This past Saturday, we had some friends over for a casual evening of pizza and cards. They brought along a bottle of wine to share from their cellar. Rockpile Winery is a relatively new venture in Sonoma County, with the tasting room opening in 2004. The winery was started by the long-time grape growing Mauritson family, who initially started making wine under the Mauritson Wines label from their 260 acres scattered around the Dry Creek and Alexander Valley areas. Recently they turned their attention back to their original vineyards in the Rockpile AVA (which was declared the latest California AVA in 2002). This remote, high country growing area is noted for its proximity to Lake Sonoma and higher altitude (800-2000 ft) that keeps it above the coastal fogs that penetrate into the lower regions of the Napa and Sonoma Counties, resulting in greater sun exposure for the grapes. The Mauritsons have been farming and raising grapes in the Rockpile since 1868.
Rockpile Winery 2004 Zinfandel Rockpile Ridge Vineyards
Country of origin: USA-California, Sonoma County
Appellation: Rockpile AVA
Cost: ~$30 (based on 2005 price, but likely no longer readily available)
Appearance: Deep garnet
Aroma: Bright cherry nose with some hints of green tobacco.
Taste: Very fruit forward with hints of vanilla and oak. Smooth tannins and medium body. There was an underlying streak of green grass and other herbacious tastes, probably from too prolonged contact with the skins and seeds of slightly under-ripe grapes. Not a wine intended for long-term aging.
The overall consensus was a decent wine for casual drinking, but later vintages from this young winery have been more successful.
Salute,
a Wine Student
