Carter White

8.9

Opulent fruit, a little hot — 12 days ago

Joe Christenson

9.0

White flowers, strawberry, rhubarb, white peach. Medium bodied with structured acidity. Lovely on a hot day but has enough heft to pair well with salmon pasta. — 6 months ago

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

Langston Willis

9.0

Very good. Slight aftertaste, but not in a bad easy. — 3 months ago

Megan

9.0

Great white blend from tasting event at Craft. Crisp refreshing for California. Great for a hot patio. — 6 months ago

Paco Suro

9.0

A bit hot but still really good. Didn’t last to day 2. — a year ago

Adam Beasley

9.0

Birthday / Memorial Day party. Massive, sweet, and a bit hot but nit altogether nasty either. Pretty fruit. — 4 years ago

Dave

9.2

Brandon's bottle was better than mine. A little heat, a little sweet. Honey, cornbread, cinnamon, tobacco. Tight, clean finish.
Listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers. — 4 months ago

Chloe Richardson

10

My favorite wine.
Light, crisp, slightly effervescent, refreshing, short finish, thin body. Drinks like a glass of ice cold water on a hot day — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

I’ve enjoyed the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape for almost 20 years and, along with a few DOCG’s in Italy, it’s one of the regions I have the most experience with. That being said, I’ve become very judicious with my buying over the last 5 years or so, concentrating on a small handful of producers that I’ve naturally gravitated towards. Domaine Charvin is one of those. No destemming, aged in concrete, no luxury cuvée, modest pricing. They’re just so old school and I just love it. The 2017 Charvin Rouge pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, it’s initially a bit reticent but changes dramatically with about 15min of air at which point it begins to really strut. First with bruised strawberries and whole fields of garrigue. With a little more coaxing, ripe brambles, spiced meat, and lavender join the party. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (which seem to build with air), medium acid and fairly high alcohol though it never felt like a hot mess. In fact, the wine is beautifully balanced with ample structure providing a foundation for the abundance of fruit: red and black brambly fruit, with Herb de Provence, espresso and a touch of leather and dark olive. The finish is long and satisfying. A lovely Charvin that should deliver in style well past 2030 — 3 years ago