Reviews

Wine Enthusiast Magazine: Rockpile Zinfandel

"91. A big, brawny, juicy Zin that shows the muscular style of Rockpile, and does so with considerable appeal. With powerhouse flavors of ripe, freshly picked blackberries and currants, sprinkled with anise, cocoa, black pepper, crushed cloves, star anise and vanilla, it finishes completely dry and smooth."

Wine Enthusiast Magazine: Cabernet Sauvignon

"Very ripe in cassis, with plenty of smoky oak influence and a spicy, dry finish. This is a bold, tannic young wine, tight and astringent in youth. It needs time in the cellar to soften and meld. Should be best between 2009 and 2011, and live far longer."

Wine X Magazine

91 for Bella Vetta's 2005 Rockpile Zinfandel

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine

"Two stars; 91"

"Concentrated blackberry fruit is the driving force of this nicely stuffed Zinfandel from first sniff through to its impressively deep mouthfilling flavors and on into its lengthy, comparatively juicy finish. While fully ripe, weighty in feel and trimmed with an edge of finishing heat, the wine is quite well-balanced and is framed with just enough firming tannin to make a strong case for a few years of keeping."

Perry Rankin, Thirty Four North Wine Merchant

"This Zinfandel is very lush with really bright red fruits and exotic spices. The palate is rich and chewy and mirrors the aromas of raspberry and Bing cherry. A really nice texture lies ahead as well with very typical Rockpile dry tannins bringing up the rear behind really pretty fruit and concentration. Slightly smoky vanillin oak rounds out the finish here."

Dick Warner Wines

"Wow! Having been a wine merchant for 28 years and a zin fan forever, I was absolutely in love with this wine after one taste. This is the definition of a great wine... flawless, one whose various flavors show themselves individually and at the same time seamlessly meld together in a satisfying fusion that lingers on your palate. It is a must have for any person who loves zin. Remarkable for a first release."

— Dick Warner

Back Room Wines

"Taste big ripe raspberries, Asian spices, and ginger. The wine is juicy, bold, rich and smooth, with Rhone-like spice and pleasure. Fans of big Zin will definitely want to add this wine to their collections."

— Ryan Graham