Christian Fischer

9.8

So what to post here. This has a 3x100 rating and I am always suspicious when I see it. 97 to 98 for me. The way this wine is integrated is stunning. Multiple layers of flavors and mellowed tannins with alcohol that is muted in the background. A spectacular rendition and no doubt one of the nicest vintages I have had. Glad we had it together with the other wines and champagnes tonight. — 3 months ago

with Fischer,

Jay Kline

9.4

Something quite magical often happens to Rafanelli Zinfandel after 10+ years of bottle age. I can’t explain it…but these wines begin to take on a more rustic, Old World feel. It’s as if they shift into an overdrive. The fruit is still big, beautiful and pure (no-doubt a testament to their rigorous selection) and yet they can often display a new energy about them which give them remarkable longevity. This bottle is perfectly representative.

Opened to celebrate my daughter’s 14th birthday, the 2009 Rafanelli Zinfandel pours a deep, practically opaque garnet that becomes more turbid the further we delved into the bottle (in typical fashion, this Rafanelli full of sediment). Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, bright cherry and bramble-like fruits, Asian spices, espresso and some black pepper. I do sense a touch of VA. On the palate, the wine is dry and with medium tannin and medium+ acid. The notes from the nose are confirmed…with a bit of added emphasis, it should be noted. There’s almost a Pop Rocks experience too…with the slightest effervescence pricking the tongue. And again, this is something that I would more expect from a non-interventionalist wine from Italy…certainly not from Sonoma. Hot take here…but this bottle reminded me of something from Paolo Bea (San Valentino) more than anything from Sonoma, let alone California. It’s just so wonderful. The finish is long and delivers minutes of pleasure.

As far as I’m concerned, nobody is making Zinfandel with the soul that Rafanelli does and the proof is in the bottle each and every time. Of course, they are delicious when young but with age, these wines become something else. Drink now with a decant (for sediment only) and through 2034. — 3 years ago

Michael Coscetta

9.1

No doubt my favorite appellation in Bordeaux. Excellent value at 38€ — 5 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

From one of the absolute best sites in Chassagne, the ‘22 vintage and third vintage from Theo Dancer is expectedly superb, and the sunny and impeccably located La Romanée vineyard is profoundly textural, satiny and incisive with a particularly citrusy profile with freshly baked bread and chalky minerality. This is of course, still very young and is without a doubt built to age. — 8 months ago

Matt Waring

9.2

Grassy Sancerre with pineapple notes and an incredible sense of weight (from the ABV no doubt) but still graceful. Just great — 3 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.3

Delicious, no doubt—but much too young. You can sense the complexity that is hidden underneath but it’s still a baby at this point. — 4 years ago

Kevin Burton

9.1

This is a neat, fruit Zinfandel. Dark colour and well worth a try. — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.6

😍😍😍

This wine has a gorgeously golden hue. 👁️

On the nose 👃🏻 and palate 👄 are pronounced notes of ripe peach, nectarine, apricot, papaya, white blossom, mandarin pith, kumquat, gardenia, honeysuckle, wet slate, petrol, lanolin, honey, smoke, beeswax, saline, saffron, and flint.

This wine is dry with racy acidity, a textured and mouth-filling quality, and complexity for days. As this wine warms in the glass, we keep uncovering layers! The finish lingers. This wine hits the spot! 🎯

Yet we have no doubt it has runway to age gaining more dried fruit characteristics and added complexity.

— a year ago

with Deked1

Bob McDonald

9.8

Only pale to mid crimson in colour with a tawny edge at 26 years of age. Black and blue fruits with game and a coffee bean note. The medium bodied yet rich palate is savoury and earthy with blackberry and just so so silky with resolved tannins and low acid. Not sure that I agree totally with Bob Campbell MW’s description - “like getting into an old Jag on a hot day”, but I love the imagery and can see where he’s coming from. Jancis said “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. The latest iteration of H of G (2017) is selling for around $950 a bottle in Brisbane. No doubt brilliant but too expensive for me. I remember paying $12.50 for the 1982 vintage on release. There is a certain H of G character that is recognisable over many vintages over the years. Must be one of the most unique Shiraz vineyards in the world with vines up to a 150 years old. A privilege to drink this wine and close to perfection with 98 points. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

Brownish tawny color, a bit murky. High pitched nose. Notes of bing cherry, sweet menthol, moist dark soil and some green tea. Tannins fully resolved as the sweet fruit stands above the structure. Medium plus finish. Showing pretty well. Doubt it gets a whole lot better from here so likely in a good spot to and I’ll drink these up over the next 5 years. — 4 years ago