93 points, Wine Spectator
This wine is truly a feast for the senses. On the palate, it boasts a complex array of flavors, including earthy and spicy notes, black cherry fruit flavors, and savory notes that hint at a slightly salty or umami-like quality. The toasty characteristics from the French oak, add further depth and complexity to its flavor profile. On entry, the wine bursts with generous fruit flavors, inviting the palate to indulge in its bold and fruit-forward character. It has textural lingering tannins on the mid-palate that contribute to its overall mouthfeel and structure. Tightly woven tannins on the finish create a long and satisfying experience that lingers in the memory.
Rockpile’s robust structure and fruitiness offer a versatile pairing experience. Pair with barbecued meats, your favorite pasta dish, or even an aged gouda.
The grapes for our Rockpile Zinfandel come from Westphall Ranch and Mauritson Campground Vineyard in the Rockpile appellation. Seghesio is proud to work with the Gloeckner and Mauritson families, two of the founding growers of the appellation.
The grapes were handpicked and sorted at the winery to achieve optimal uniformity in the fermentor. They were then delivered to open top tanks without pumping and
punched down by pneumatic assisted device for the duration of the fermentaion. Fermentation lasted 10 days on the skins, then the wines were drained to barrel to
complete primary fermentation and malolactic fermentation. The four vineyard blocks that make up this blend were blended after 10 months and returned to barrel for the remainder of aging. Barrel aged 16 months in 14% new French oak, 86% neutral French and American oak, and 11% Puncheons.
