Aroma is woody. Long barrel aging. Lots of cocoa and vanilla with those lovely tobacco, pepper, and a kiss of smoke. Then the fruit aromas kick in with plum and currant. Definitely more of a medium body and a stronger acidity with a nice oak tannic finish. Of the more moderate body zins the heavy oak makes this one more favorite. — a month ago
Great pleasant wine. — 3 months ago
Very good for us, our fav US S blsnc so far. Acidity and fruit but better balanced softer w some minerality. Label says Sonoma and Valley Floor. Label says intent is Loire style. No oak maturation. $15ish, Total Wine. — 11 days ago
Notes of dark cherry, blackberry, and a touch of cedar and tobacco. I popped the cork and started drinking it kept on opening and getting better with air. At the BH. — a month ago
2024 vintage. Wow delicious. Just off dry enough. Luscious ripe apricots. Georgia peaches. Nice finish. — a month ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1997 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of cherry lozenges, star anise, leather, horse blanket, black pepper, organic earth, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I recently got to spend some time with Ren and Marilyn Harris of Paradigm and he shared with me that he thought Zinfandel was a variety that has the potential of being longer lived than Cabernet Sauvignon. I didn’t argue with him. Anyway, this is a killer Rafanelli Zinfandel that is aging ever so gracefully. Drink now through 2037. — 2 months ago
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego
2024 vintage. Lighter but with concentration for days. A different style with a suggestion of limoncello. Generally dislike Sauvie B but this came to play and was the standout of this year’s Bevan Cellars releases I tasted (3 whites/7 reds). 08.22.25 — a day ago