A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
If you haven’t had a well aged bottle of this producer, you owe to yourself to acquire a bottle or more.
I had the 06 Sunday and it had much bigger tannins…it was still youthful…more so than this 08 tonight.
Tonight this was leaner than the 06, but had beautiful fruits, nice evolution and violets for days. The nose & the palate blossomed with florals, ripe fruits & also had excellent acidity/finish.
It was a nose that the group engaged in for quite awhile before sipping. Truly special.
If you haven’t had a well aged bottle of this producer, you owe to yourself to acquire a bottle or more.
I had the 06 Sunday and it had much bigger tannins…it was still youthful…more so than this 08 tonight.
Tonight this was leaner than the 06, but had beautiful fruits, nice evolution and violets for days. The nose & the palate blossomed with florals, ripe fruits & also had excellent acidity/finish.
It was a nose that the group engaged in for quite awhile before sipping. Truly special.
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly fresh, tart, vibrant red fruits: red brambles, red currants and tart cherries with some pyrazines, tobacco, some cool herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and bordering high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the body is perceptibly leaner than both the 1988 and the 2018. That being said, I love its transparency because it is clearly telling part of the story of the vintage. The frost was merciless in Dry Creek in the spring of 2008. So far, the evolution seems slow to me. Drink now with a decant but considering the structure, this has a long life ahead. If I had another bottle, I would open my next after 2028.
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly fresh, tart, vibrant red fruits: red brambles, red currants and tart cherries with some pyrazines, tobacco, some cool herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and bordering high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the body is perceptibly leaner than both the 1988 and the 2018. That being said, I love its transparency because it is clearly telling part of the story of the vintage. The frost was merciless in Dry Creek in the spring of 2008. So far, the evolution seems slow to me. Drink now with a decant but considering the structure, this has a long life ahead. If I had another bottle, I would open my next after 2028.
May 2nd, 2024
Easily overcoming the 2008 climate issues. Great wine.
Easily overcoming the 2008 climate issues. Great wine.
1 person found it helpfulApr 20th, 2014
Beautiful, dried black cherries and leather.
Beautiful, dried black cherries and leather.
Jan 25th, 2021
Beautiful potential wishing I would have let I lay for another few years. Tannins are beginning to soften but still lending a good back bone. Black raspberry and dark cherry in the mouth under nose of cedar and vanilla.
Beautiful potential wishing I would have let I lay for another few years. Tannins are beginning to soften but still lending a good back bone. Black raspberry and dark cherry in the mouth under nose of cedar and vanilla.
Jan 21st, 2019
Always one of my favorites. Great long finish, excellent fruit flavor, really stand up to the steak. Well balanced. Great wine all around
Always one of my favorites. Great long finish, excellent fruit flavor, really stand up to the steak. Well balanced. Great wine all around
Nov 9th, 2018
Excellent Zin and one of my favorites. Just loaded and drinking great for a 13 year old Zin. Part of a family dinner in Haddonfield.
Excellent Zin and one of my favorites. Just loaded and drinking great for a 13 year old Zin. Part of a family dinner in Haddonfield.
Feb 16th, 2016