Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers 
$32; 14.6%
[On label: To Tim the label nut! David Rafanelli]
[On book: Salute and Bona Fortuna. David A. Rafanelli]
Visiting Rafanelli was great fun, because David was a very interesting character, AND they were harvesting, so I finally got to see wine being made! This Zinfandel was clearly better and more concentrated (old vines) than any other we tasted that day. I’ll complete the note in 4-6 years, when it has aged to perfection!
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