Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
The best Zins from Rockpile have the uncanny ability to be as deeply fruity as any even when very ripe, and this one emphatically makes just that point. It is fully expressed stuff with juicy blackberries to spare, and for all of its very considerable substance and size, it is far more than a study in simple ripeness. It is defined first and foremost by its sustained, beautifully formed fruit, and, once past its ever so slightly viscous beginnings, it proves to be a fairly sturdy and very well-structured wine that looks sure to improve for another four or five years, if not twice that long.
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.