Rockpile Cab by the venerable Carol Shelton! 94 points, Editors’ Choice yet for the mid $30s?! We blew through the past couple of vintages of it in no time and here’s the next one… While Rockpile spans over 15,000 acres across vast rugged terrain, only 150 of those acres are planted, and of those Cabernet is just a tiny portion. That explains why Carol makes 7-8 barrels tops of this beauty every vintage!

Here’s that must-watch ZAP panel on the “Queen of Zinfandel” along with fellow luminaries Joel Peterson, Larry Turley, and Kent Rosenblum:

We really don’t have the space here to list all her accolades. She’s a true legend. A few noteworthy ones include The André Tchelistcheff Award in 1993, Winemaker of the Year by Press Democrat in 1999, San Francisco Chronicle in 2005, and NorthBay biz in 2022 and 2023.

“A winemaker since 1978…” expounds Wine Industry Advisor “…Shelton is well known in the industry as a maker of world-class single-vineyard Zinfandels as well as a variety of other exceptional wines, including a number of bold Cabernet Sauvignons…”

So, Napa Cabs, there is a new sheriff in town. This packs an abundance of cherry, crème de cassis, plum preserves, Black Forest cake, cigar box, and pencil shavings with even more youthful oomph. Full-bodied too, with a solid line of chewy tannins and lively acidity, there are plenty of black fruit and earth layers, all culminating in an exotically spicy mineral-laced finish. So much to love here, with a few years of lying in their cellar have done wonders in attaining the irresistibly silky texture. Wow, Carol, just WOW.

Got a little more than the Zin that vanished earlier today but not by much!

94 Points, Editors’ Choice – Wine Enthusiast

“Intensely ripe fruit flavors dominate this big but comfy wine as it pours out dried blueberries, dried cherries, mint, and cedar notes that are delicious and mouth-filling. The wine feels high-octane yet not overly tannic, and since Carol aged it extra long at the winery, it’s enjoyable now. Best from 2026.”