Winemaker Notes
Nice dark-red in color, big blueberry-blackberry fruit, spicy-chocolatey oak, nicely focused acidity enhances mineral flavors, elegantly structured tannins for aging, super plush long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Vivacious and sleek, with elegantly layered cherry, cracked pepper and rose petal flavors that build richness and tension toward refined tannins.
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Wine Enthusiast
Classic Rockpile spice and power are easy to discern on the nose of this Zin. Blackberry, cherry and plum aromas dominate, with an earthy richness wafting around. The palate shows plenty of structure for aging, giving freshly crushed berry fruit, spice and caramel flavors and rich, silky tannins. Drink 2028–2040.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
High elevation vineyards—800 to 2,100 feet—on well-drained soils of red and brown clay loam, gravel and large rock outcroppings produce low yields of intense, high-quality fruit. Surrounded by Northern Sonoma County and overlapping Dry Creek Valley in its northwest corner, the Rockpile AVA produces some of California most powerful Zinfandel, Petit Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon based wines.