+1 hour decant(lots of sediment). A gorgeous dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aeromatic nose of dark cherry, black olives, tobacco, toasty oak, eucalyptus, roasted meat, milk chocolate. Taste: deep, rich, silky, creamy wine with dark plum, bitter coffee grounds, earth, licorice, new leather, graphite, dried herbs, pepper, and a medium plus finish. YUM! — 2 months ago
The color is deep purple magenta with signs of some bricking on the edges. Nose - a bit restricted with notes of brambly red berries, herbs, wet soil and graphite followed by floral scents. Taste - juicy, silky and soft. Well structured and layered. Red -plum and dark chocolate dominate with secondary notes of cedar, dry herbs, spice and espresso giving this wine a long soft finish. Luv it! — a year ago
Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable dark purplish magenta with some bricking. On the nose: some plum, currants, herbaceous, baking spice, touch of tobacco and milk chocolate. Taste: creamy, balanced, savory wine with currants, tobacco, green bell pepper, spiced dark cherry, clove. YUM! — a year ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 3 though, this was pretty tasty throughout. The 2023 Mataro CCC pours a pretty ruby/purple color with a magenta rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of tart and ripe, black and red fruit: blackberries, raspberries, black pepper, dried thyme, gentle warm spices and wet gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Fresh and full of life. An awesome pairing with lamb/beef kofta and tabouli. Drink now through 2038. — 4 days ago
A murky purple magenta color, but still appears young. Very aromatic with beautiful notes of blackberry, perfume followed by sandalwood, wet rich soil, pencil lead and sweet oak. Tastes young with tannins still present leaving many years for aging. Primary flavors of blackberry cedar and bitter sweet chocolate with secondary notes of cassis, new leather, pepper, dried herbs, and gravel giving it a long dry finish. Should pair with our Neapolitan marinara pizza and pasta dinner tonight. Looking forward to see what another several years will add to its flavor profile. — a year ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 Zinfandel pours a ruby/purple color with a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: black berries, black cherries, raspberries, fig, green herbs, a touch of rubber pool toy, black pepper, dry earth and some gentle 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+. From my experience, this is the most youthful expression of Rafanelli Zinfandel I can recall. Good, but to my palate this will probably be better after 2028. — 23 days ago
1 hour decant(lots of chunky/fine sediment). A majestic dark magenta color with a little bricking. On the nose: stewed plums, some blue fruit, herbaceous, eucalyptus, and worn leather. Taste: silky smooth, rich, layered wine with dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate espresso, herbs, tar, and a spicy licorice long finish. YUM! — 8 months ago
Tom Garland
1 hour decant(some fine/cloudy sediment). A splendid dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: expressive notes of dark brambly fruit, currants, floral, milk chocolate, planting soil, and eucalyptus. Taste: silky, jammy mouthcoating wine with dark plum/cherry, earth, licorice, dark chocolate, and a long graphite/coffee ground finish. YUM! — 5 days ago