A. Rafanelli
Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
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; 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.
Dec 5th, 2023A well constructed wine. Great balance. Robust mouth feel, with blackberry jam and beautiful finish.
A well constructed wine. Great balance. Robust mouth feel, with blackberry jam and beautiful finish.
Feb 25th, 2019Slow-ox’d for about 90 minutes. Drank alongside the 2016. The 2015 is red fruit dominant with some vanilla and baking spice and while it’s undeniably high quality, it’s not showing the layered complexity the 2016 possesses.
Slow-ox’d for about 90 minutes. Drank alongside the 2016. The 2015 is red fruit dominant with some vanilla and baking spice and while it’s undeniably high quality, it’s not showing the layered complexity the 2016 possesses.
May 10th, 2018
K, this rating is certainly biased by my past experience with A. Rafanelli which has been amazing. Unless you want to open 2015 and allow to sit a couple days...wait! This is too young to be opened which makes me grateful I have another bottle I’ll crack open in, say, a year or so and it’ll be perfect out of the bottle. That said I tasted this day by day for three days and it just kept improving. If you open too young give it TIME. In youth it needs some time but once it has time? Hot damn. The tannins, alcohol, acid and fruit are in equal balance three days in...now. Wait two years and it may be extraordinary out of the bottle.
K, this rating is certainly biased by my past experience with A. Rafanelli which has been amazing. Unless you want to open 2015 and allow to sit a couple days...wait! This is too young to be opened which makes me grateful I have another bottle I’ll crack open in, say, a year or so and it’ll be perfect out of the bottle. That said I tasted this day by day for three days and it just kept improving. If you open too young give it TIME. In youth it needs some time but once it has time? Hot damn. The tannins, alcohol, acid and fruit are in equal balance three days in...now. Wait two years and it may be extraordinary out of the bottle.
Dec 23rd, 2017Painfully young. Baby fat for dayz. Hold for the future.
Painfully young. Baby fat for dayz. Hold for the future.
Nov 26th, 2017Popped and poured; consumed over four hours. Needed some time to open but already entering a much better, more pleasant place than when these were released. The nose is loaded with fresh brambles and underbrush. After about three hours of air, it also added a sort of spiced meat element. Lip smacking dark forest fruits on the palate. Wonderful balance. This is my sort of Zinfandel. Still a young pup...the future is bright for these. Drink now with a long decant or hold. Best after 2019.
Popped and poured; consumed over four hours. Needed some time to open but already entering a much better, more pleasant place than when these were released. The nose is loaded with fresh brambles and underbrush. After about three hours of air, it also added a sort of spiced meat element. Lip smacking dark forest fruits on the palate. Wonderful balance. This is my sort of Zinfandel. Still a young pup...the future is bright for these. Drink now with a long decant or hold. Best after 2019.
1 person found it helpfulJan 28th, 2018
Best Zin I have ever drank
Best Zin I have ever drank
1 person found it helpfulApr 15th, 2017
Yes I know I should be patient. Yes I know I should wait. This arrived just yesterday and I popped and poured. WOW!!! By far the best most balanced Rafanelli that I've had at release. Delicious fruit. A touch of spice and a great finish. Zins should hope to be this good.
Yes I know I should be patient. Yes I know I should wait. This arrived just yesterday and I popped and poured. WOW!!! By far the best most balanced Rafanelli that I've had at release. Delicious fruit. A touch of spice and a great finish. Zins should hope to be this good.
1 person found it helpfulApr 5th, 2017
Excellent Zin with a ton of blackberries and some of those Zin brambles. Fully integrated with a long smooth finish. Not sure if drinking this earlier would have made the fruits brighter but still overall a very special wine.
Excellent Zin with a ton of blackberries and some of those Zin brambles. Fully integrated with a long smooth finish. Not sure if drinking this earlier would have made the fruits brighter but still overall a very special wine.
Feb 15th, 2024
Tasted the 15’ about 2 years ago, and it has not changed much. I think what separates Rafanelli Zin from pack are its beautiful round acidity and fresh red fruits. There are still enough ripe fruits to provide a plush palate. It will probably need another 3-5 years to get the tannins fully integrated.
Immensely enjoyable.
Tasted the 15’ about 2 years ago, and it has not changed much. I think what separates Rafanelli Zin from pack are its beautiful round acidity and fresh red fruits. There are still enough ripe fruits to provide a plush palate. It will probably need another 3-5 years to get the tannins fully integrated.
Immensely enjoyable.