“An authoritative Zinfandel of great substance and strength.”

By now most of you already know.

But for anyone new around here, know this: Beekeeper absolutely, positively crushes it.

Clay Mauritson and Ian Blackburn teamed up with one simple mission: “…craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel…Our wines are crafted with all the attention to detail of an ultra-premium Cabernet; premier vineyards, low yields, careful hand selection of fruit, artisan winemaking, quality-focused, not quantity, and the expensive use of time in quality French Oak barrels.”

This obsessive attention to detail lifts Zinfandel to new heights. We put them at the top of the class alongside Turley, Bedrock or Carlisle. Their previous offers were WILDLY popular, and we heard your endless demands for more loud and clear! After much begging, negotiating, and chanting daily affirmations we made it happen AGAIN. Quite possibly for the very last time since we (err, you) must have cleaned out their entire library by now.

We have yet to see a day when a Beekeeper did not vanish into thin air around here. The high praise seems endless, not only from Agents and Operatives unanimously but from all consumers and critics alike. Connoisseurs’ Guide says it “recalls the extra concentration of a fine Amarone, it is a collectible Zin that takes its usual place among the very best of the vintage.”

So, what to expect? This stuff THUNDERS across your palate like a low-flying Blue Angels formation dropping piles of blueberry and plum bombs and leaving a trail of smoked bacon fat, licorice, cigar leaf, and peppery spice in its wake. Terrific brightness and acidity, too! Give these some air time for sure, and then revel in the complexity. With a few years of age, it’s drinking wonderfully and should remain in a prime spot for years to come.

These were EASILY our most popular Zins in 2020 and now it’s time to set it off in 2021 with a new (old) vintage! Trust us, these are sexy, wildly complex, and multilayered Zins. Grab a few… while the last buzz lasts!!

95+ Points – Connoisseurs’ Guide

“Striking in its depth and a bold, big-boned rendition of serious structure that begs for time in the cellar, the latest from Beekeeper is an authoritative Zinfandel of great substance and strength. Its boundless, blackberry-like fruit is enriched with integral oak and deft touches of sweet spice, and, although not in the least lacking for ripeness, it stays clear of compromising heat. It will not come into its own for a good half-dozen years, and we have no qualms about predicting that it will age beautifully and reward keeping for another decade after that. While a bit different than previous efforts from this winery in that it recalls the extra concentration of a fine Amarone, it is a collectible Zin that takes its usual place among the very best of the vintage.”

92+ Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“The medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Zinfandel Montecillo Vineyard has a very serious, rather broody nose of baked black plums and blackberry pie with hints of tar, chargrill, licorice and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, the palate sports taut, muscular black fruit and a rock-solid frame of chewy tannins, with superb freshness and a very long earth and mineral-laced finish. Drink 2018-2027.”