A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
A.Rafanelli has been hitting it out of the park for decades. Their 2012 Cabernet is no exception. It's a bit reticent at first, but just a few minutes of air make all the difference. Wild strawberry, red cherry and wisps of vanilla are present on the nose. The palate is marked by impeccable balance and purity of fruit along with a significant spice component. The long, even finish show off continued red fruits and spice along with black tea and bits of earth that will increase with bottle age. There are a handful of producers in Dry Creek Valley that routinely nail Cabernet Sauvignon cold. Rafanelli is among their number.
A.Rafanelli has been hitting it out of the park for decades. Their 2012 Cabernet is no exception. It's a bit reticent at first, but just a few minutes of air make all the difference. Wild strawberry, red cherry and wisps of vanilla are present on the nose. The palate is marked by impeccable balance and purity of fruit along with a significant spice component. The long, even finish show off continued red fruits and spice along with black tea and bits of earth that will increase with bottle age. There are a handful of producers in Dry Creek Valley that routinely nail Cabernet Sauvignon cold. Rafanelli is among their number.
1 person found it helpfulDec 15th, 2015
3 hour decant yesterday,
Finished today but still needed another day like the 2010. Great on day 1 with Wagyu Ribeye, definitely needs some steak 🥩 to fully enjoy. Give it another 10 years
3 hour decant yesterday,
Finished today but still needed another day like the 2010. Great on day 1 with Wagyu Ribeye, definitely needs some steak 🥩 to fully enjoy. Give it another 10 years
What an excellent wine. Pulled the cork and fruit smells poured out. It was loaded with with berries and plums on the nose and taste with a long slightly spicy finish. Did not show its age at all. Been drinking Rafanelli since 1995 and will continue to do so.
What an excellent wine. Pulled the cork and fruit smells poured out. It was loaded with with berries and plums on the nose and taste with a long slightly spicy finish. Did not show its age at all. Been drinking Rafanelli since 1995 and will continue to do so.
Dec 16th, 2022A lot of dark fruits and cedar throughout. Excellent wine
A lot of dark fruits and cedar throughout. Excellent wine
Jul 11th, 2021
Spicy dark cherries. Acid makes you pucker. These guys are good but only very.
Spicy dark cherries. Acid makes you pucker. These guys are good but only very.
Sep 11th, 2017Still love it. So glad I was able to find a bottle earlier today.
Still love it. So glad I was able to find a bottle earlier today.
Jul 23rd, 2017
Nose is a good start to the drinking which is smooth and and full bodied. Excellent.
Nose is a good start to the drinking which is smooth and and full bodied. Excellent.
Jun 5th, 2017So good so right .A Rafanelli you rock. Everything you want in a cab. Some mineral some fruit. Nice level of acid. I loved it. This is where again put the blindfold on. You'll see.
So good so right .A Rafanelli you rock. Everything you want in a cab. Some mineral some fruit. Nice level of acid. I loved it. This is where again put the blindfold on. You'll see.
Mar 24th, 2017Not great. Not bad. Better with food. Scott was not a fan. We loved this wine when we tasted it at the winery .... glad we opened it as it would not have aged well. No acidity. Quite syrupy. Wet and supple on my palate which made it palatable.
Not great. Not bad. Better with food. Scott was not a fan. We loved this wine when we tasted it at the winery .... glad we opened it as it would not have aged well. No acidity. Quite syrupy. Wet and supple on my palate which made it palatable.
Feb 13th, 2017
Good wine to start an evening. Full of youth and oak but nicely integrated without a decant. Hard to beat for the price.
Good wine to start an evening. Full of youth and oak but nicely integrated without a decant. Hard to beat for the price.
Oct 2nd, 2016