“Yum… I like the subtlety and delicacy of Kerith Overstreet’s approach.” – Vinous

A new queen has taken the Rockpile throne around here. Beekeeper, Manzanita Creek, Carol Shelton, Pezzi King, and Mazzocco, are all on notice.

Not only is this one of our all-time BEST Rockpile Zin deals ever, but it’s also one of the cheapest! With a pair of 93s and a 94 from Jeb backing up our fervent enthusiasm, it’s an absolute no-brainer.

That’s a bold claim. The late, great Kent Rosenblum once said, “grapes from Rockpile produce the most intense wines I’ve ever tasted.”

And for $26 this is not only the cheapest, but also one of the best examples to prove him right. Get on it, Ops, stuff those Lockers full!

San Francisco Chronicle echoes that Rockpile is “the source of some of California’s biggest, richest, most intensely flavored Zinfandels.” They continue, questioning, “So, what accounts for the character, weight and intense flavors of Rockpile wines? In what could be a very hot part of Sonoma County, the appellation combines the advantages of high elevation and northwesterly maritime breezes from the Pacific Ocean, which is only 5 to 10 miles to the west. The vineyards are planted from 800 to 2,000 feet above sea level.”

It’s 1,500 feet at Gloeckner Turner Vineyards, to be exact, the source of this gorgeousness. Only four other wineries besides Bruliam have access to this prime fruit. That includes Mauritson, who helps with the farming, along with Merriam, Seghesio, and Bella. There isn’t enough for anyone else.

The truth is in the bottle. Deep garnet colored, with glimpses of blueberry preserves, baked blackberries, and figs over spice cake and chocolate covered cherry hints. Big, rich and full-bodied in the mouth, it really packs in the wild berry preserves and layers of sweet, exotic spices, through a solid structure of velvety tannins and seamless acidity, finishing very long. It’s a serious Zin to lay a while, but it’s seriously irresistible now too, especially with the summer grilling season in full bloom, so fire up that Barbie!

And to understand why Bruliam deserves such amazing grapes, we turn to Sonoma Magazine who wrote, “As the old saying goes, behind every good wine is a great woman. Ok, we just made that up - but, in Sonoma Wine Country, it’s true. Kerith Overstreet’s father always told her, ‘You can be whatever you want after medical school.’ It turns out that what Overstreet really wanted to be was a winemaker. After years in the medical field, she enrolled in the enology program at UC Davis and gained her purple hands during the 2008 harvest.”

Well, many big scores and nearly two decades worth of harvests, the rest is history. This won’t last.

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck “The 2023 Zinfandel Rockpile is a deep youthful magenta ruby color and was aged in 50% new French oak for roughly 17 months in barrel. The nose is aromatic with Amarena cherries, blackberries, pressed flowers, and black tea. Full-bodied, it has earthy richness to the tannins yet retains freshness and an even texture. While the fruit remains pure, inviting, and balanced throughout, it also has real underlying structure, with polished oak tones that never interfere with the fruit. Refreshing acidity and dark graphite notes emerge on the palate. It’s appealing now or over the next 8-10 years. Drink 2026-2036.”

93 Points – Decanter “An elegant Zinfandel from Sonoma’s Rockpile appellation, which is noted for its elevation, with all vineyards planted between 245m and 610m. It offers pretty florals and dried blue and red fruit aromatics. Made by Kerith Overstreet, a Pinot Noir specialist, whose Pinot approach shows up in this wine’s light touch, with red cherry fruits, red plum skin and exotic dried spices. Drink 2026-2033.”

93 Points – Vinous “The 2023 Zinfandel Rockpile is pure, direct and perfectly ripe. Brambly red/blue fruit, black pepper, cedar and subtle floral undertones dance across the palate with lightness, juiciness and the tiniest bit of grip. Character, terroir, polish and precision in one package. Yum. Drink 2026-2033.”