92+ 2007 Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley) 4/1/17 ($50)
14.5% alc
Color: Very deep garnet. (3.5) Bouquet: Tobacco and cedar nuances complement ripe black cherry/cassis liqueur fruit. Shows a dusty spiciness with white chalk and a touch of heat. (3.0) Body: Heavyweight with excellent, ripe fruit and firm, tobacco-infused tannins. Coats the mouth big time. (3.5) Flavor: Parallels bouquet, showing some bitter tobacco tannins, but the fruit does meet. (3.0) Finish: Parallels flavor with more bitter tobacco. (3.0)
Overall: Wow, does this Cabernet have character! A very strong, old school personality with unyielding, bitter tobacco tannins and concentrated black cherry cassis fruit. It also has DCV dust and spice. Even at 10 years old from a half bottle, it's still quite young. After 24 hours air, it came up to a 92 from about a 90, but could get even better with another 5 years bottle age. (16)
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