1990 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel Unfiltered

Not surprisingly, Rafanelli produces Zinfandel from old, low yielding vineyards and bottles it unfiltered so nothing is removed from what is in the barrel. The 1990 Zinfandel is gloriously opulent, deeply colored, with an intensely expressive and penetrating nose of earthy black fruits. In the mouth, it is full-bodied and rich, even sumptuous, with gobs of fruit, an expansive palate, and a stunningly long finish. Since the tannins are soft, this wine can easily be gulped down at present. But given past examples of Rafanelli Zinfandel, it should stand up to a decade's worth of aging.