Alberto Rafanelli, an Italian immigrant, first founded A. Rafanelli Winery in the early 1900’s. It wasn’t until the early 70’s that Alberto’s son, Americo, came out with the present day label and started selling the wine commercially. David and Patty Rafanelli now run the winery and a 4th generation Rafanelli, their daughter Shelly, is the winemaker. The winery is perhaps best known for their Zinfandel but also produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with all the fruit sourced from their vineyard in Dry Creek Valley.
Crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. Sensational nose of red fruits, plums, baking spices and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Incredibly rich and packed with bright fruits. Cherry, raspberry liqueur, mint and roasted herbs on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. Rafanelli excelled in the 2021 vintage and this wine will drink well for another 2-3 years. One of the top Zins of the year so far.
My rating: 95 points.
The 2024 Zinfandel was recently released at a price of $50 per bottle.
Rafanelli is rarely sold at retail so sign up for the mailing list on their website! The tasting room is open by appointment and is always worth a visit to try the new releases.