2021 Rockpile "Rockpile Ridge Vineyard" Zinfandel, Rockpile, Sonoma, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

This vineyard has sweeping sun exposures from southeast to northwest and sits at nearly 1,200-feet in elevation. It has nine distinct blocks of Zinfandel and each is harvested at different times and fermented separately to ensure the integrity and uniqueness of each block. The varied sun exposures, soil compositions, slopes and drainages make these sites a winemaking dream come true and are what make our Rockpile Ridge Zinfandel so spectacular.

The 2021 vintage carries all of the signature aromas expected from Zinfandel grown in Rockpile: candied Santa Rosa plum; crushed violet candy; milk chocolate shavings; espresso grounds; spice and graphite. This incredible iteration of Rockpile Ridge Zinfandel is singularly defined by its detailed texture. The entry is silky, and the texture is fine-grained and velvety with lingering flavors of ripe red fruits and sweet earth. This energetic Zin will benefit from at least 1-2 years of bottle age. Enjoy over the next 10- 12 years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Since 1868, the Mauritson family has been growing grapes in the Dry Creek Valley. The family's legacy in the region began with S.P. Hallengren, their great-great-great grandfather, a grape-growing pioneer in the Rockpile region who first planted vines in 1884. Hallengren shipped every ounce of his wine back to Sweden. By the early 1960s, the Mauritson family's Rockpile homestead and ranch had grown to 4,000 acres, but all but 700 ridgetop acres were acquired by the Army Corps of Engineers to develop Lake Sonoma. The vineyards featured in many of the family's historical photos are now submerged under water. For the next 30 years, the Rockpile property primarily served as grazing land for sheep.

The family's farming operation moved first to Alexander Valley and later expanded into the benchland of Dry Creek Valley, where they consistently provided superior fruit for regional winemakers year after year. The Mauritson family continues this tradition today, managing 310 acres of vineyards across the Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley, and Rockpile Appellations.

In the mid-1990s, Clay Mauritson returned from college with a renewed passion for the vineyards. This time, however, he was determined to add winemaking to the family operation. Clay honed his winemaking skills and winery operations knowledge at Kenwood, Taft Street, and Dry Creek Vineyards before releasing the inaugural Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel in 1998. His wife, Carrie, soon joined him, leading the winery's marketing and operations.

Following that first release, the Mauritson family took a fresh look at the potential for superior grape growing in the Rockpile region and planted 34 acres across eight distinct blocks. The combination of low air moisture, poor soils, and moderate temperatures began to capture attention. The family's farming operation had come full circle—and then some.

Now, six generations and more than 150 years later, the Mauritson family has earned a reputation for outstanding winemaking and its highly sought-after harvests.