k

8.9

Lush mouth feel. Softness paired with decent acidity. Notes of blueberry mid-palate. Bottle says red fruits, cherry and black raspberry. — a month ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Violets and hot dark cherry. High in alcohol but balanced and delicious. Long and intense. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Something quite magical often happens to Rafanelli Zinfandel after 10+ years of bottle age. I can’t explain it…but these wines begin to take on a more rustic, Old World feel. It’s as if they shift into an overdrive. The fruit is still big, beautiful and pure (no-doubt a testament to their rigorous selection) and yet they can often display a new energy about them which give them remarkable longevity. This bottle is perfectly representative.

Opened to celebrate my daughter’s 14th birthday, the 2009 Rafanelli Zinfandel pours a deep, practically opaque garnet that becomes more turbid the further we delved into the bottle (in typical fashion, this Rafanelli full of sediment). Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, bright cherry and bramble-like fruits, Asian spices, espresso and some black pepper. I do sense a touch of VA. On the palate, the wine is dry and with medium tannin and medium+ acid. The notes from the nose are confirmed…with a bit of added emphasis, it should be noted. There’s almost a Pop Rocks experience too…with the slightest effervescence pricking the tongue. And again, this is something that I would more expect from a non-interventionalist wine from Italy…certainly not from Sonoma. Hot take here…but this bottle reminded me of something from Paolo Bea (San Valentino) more than anything from Sonoma, let alone California. It’s just so wonderful. The finish is long and delivers minutes of pleasure.

As far as I’m concerned, nobody is making Zinfandel with the soul that Rafanelli does and the proof is in the bottle each and every time. Of course, they are delicious when young but with age, these wines become something else. Drink now with a decant (for sediment only) and through 2034. — 3 years ago

Carter White

8.9

Opulent fruit, a little hot — 6 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Huge producer but all organic. Cranberry, cherry, orange peel, tobacco leaf, carob, perfect smidge of VA to keep things interesting. Ripe, tactile tannins. Touch hot at 14.5%. Drink or hold with or without food. I preferred the balance of this on day 2. — 8 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

2003. Last bottle was 3 years ago, and this one I liked better. Starts out austere with evidence of a difficult hot year. But after hours in the decanter it cycled thru some almost port like caramelized tapenades and ended the evening with a somewhat strange but delicious red crème brûlée thing. So if you have one… I suggest patience thru the awkward opening hours to get to the awkward good part. Cheers. — 4 years ago

Conrad Green

9.2

Polished and intense. Great texture. Lovely deep fruit. A touch hot — 6 months ago

with Bex

Brandon Boesch

9.4

Pineau d’aunis for the win! What a beautiful wine. Berries and cracked white pepper for days. There’s great tannin and good mouthfeel. Perfect food wine. Also day two it was great out of the fridge with some chill on the patio. A little complex and earthy for day drinking but so good. Also the price point for this one is great. Interestingly I do not see a vintage. — 3 years ago

Devin Bostick

9.1

Leather plum cherry etc, body hung but not jarring and not hot but acids there, berries — 5 years ago

Blake Walker

9.1

Fresh, lifted style. Floral, dried herbs, strawberry preserve. Avoids being too hot, jammy or smoke-y. — 5 years ago