A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
The very definition of velvet wrapped in an iron fist. It is singing on my palate.
This Dry Creek is better than the Select Terraces I’ve opened lately. Deep, black, ripe, ruby, currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, blue hues, dark cherries, crazy, deep, Indian spices, dark berry cola, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel, malt balls, fresh tobacco, used leather, tree bark w/ sap, steeped fruit tea, limestone, crushed risks, river stone, forest floor with dry leaves, dry herbaceous notes, endless rainbow of florals, beautiful acidity and well balanced, structure and tension that is tightly knit with finish for days.
Crazy, stupid, producer that continues to fly well below the radar. I am thankful it does.
This 2010 has 10 years plus of life left ahead. The best Ca Cabernet I’ve had in many years. Wine affects me differently than most but this wine is like a full body massage. Maybe, that is why I discovered my palate.
The very definition of velvet wrapped in an iron fist. It is singing on my palate.
This Dry Creek is better than the Select Terraces I’ve opened lately. Deep, black, ripe, ruby, currants, blackberries, black plum, plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, blue hues, dark cherries, crazy, deep, Indian spices, dark berry cola, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, vanilla, caramel, malt balls, fresh tobacco, used leather, tree bark w/ sap, steeped fruit tea, limestone, crushed risks, river stone, forest floor with dry leaves, dry herbaceous notes, endless rainbow of florals, beautiful acidity and well balanced, structure and tension that is tightly knit with finish for days.
Crazy, stupid, producer that continues to fly well below the radar. I am thankful it does.
This 2010 has 10 years plus of life left ahead. The best Ca Cabernet I’ve had in many years. Wine affects me differently than most but this wine is like a full body massage. Maybe, that is why I discovered my palate.
If I'm going to drink Cali Cab, this is probably it. Pleasingly rich, oak that adds rather than opaques, and no shying away from the spicy pyrazines that ought to be there.
If I'm going to drink Cali Cab, this is probably it. Pleasingly rich, oak that adds rather than opaques, and no shying away from the spicy pyrazines that ought to be there.
May 20th, 2017
Popped and poured. These are really starting to sing now. Ample notes of currants, tobacco...a touch of green bell pepper. Text book Cabernet Sauvignon and obviously Rafanelli. Beautiful body. Lots of life left. Drink or Hold.
Popped and poured. These are really starting to sing now. Ample notes of currants, tobacco...a touch of green bell pepper. Text book Cabernet Sauvignon and obviously Rafanelli. Beautiful body. Lots of life left. Drink or Hold.
Apr 5th, 2017Painfully young. Infanticide. Next one in 2017
Painfully young. Infanticide. Next one in 2017
Aug 14th, 2014
Gifted from David T,
4 hour decant was still a little tight,
Bottled it back up to try on the 2nd day and that made all the difference for me. Definitely worth searching out if you treat it correctly, not a pop & pour
Gifted from David T,
4 hour decant was still a little tight,
Bottled it back up to try on the 2nd day and that made all the difference for me. Definitely worth searching out if you treat it correctly, not a pop & pour
Great wines and the last of the 2010 and on to the 2011.
Great wines and the last of the 2010 and on to the 2011.
May 17th, 2020Loaded with herbs, dark fruits, cedar, licorice and more. Drinking great at 10 years
Loaded with herbs, dark fruits, cedar, licorice and more. Drinking great at 10 years
Mar 14th, 2020
Delicious dark chocolate, cherry, and bell pepper. Not cloying at all. It has a good amount of acidity to add lift. I don’t see it improving and it is quite good now.
Delicious dark chocolate, cherry, and bell pepper. Not cloying at all. It has a good amount of acidity to add lift. I don’t see it improving and it is quite good now.
Nov 22nd, 2019