Bonneau Wines
2009 Rockpile Zinfandel
Zinfandel •Rockpile
California: Dry Creek Valley
Mission Briefing
Golden Boulders
”…One of the finest Zinfandel sites in Northern California…“ So says Robert Parker about the world famous Rockpile Vineyard. We could not agree more.
Today’s 2009 Bonneau Winery Rockpile Zinfandel is a bold, juicy, delicious wine that is filled with life. Classic Rockpile, this wine really took our tasting panel by storm. We’ve been showcasing wines for almost seven years and we are getting ever more critical in our selection process. Today’s wine required no deliberation among panelists; the entire group said ‘Yes!’ at first sip!
Rockpile wines don’t stick around for very long after release and it was good fortune for us to get our hands on today’s fantastic wine.
Decant for at least 30 minutes for best results. Drinking beautifully, now, we recommend holding a few bottles for the next couple of years.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Gorgeous ruby hues with bright highlights that catch the light when swirled. When the wine settles, dark tears stain the glass. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Big and bold and classic Rockpile Vineyard, this wine exudes lush aromas of blackberry jam, dark raspberry, dark plum, sweet tobacco, leather, sweet brown spice and black pepper. |
| Taste: | Also very lush, with bold flavors of blackberry and blueberry compote, dried violets, currant, leather, brown spice and black pepper. |
| Finish: | Rather austere, which we find very charming. Plush, crushed velvet tannins spread a fast-moving dryness across the entire palate, sweeping away fruit flavors and leaving behind spice and black pepper. |
| Pairing: | This wine begs to be served with something sweet, such as a lamb shank with a black currant and rosemary marinade. |
What the Winery Says
2009 Bonneau Wines Rockpile Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
The Zinfandel grapes for this unique Bonneau wine were grown on the steep rocky slopes trailing down the ridge in the Rockpile appellation of Sonoma County.
- abv%
- 14.1
About the Winery
In 1921 August and Catherine Bonneau purchased 70 acres of land in Schellville, about 8 miles south of the town of Sonoma, California. This was a very remote area at the time, requiring a full day’s travel time from San Francisco. This area reminded the Bonneaus of the Bordeaux region of France near the area where they were born.
The Bonneaus farmed the land, had a dairy and ran a small country store/deli. Although the vineyard has long since replaced the dairy, the members of the family still operate businesses that the Bonneaus started.
In 1988 their daughter, Yvonne, fulfilled Catherine’s vision of having a vineyard. She planted 30 acres of Chardonnay grapes on premium rootstock. Yvonne, as matriarch of the family farm, began supplying some of the best known wineries in Sonoma and Napa. The vineyard consistently received high praise for the quality of the fruit. Yvonne looked forward to the day the family could produce their own wines.
In 2001, her son, John Bambury, began spearheading the wine making operations on behalf of Yvonne’s four children by introducing Bonneau Wines with the 2002 Los Carneros, Chardonnay. Since then Bonneau Wines has produced Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. The family’s commitment to making fine wines has already been recognized by wine aficionados, critics and everyday wine lovers alike.