Winemaker Notes
Blend: 94% Zinfandel 6% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Zinfandel Rockpile Ridge Vineyard has a medium ruby color and alluring scents of mixed berry jam, cracked pepper, violets and botanical nuances. The medium-bodied palate surprises with its marriage of power and elegance to a soft, grainy, refreshing frame and perfumed finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Spicy and herbal, this high-elevation grown wine includes 6% Petite Sirah and is earthy and dusty in dark fruit. Firm yet substantial tannins provide concentrated weight and breadth, with brooding highlights of tobacco, black pepper, dark chocolate and coffee.
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.