1988 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 91.1 points

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  4/19/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 94 Points

  Holly's Birthday Dinner - an A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective (Omaha, NE): Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. After removing the capsule, cork was revealed to be completely saturated and moldy at the top. It was positively nasty. After wiping it down, I was able to extract the cork intact, with the use of a Durand. The 1988 pours a deep garnet with near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment even after decanting. On the nose, the wine is a vinous mix of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles and currants, with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, organic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and so delicious. Brilliant. The ’88 is ready to drink now with a short decant but has plenty of stuffing to drink well for at least another 10+ years and well-stored examples will be alive for much longer.

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  3/10/2011 - M5 wrote: 90 Points

  Old world
  rusted cherry
  acidity was high but settled
  tea, medium spices, leather, and some tannins on the finish

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  4/8/1998 - buckeye76 wrote: 90 Points

  BLACKBERRIES, SPICE, MINT, ANDLICORICE INTHE NOSE. LICORICE AND BLACKBERRY FLAVORS. NICE COMPLEXITY. MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.

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  3/24/1992 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine:

  At home at dinner, pasta. Very impressive – looking wine. Monstrous black ruby color; really coats the glass with sticky purple legs. This baby is downright opaque. Nose shows focused, deep aromas of black currants, oak, and varietal berry fruit. Well stuffed is the word for this wine. Big, bold and very tannic on the palate, it nevertheless has a lot of fruit to help in the balance. A very impressive wine now, I just hope the fruit will last until the tannin mellows. 5-10-14-7: 86/100.

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  11/16/1991 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points

  With Kathy at home at dinner, baked white cheddar macaroni. Deep black ruby color. Dense and opaque. The nose is absolutely gorgeous. Just huge and super ripe. As good a nose as any young cab or Bordeaux I’ve ever smelled. The mouth is not quite the equal of the nose – but it’s not far behind, and certainly demonstrates the attributes of the nose, albeit to a slightly lesser degree. Tremendous rich, ripe fruit. Wants to be the 1987 Montelena. Wow! Grapevine must’ve been out to lunch. Beautiful wine. 5-13-17-8: 93/100.

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View all 8 Community Tasting Notes

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