1997 A. Rafanelli Cabernet Sauvignon

A. Rafanelli Winery in in Healdsburg. Its roots go back to the early 1900s, when Alberto Rafanelli, an Italian immigrant, began growing grapes in Healdsburg and making wine. In the 1950s the family moved the winery to Dry Creek Valley and began growing Zinfandel. The first commercial vintages were made in the 1970s and today the 85-acre estate is still owned and operated by the Rafanelli family. The estate makes Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that is available only directly through the winery. Some 11,000 cases are made annually. California wine writer James Laube has noted that A. Rafanelli makes “formidable wines, (that) are very consistent from year to to year; they drink exceptionally well….”

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.