Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

Young but the apotheosis of Dry Creek. Such depth and purity of Zin fruit (spicy black raspberry) and dry gravelly earth on the nose. Deep, fruity, but composed and minerally at the same time on the palate. A little clenched on the finish because yes I’m drinking it too young. But the stuffing, balance, and structure are there for many years development. I love these guys’ Zins.

Absolute 🔥

I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+.

Poured into a Boa decanter several hours prior to dinner. The 2022 Zinfandel pours a ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of bright brambles: blackberries and raspberries, cherry (some candied, think Cherry Blow Pop), pipe tobacco, black pepper, dry organic earth and gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some notes of mocha added to the mix. The finish is long and delightful. Fun to try in its youth however I expect these will show even better after a few years in the cellar. Best after 2027 and through 2042.

Poured into a decanter about two hours prior to dinner. There was some decent sediment so I left the last ounce or so in the bottle. In the glass, the 2018 pours a deep ruby with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, this is absolutely gorgeous with heady notes of fresh ripe blackberries, black cherries, pomegranate molasses, tobacco, black pepper, some dry earth and beautiful integrated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Beautifully balanced. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and has a satisfying melange of fruit and spice. This is fabulous with some air right now but I expect it will age beautifully through 2038.

Popped and poured; no formal notes. Enjoyed alongside the 2019. Tonight, the 2015 showed slightly bigger, deeper fruit. Still developing with a higher proportion of black fruit relative to the black and red mix of brambles in the 2019. Structure for many more years of enjoyment. Balanced and just so winsome in the Rafanelli way. Just entering its second plenitude but I expect this to be enjoyable through 2035.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a 24-hour period with very little evolution. No formal notes. Enjoyed alongside the 2015. Tonight, the 2019 showed brighter and almost exercised some restraint. Definitely still showing signs of its youth and a more proportional mix of red and black bramble fruit when compared to the 2015 which was more black in profile. Balanced and endowed with great structure; acid showing particularly well. Better after 2025 but I wouldn’t at all be surprised to see myself enjoying this late into the 2030’s.

Popped and poured. Enjoyed over three days and it was more or less consistent throughout. No formal notes. The 2017’s are beautifully balanced with deep, dark fruit; a combination of ripe and dried (but mostly on the riper end of the spectrum) mixed with some lovely baking spices too. Secondary characteristics have not yet entered the frame. Was an awesome pairing with grilled burgers. Drink now or over the next 10-15 years easy.

Popped and poured, no formal notes. The 2018, Rafanelli is throwing a lot of sediment already in its relative youth. It’s also restrained in the typical Rafanelli, but atypical Zinfandel way. Great balance, and quite delicious however the fruit shows on the slightly under ripened end of the spectrum. That being said, I expect age to be very kind to this vintage. Drink now with a short decant and over the next 15+ years. A lovely pairing with grilled steaks.

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.