A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley 2009

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Winery: A. Rafanelli
Region: USA » California » Sonoma County » Dry Creek Valley
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

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This smells chunky and full with a lovely sweetness to the fruit that gains floral accents and hints of mint, though the wood aromas do become more... Read more

Excellent paired with lamb. Read more

A ruby center fading to a pale rouge watery edge, lush blackberries and eucalyptus on the nose along with cinnamon, cedar, lilac and spicy green pe... Read more

Editorial Reviews for A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

Gregory Dal Piaz

89,602

Vintage: 1991 01/26/2010

This smells chunky and full with a lovely sweetness to the fruit that gains floral accents and hints of mint, though the wood aromas do become more assertive as it sits in the glass. On the palate this begins as dark and earthy but quickly blossoms to reveal a core of rich, chunky, dark cherry and blackberry fruit. There is good acid here and a fair amount of tannin too but everything remains in balance and the fruit, though it is a bit monolithic, ultimately retains the upper hand. The finish is long with hints of eucalyptus and wood spice contributing complexity. This is delicious and probably as good as it’s going to get. It’s a gutsy, old style Cabernet that’s packed full of fruit but I do not get the sense that it’s going to develop into a particularly complex wine and my best guess is that the structure here will win out over the fruit sooner rather than later. But for today and the next 3-5 years it’s a winner. 92pts

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User Reviews for A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley

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colinbes

Vintage: 2006 12/19/2012

Excellent paired with lamb.

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Maria Valetta

Vintage: 2004 04/01/2010

A ruby center fading to a pale rouge watery edge, lush blackberries and eucalyptus on the nose along with cinnamon, cedar, lilac and spicy green pepper, perhaps more like jalapeno. Supple at first, but then the tannins evolve, gripping the tongue in a seductive way yet not so overpowering that you resist. Spicy cinnamon, cola, port soaked cherries, stewed plums, and toffee all make an appearance in the flavor of this beautifully crafted wine. A nutty, graphite finish lingers lengthily on the inside of the cheeks. The complexity of this wine is outstanding, and could easily age for another 8-10 years, when it’s guaranteed to develop those intense secondary flavors. This family-run winery has some of the oldest grape vines in the area, and produces it’s wine in old school format – a rustic big old barn. Now that’s cool! Available only at the Winery or on fancy restaurant wine lists, so you may just want to stop in for a tour of the winery on your next trip to Sonoma. It’s worth the trip; just make sure to bring an empty suitcase to cart your wine back home with you. -Maria Valetta