote: 89 Points
drinking well
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6/20/2011 - JDB wrote:
getting better w/ time
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6/2/2011 - SUN-J wrote: 90 Points
Showed better than 18 months ago . . . dark fruit -- plums, dark berries on the nose. Palate is similar and a touch rustic. Moderate tannins and acidity. Still quite a bit of oak but enjoyable nonetheless.
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5/30/2011 - JDB wrote: 89 Points
OK - needs time
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5/28/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 94 Points
Decided on this one to propose to my girl and it did not disappoint in any way. I think it's at it's peak now. Better than the 09 Turley Mead ranch I had last night.
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5/15/2011 - greenblanket Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is exceptionally tasty right now; it's balanced and delicious with all of the lively fruit and Dry Creek spiciness you could ask for.
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5/7/2011 - pcastleton wrote: 96 Points
best
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5/3/2011 - sirwine wrote: 93 Points
One of the best examples of what Rafanelli does with Zinfandel. Not over the top, but juicy fruit forward zinfandel but retains its elegance. So smooth and easy to drink, yet holds up to hearty foods and grilled and roasted meets. The first smell and taste reveals a lot of cherry fruit with just a hint of wood. Long and positively delicious taste in the mouth. A real favorite.
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3/31/2011 - Sakswine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Leather and dark fruit on the nose. Dark fruit and cola on the palate. Very limited acidity. No tannic bite. Nice rich body. Well structured and integrated. Best zin from that region that year.
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3/31/2011 - dmoes wrote: 91 Points
Very fruity, but nice balance with strong body, yet a soft rounded finish. Still could wait on for another year or two.
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3/8/2011 - Hodby wrote: 90 Points
Dark red-purple. Strongly-oaked and deeply-fruited nose of plum, black raspberry, chocolate, black pepper. Medium tannin, medium acidity; very sturdy in the mouth.Very primary fruit and licorice flavors. Finishes with power, not a delicate zin nor an overripe, over-concentrated one. It's a little bit foursquare for me; improvements await with a couple years in the bottle, at least for me.
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2/24/2011 - eporres wrote: 92 Points
A box of spiced chocolate and a rare find at Bar Henry (or anywhere). http://yfrog.com/hs5e2yuj
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1/21/2011 - blabbott wrote: 92 Points
Went to a zin tasting and tried several zins. Came back home and had the A. Rafanelli from our cellar that blew all the others away.
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1/8/2011 - Paul from the Oblong Table wrote: 92 Points
Once again this winery comes to the forefront. It's all that you could desire in a full bodied rich looking color.
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10/10/2010 - BradenG wrote: 92 Points
Consumed with family for thanksgiving. The velvety feel of this wine with is non-overextracted qualities made it perfect for turkey and all the trimmings.
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8/28/2010 - alanr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, nearly opaque garnet, nose is ripe crushed berry compote, maybe a hint of surmaturite; loaded with rich, dark zinberry fruit, spice, lacking a bit of acidity, turning just a touch flabby on the broad finish. Classic Dry Creek Zin, but lacks the verve and zip I expected from the vintage. Still, a very nice Zin.
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7/11/2010 - rxlaw95 wrote: 92 Points
Crowd favorite against Bella and others.
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6/11/2010 - ajr wrote: 92 Points
simply an outstanding example of what a zinfandel should taste like:medium body with nose of dark fruit that continues on the palate. no noticeable oak. well integrated. just a delightful textbook zin IMHO.
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6/6/2010 - sbbulldog wrote: 91 Points
A solid effort. Hard to find something that we like better. Yes, the alcohol is high, which matched the pasta Putenesca with fresh swordfish and scallops, mussels, and shrimp that I added to mine. Just a friendly, fruity, chocolatey dream.
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5/25/2010 - wineismylife wrote: 90 Points
WIML90-?
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of boysenberry, currants and black berries that carries through to the palate. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink over the short to medium term.
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5/21/2010 - VinoPKM wrote: 92 Points
This is a great tasty Zin- everything I want in a Zin and well balanced. My previous score might have been a little too high- but this is one of the best Zins out there and a good QPR @ $33. Highly recommend and this is a Zin that non-Zin people can appreciate.
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3/28/2010 - oolah Likes this wine: 91 Points
A bit softer than it was in September, but still very fruity and vivacious. Chocolate and cherries, with spicebox and some hints of tobacco. Glad I still have one more bottle of this.
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3/27/2010 - Freerebel wrote: 93 Points
well balanced wine, medium body
delicious juicy - berry character 'Rafanelli' wine - Kat's favorite
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3/21/2010 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
Yeah!
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3/16/2010 - bradleyx wrote: 86 Points
Disappointing. Didn't deliver the lush, spicy, brambly fruit that I've always experienced with Rafanelli. This was earthy, a tad hot, and the fruit was simply muted. Not enjoyable and certainly not up to the lofty standards to which I've been so accustomed with Rafanelli.
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3/13/2010 - 6831 wrote: 89 Points
This has lost some of the exhuberant tone noted when tasted in the winery and is replaced with elegance and balance.
Flavors are now showing restrained, briary notes of ripe blackberry, clove and black pepper. 89
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2/23/2010 - MCUBEB wrote: 89 Points
Notes of red fruit, brown sugar and black pepper. Pretty nice wine that is easy to drink and will improve with some aging.
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2/9/2010 - gcubanl wrote: 94 Points
Excellent
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1/31/2010 - JWG wrote: 87 Points
Spicy, lots of heat. Not a lot of depth, but good fruit.
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1/30/2010 - randymac88 wrote: 92 Points
Way better than the last bottle. A different wine it seemed...maybe it was just a bad batch last time. But this bottle was perfectly balanced and fruity. Did not taste the alcohol at all like last time. No noticeable heat. Really loved it.
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1/24/2010 - jmam wrote: 92 Points
Cherry, chocolate, plenty of fruit. Fresh, round. Excellent Zin.
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12/31/2009 - Rich S wrote: 90 Points
Drank on NYE toward the end of the night so no formal notes were taken but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I recall it being a bit closed and served a bit too cold but the wine had big, spicy red fruit on the palate and a nice finish although the alcohol seemed a bit high. I am looking forward to trying another bottle in a few months in better conditions.
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12/23/2009 - randymac88 wrote: 88 Points
A disappointment. Had high hopes bringing a couple bottles back from the winery last summer, and opened a hot, unbalanced, alcohol-laden bottle. Not terrible, but I just couldn't get past the alcohol to taste any of the fruit or brambly goodness that Rafanelli delivers typically. Maybe it doesn't travel well (I'm on the east coast), or this is just a bad time for the wine, but I don't really understand the other reviews.
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12/22/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Tony, Ria, and Anna at our place BBQ prime New Yorks. Wish I had more!
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12/20/2009 - bradgem wrote: 90 Points
Big and heavy. Dark fruit bomb followed by nicely layered finish of vanilla and spice.
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12/20/2009 - SUN-J wrote: 88 Points
Spicy, raspberry, vanilla nose with lots of heat. Palate is similar though finish was quite acidic (and made the wine out of balance). Settled down after 30-45 mins in the glass but alcohol was always evident. A bit more complex than first opened but expected more from a Rafanelli. I prefer Carlisle Zin's except for the '07 SC County. 86-88.
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12/16/2009 - Pknut wrote:
The first of four bottles we brought back from visiting the winery in June 2009. This is more like a quick tasting impression than a tasting note, because I could barely drink this wine. First impression: hot nose, alcohol and oak. A completely overblown palate that tastes like cherry cream, vanilla and a shot of alcohol, almost like cherry-vanilla-benadryl, but with a creamy-oaky mouthfeel. Unbalanced is an understatement. A few hours later, the wine calmed down somewhat, but it had been sitting at room temperature which didn't do the alcohol level any favors. Most of the bottle remains for a second night, and hopefully it will show more like drinkable wine. UPDATE: the wine came down in size and attack, but was dominated by over-ripe cherry-new oak, very reminscent of a recent Buccella Merlot or Switchback Ridge. In fact, I struggled to find the Zin-ness of this Rafanelli Zin, any hint of briar, underbrush, spice, etc., but there was little to suggest that this was Zin at all. Blech. Maybe in a year or two, the oak will integrate and some Zin might emerge. Maybe not.
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11/16/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
Drank at Erin's place on Russian River. What a night! Wine was outstanding, as always.
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11/7/2009 - ToddS wrote: 92 Points
Spicy, darker fruits, well balanced. A hint of tannin. Excellent with cheese and bacon infused burgers.
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10/31/2009 - Sausalito wrote:
came through again. Classic dry creek zin profile after about 30 minutes. I was actually struck by how tight it was when I first opened, I even considered that it was bad for a moment.That quickly changed. I loved it but may have to officially place it behind the Yoakim Bridge as my top Zin.
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10/16/2009 - VinoPKM wrote: 94 Points
This is a killer Zin!!! Highly recommend. I wish I could get this wine easier.
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9/29/2009 - treaganjr wrote: 91 Points
Fantastic wine
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9/12/2009 - jts_brown wrote:
we drank this while the Bucks lost in a last minute thriller to USC. I am numb. The wine was great for 3+ qtrs but now I'm moving to vodka.
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9/12/2009 - oolah wrote: 91 Points
Chocolate-covered cherries and really starting to kick into gear. This is delicious now -- much more open and approachable than it had been in the spring. Good structure and will continue to age well.
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9/4/2009 - Rivers1488 wrote: 91 Points
The Last bottle I rated 88, but since then I've visited the Dry Creek Valley and the site of their winery on West Dry Creek Rd. As beautiful as the valley is, the site is something out of a movie. Their terraced hills and beautiful grounds are quite a setting and makes any wine taste better. The valley and their winery is a must visit. The wine is just what I look for in a Zinfandel. My summer barbecue red. Light not jammy, but spicey with the barbecue flavors brought foward by the wine and visa versa.
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8/30/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 94 Points
Hell Yeah! This wine is hella good!
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8/28/2009 - 6831 wrote: 91 Points
Made in a robust, fruity style with very good concentration and length. Still a bit primary but showing delicious flavors of briary red and black fruit, tobacco, herb and earth.
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8/9/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 94 Points
Dinner with Rob & Carmella at Tigelleria. This was quite a hit! Perfectly structured wine. It seemed even better than the first bottle I had.
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8/1/2009 - beezer6 wrote: 93 Points
Saturday Tasting Group (Knightsbridge Wine Shop (Northbrook, IL)): Hugely extracted royal aromas of waxy crayola crayons, dark brown gravy, cassis and dark cherry pie.
Fantastic finesse on the palate.
Old World in style believe it or not. Lots of earth...especially for a Zinfandel.
Great round mouth feel.
Not overdone at all with impeccable balance.
Absolutely lovely.
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8/1/2009 - psmith wrote:
Spicy dark fruits. Big, but restrained. Firm structure. Really nice zin.
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7/31/2009 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Tasted again side by side with the 2005 Ottimino Zin. This is an elegant and nuanced Cali Zin, still with big fruit, but with several layers of flavor and complexity. It doesn't hit you over the head like many others like some Turleys -- it invites you to take a ride from the beautiful nose to the long delicious finish. Still, this bottle did not quite show as well as the previous two bottles I've tried, so I knocked it down a point.
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7/25/2009 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 92 Points
Another outstanding vintage! This one's very refined, but has that active mineral component to it. Outstanding now, but one of the few zins I think age well.
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7/12/2009 - AZVinoVeritas wrote:
Drank with 2 other 2007 Dry Creek Valley Zins (Carlisle and Adobe Road) and this was head and shoulders everyone's favorite. I have been lucky enough to drink about 10 vintages of Rafanelli and I think this one is the best! Typical DCV Zin fruit prifle with red berries and smoke, but perfectly integrated bottle of wine for my palate. Where the Carlisle outshines this in brute strength, showing more oak and black fruit, this won hands down in finesse and balance.
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6/28/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
This is how I remember my young Rafanellis as this bottle was much more closed than the one I enjoyed three months ago. The energy and structure I remember are still there but the flavors are locked beneath. Definitely no more until next summer.
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6/5/2009 - oolah wrote: 91 Points
Zin is usually not one of my favorite grapes, but I love this wine. It's got great bones. Well-structured and elegant, with deep purple color and spicy earthy aromas. Opens with some chocolate and cherries and lets loose with some dark black fruit. Really delicious, although still young and a bit closed. Will likely improve by fall.
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5/23/2009 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Drank with 2007 Turley Old Vines Zin and 2005 Ottimino Zin.
Consistent with previous bottle from a few weeks ago. Strawberries 'n cream on the nose. On the palate, generous brambly and briary fruit but not jammy -- more elegant than the Turley. Long finish with some fine sweet tannins. Extremely delicious -- this is the kind of wine that I can taste when I am just thinking about it. Almost haunting. Rafanelli's are my favorite Zin at this point.
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5/10/2009 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Beautiful nose of flowers and fresh strawberries. On the palate, this was just delicious, a beautiful expression of zinfandel. Started out with soft fruit and a silky mouthfeel, with the flavor increasing through the mid-palate leading to a long finish of sweet berries with just a hint of velvety tannins. 14.6% ETOH (very low for a big Cali Zin) but no hint of it, even at this young age. This is a big, fruit-forward Cali Zin to be sure, but it does not go jammy or over the top. Indeed, there is even an elegance to this wine. Well done. I've tasted the last few vintages from this producer and am impressed with their consistent effort.
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4/22/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
Young and fresh off the truck but just stupid good. Sure it's tight and a bit raw but it's lively and balanced and it builds from a bright spicy attack through a rich back palate to a juicy/floral and already medium long finish. Damn good right now but Greenblanket says "hold."
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