A. Rafanelli

Unfiltered Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel

9.2195 ratings
9.128 pro ratings
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Zinfandel
Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, White Rice, Pasta, Potato, Herbs, Mushrooms, Soft Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Tomato-Based, Duck, Exotic Spices, Beans & Peas, Hard Cheese, Pork, Baking Spices, Pungent Cheese, Beef, Onion, Shallot, Garlic
Top Notes For
Jay Kline

Brambles, plums, anise, freshly oiled baseball glove, mushrooms, and black pepper on the nose. On the palate: brambles, dark cherries, espresso, tobacco. Medium acid...still a touch tannic. So enjoyable. A wine in a great place.

Brambles, plums, anise, freshly oiled baseball glove, mushrooms, and black pepper on the nose. On the palate: brambles, dark cherries, espresso, tobacco. Medium acid...still a touch tannic. So enjoyable. A wine in a great place.

Nov 27th, 2020
Steve Bachmann

I'm not really a Zin drinker but I have this one often at Florio in San Francisco. It's remarkedly "restrained" for its category and well structured. Also "only" 14.7% alcohol which is as low as it gets in CA. A must try.

I'm not really a Zin drinker but I have this one often at Florio in San Francisco. It's remarkedly "restrained" for its category and well structured. Also "only" 14.7% alcohol which is as low as it gets in CA. A must try.

4 people found it helpfulAug 10th, 2014
Lori Mike

Pours berry in color. ON THE NOSE: blackberry, earth, eucalyptus and spice. ON THE PALATE: blackberry with a hint of sweet Jam. Medium body and medium finish. This is not an in your face #zinfandel not big and bold.

Pours berry in color. ON THE NOSE: blackberry, earth, eucalyptus and spice. ON THE PALATE: blackberry with a hint of sweet Jam. Medium body and medium finish. This is not an in your face #zinfandel not big and bold.

2 people found it helpfulDec 18th, 2015
Jay Kline

Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar.

Popped and poured. This was opened on a night where there was stiff competition from the Old World (Ferrando Carema and Cascina Roccalini Barbaresco). While it was an obvious outlier, it held its own just fine. Abundant Zinfandel fruit in a slightly more restrained style with enough nuance to keep someone interested in a night of wines that dominated in the nuance and structure department. All that being said, it sure was a nice wine to end on. The 2012's are drinking well at this point but I still think these will be better with a couple more years in the cellar.

1 person found it helpfulNov 20th, 2017
Jon Gerber

Still the best Zin coming out of Cali.

Still the best Zin coming out of Cali.

1 person found it helpfulOct 26th, 2015
Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.2

F...ing classic. Old school, balanced. Lots of exuberant zin flavors but clean acid and a hint of structure. Delicious.

F...ing classic. Old school, balanced. Lots of exuberant zin flavors but clean acid and a hint of structure. Delicious.

1 person found it helpfulAug 11th, 2015
Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

9.0

I love it when you can have a big, slutty, oaked up Zin and still have it come across as relatively restrained in the category. Some days you just want to go there with a grilled rib eye. Still could use a couple years to settle in, though.

I love it when you can have a big, slutty, oaked up Zin and still have it come across as relatively restrained in the category. Some days you just want to go there with a grilled rib eye. Still could use a couple years to settle in, though.

Jun 3rd, 2016
Tom Riley

When in Sonoma... Sleek, polished, balanced. The way zin should be but too often isn't.

When in Sonoma... Sleek, polished, balanced. The way zin should be but too often isn't.

Jul 24th, 2015
Steve Bachmann

This is the only Zin I ever drink, probably because it is more reserved than a typical one.

This is the only Zin I ever drink, probably because it is more reserved than a typical one.

Apr 18th, 2015
Charlie Beatty

Buyer wineworksonline.com

10

Wow! Big rich and spicy components. Awesome red! Finisher of the evening.

Wow! Big rich and spicy components. Awesome red! Finisher of the evening.

Apr 14th, 2015