93 1994 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon 5/19/07 ($30)
13.8% alc unfiltered
Color: Very deep garnet. Can barely see through with little onion skin and no clearing. (3.5) Bouquet: Rich cassis with excellent acidity and some pencil shavings. (3.5) Body: Light heavyweight with smooth mouthfeel and excellent fruit-to-acid-to-tannin balance. Maybe a touch too much acidity. (3.0) Flavor: Parallels bouquet step-for-step with rich, delicious cassis on a strong frame with just enough cedar-oak complementing. (3.5) Finish: Parallels flavor, but could be longer. (3.0)
Overall: A fantastic (possibly the best made) Dry Creek Valley Cab that can rival anything from Napa. Has more lush fruit and less complexity than a Bordeaux, but still restrained for CA. It has at least 2-3 years left in it, but probably at its best right now. (16.5)