+1 hour decant(some fine/cloudy sediment). An amazing inky purplish magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic nose with perfumed dark red/blue fruit, forest floor, herbaceous, currants, smoked wood. Taste: so easy to like!!! creamy, velvety, concentrated, elegant mouthcoating wine with dark cherry, milk chocolate, cassis, minerals, baking spice, and a espresso-graphite long finish. YUM! Entering its drinking window with time to go. — 5 months ago
1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A majestic dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: black cherry/plum, nutmeg, oak, smokey earth, cedar. Taste: soft, smooth, juicy wine with blackberry, dark cherry, cedar, earth and a medium plus dry potting soil/cocoa finish. YUM!
Purchased on a recent visit...beautiful indoor/outdoor tasting room featuring their small production wines. If you want to throw down some serious change they offer a terrific multi course food and wine pairing in the underground cellar. — 7 months ago
Bracing white with lovely smoke like wafts of lemon, spice, chalk, green grass and lovely mineral foreground. Layered on long on the tongue. Absolutely needs food as on its own maybe a little too bracing but with a nice grilled fish and salad it’s balanced. — 2 months ago
Decant for sediment and pour(decent chunky/fine sediment). A remarkable murky magenta color with bricking. On the nose: beautiful nose of stewed black fruit/currants, floral, herbaceous, burnt embers, spearment. Taste: classic old school Napa, juicy, balanced, savory wine with dark cherry, baking spice, smoke, sweet tobacco and a nice long earthy cocoa finish. YUM! Drinks well at year 20 and glad to have another bottle. — 5 months ago
From Mag
1.5 hour decant(little cloudy/fine sediment). A thrilling dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: black raspberry, licorice, mint, dried herbs, currants. Taste: plush mouthfeel, chalky, smooth, dry wine with black raspberry/red plum, bell pepper, graphite, rich soil, herbs, mocha and a nice medium plus finish. YUM! What a beautiful To Kalon vineyard cab franc wine. — 6 months ago
1.5 hour decant(decent chunky sediment). A majestic deep purplish magenta color with a little bricking. Always have a soft spot for aged Cain Five and Chris's old school savory style(embrace a little brett!). On the nose: stunning nose of worn leather, funky wet earth, red fruit, touch of menthol, nutty. Taste: Restrained, silky, elegant, balanced wine with dusty earth, herbaceous, currants, plum, cedarwood, and peppery dark chocolate medium finish. YUM! Hitting its stride with time to go. — 9 months ago
+1 hour decant(some fine/chunky sediment). A captivating dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: mellow notes of cherry, tobacco, menthol, wet forest floor. Taste: cherry, herbal, leather, bitter chocolate and a spiced graphite w/some slightly astringent tannin medium plus finish. — 3 months ago
+2 hour decant(little fine/cloudy sediment). A brooding dark magenta color. On the nose: very aromatic notes..lots of blackberry, floral, pencil lead, wet forest floor, sweet oak. Taste: blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, herbs, pepper and a gravelly/new leather long finish with some still there kickin tannins. YUM! Gonna give my next bottle a few more years for a better score. — 5 months ago
1st wine of the new year and had to open something fun. Of course, enjoyed with its classic pairing of chicken wings 😉
1.5 hour decant(minimal fine/cloudy sediment). A stunning dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: brambly red berries, herbaceous, wet forest floor, graphite, floral. Taste: silky, soft, juicy, layered beautiful mouthfeel wine with red plum, dark chocolate, dried herbs, touch of spice and a cedar espresso captivating long finish. YUM! — 6 months ago
Jay Kline
I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+. — 19 days ago