$33.00

The Rockpile appellation typifies both the soul of Sonoma County and that of the Zinfandel grape. The rugged terrain is home to only a few pioneering growers whose faith in the soil turned this desolate outpost into a viticultural darling. This vintage again delivers exceptional flavor and complexity in a refined and elegant wine. Our family winery celebrates the wine country lifestyle. Share and enjoy our wines in good company.

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$30.00

The northern reaches of the Alexander Valley are home to rolling hills and sloping benchlands where Zinfandel vines flourish in the warm afternoon sun. The long summer days encourage the development of juicy berry characters that ferment into aromas of blackberry cobbler, ripe strawberry, sun-warmed petunia and fig. The aromas continue through to the palate and are joined by additional notes of mesquite, chocolate, raspberry, and black currant. This wine is approachable and drinkable upon release and will gain complexity in the bottle over the next four to 6 years.

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Earthy spice, sweet smoke and fragrant violet aromas characterize our 2004 Atelier Alexander Valley Syrah. These qualities are liberated in our winemaking process through our French-inspired techniques and small lot fermentations. Undertones of sage, licorice, and juicy pomegranate enhance the bright, ripe raspberry and black plum fruit of the palate. The inclusion of multiple clones of Syrah adds further depth and texture by showcasing the range of this robust varietal. Co-fermentation of the four clones enhances both the intensity of color-which is the typical blue-tinged hue of red so familiar in Syrah-and the aromatic profile which ranges from vibrant fruit to luscious herbal spice. The region of Asti in the middle of Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley offers cool morning temperatures followed by warm, sunny afternoons that guarantee a long, steady growing season and balanced ripeness. This fortuitous combination of clone and site allowed us to harvest the 2004 vintage at only 24.5ºBrix which translated to less than 14% alcohol content in the final wine- making it an excellent accompaniment to a wide array of cuisines without the concern of overpowering the subtle and delicate flavor balance of a meal. Aged for 19 months in both French and American cooperage to maintain the equilibrium of heft and elegance, this wine pairs beautifully with today’s artisanal wine country and fusion cuisines.

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Effusive with ripe plum and briar berry fruit our Rockpile Zinfandel showcases the broad range of spice for which this varietal is known. Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and sandalwood aromas follow from the nose through to the palate. Fifteen months in French and American oak barrels added structure and depth to complement the vibrant fruit and spice. The exotic array of aromas and flavors makes this Zin a perfect partner to kabobs, mesquite-grilled vegetables and meats or middle-eastern fusion cuisine. As is typical in our wines a subtle suggestion of the earth on which the grapes were grown lingers in the wine and delivers an inimitable sense of place.

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The allure of Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley has captured our winemaking interest and enticed us to purchase from an exquisite boutique Syrah vineyard in the town of Asti. The gently rolling hills and the warm, long days in the northern Alexander Valley allow the three different clones of Syrah planted on this ranch to mature to optimum ripeness. The result is an inky-dark, voluptuous wine of uncommon depth and character. This wine matured in a blend of French and American oak for eighteen months and was released in March 2005. Flavors of ripe plum, dusty briar berries, and a truffle-like note make this intriguing Syrah a wine to look forward to.

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Released on November 1st, is our 2004 Contra Costa County Zinfandel. We adore the distinctive character of Contra Costa County Zinfandel, in fact, our love affair with this out-of-the-way appellation dates back over 12 years to our early winemaking days. The bold flavors and inviting aromatics typical of Zinfandel from this sandy terroir dazzled our young palates and have continued to intrigue us with each successive vintage. Ripe raspberry and black cherry aromas mingle with notes of sweet maple and birch beer in the heady aroma of this bold Zinfandel. On the palate hints of white pepper and boysenberry are flanked by finely-structured tannin and supported by vanilla and caramel accents. As is typical in our wines a subtle suggestion of the earth on which the grapes were grown lingers in the wine and delivers a sense of place.

The 2004 vintage was both early and warm. Surprisingly, our Zinfandel grapes matured in the month of August and hit an ideal sugar/acid balance well before summer ended. The early harvest allowed us to ferment the wine, press off skins, and send it down to barrel for maturation all by mid-September. The lush, full-bodied structure of this wine makes it incredibly drinkable at a young age and we found that it needed only 12 months of barrel age to round out the tannins and build structure around the incredible berry richness of the fruit. The lively aromatics are reminiscent of mulling spices making this wine an excellent accompaniment to Fall/Winter and Holiday fare.

Our Mourvèdre was harvested from old vines and fermented using the traditional hand punch-down technique to extract optimal color and flavor. The spicy aromatics of this Rhône varietal suggest dried lavender, patchouli, and herbs de Provence while the palate is a riot of cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate fruit. A medium-bodied wine, this Mourvèdre will pair beautifully with seared red-fleshed fish (such as Ahi and Salmon) and soft, ripe cheeses.

Ripe, jammy, and bursting with succulent raspberry fruit our 2002 Zinfandel shows classic bramble berry fruit character wrapped in a framework of soft vanillin oak. The supple entry builds to a rich juicy mid-palate accented by exotic spice notes which in turn is followed by a lingering finish. This wine was hand-crafted from grape to bottle and vinted using traditional techniques. The wine was matured in 100% French oak to soften the natural grape tannin and to further enhance the complex spice notes inherent in this grape variety.