Da Buzz Iz Back!

The winery SOLD OUT of every back vintage of Beekeeper. Rightfully so, as these Zins are, as Jeb Dunnuck said “straight up thrilling”.

Well, guess what? We conjured up a few more cases, and you won’t find this 95 point showstopper anywhere else…especially at 59% off!!

Biale, Bedrock, Carlisle, and Turley. What do they have in common? They’re all at the top of their class, making some truly mind-bending Zinfandel…but who’s the valedictorian? The very best? The top dog? BEEKEEPER! Yes, the epiphany inducing Zinfandel producer is back for one last hurrah! Their previous offer was WILDLY popular and we heard your requests for more loud and clear!

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.”

Their singular obsession to make kick-ass, no holds barred, high-grade Zin paid off. Every release buzzes with glowing press. Jeb Dunnuck called the 2016 Secret Stones “straight-up thrilling stuff,” and Connoisseur’s Guide called the 2017 “a wine of enormous depth and detail”. Inspired Citizen ranked them as the Top Zinfandel of 2020 saying Beekeeper “truly exceeds expectation and elevates the varietal to another level in our heads.”

Pop the cork and strap in for a thrill ride! This stuff THUNDERS across your palate like a low-flying Blue Angels formation dropping fruit bombs of exuberant mountain blackberry and mixed berry pie and leaving a trail of smoked bacon fat, mint, and peppery spice in its wake. Terrific acidity, too! The addition of 10% Petite Sirah adds extra power and complexity and they manage to reign in the alcohol, staying under 15% - a rarity for big, boisterous Zinfandel. This would benefit from some air time after opening, but we’ll bet you drain half the bottle in 20 minutes!

Bottom line, this is a must-have for Zin fanatics or anyone who wants an out of body experience. If the last Beekeeper we sold is any indication, this has near 100% chance of selling out, and doing so FAST. Make your move RIGHT NOW, and grab one more bottle than you think you need. You’ll thank us later!

95+ Points – Connoisseurs’ Guide

“Picking a favorite from the new Beekeeper releases each year is far from easy, but it is a task that is nothing less than a pure joy, and the winery’s three new offerings only strengthen its place as a Zinfandel maker at the absolute top of its game. The 2017 Hidden Hills Reserve, while a bit tight, is a wine of enormous depth and detail and, as expected, shows the structure and sheer fruity volume that typify Beekeeper’s very best efforts. It surprises a bit by being momentarily juicy in a way that almost tempts drinking now, but, however rich it may be in its youth, its tantalizing suggestions of certain layering to come keep us from prematurely pulling its cork. Expect no fewer than five or six years of positive growth and count on it being better yet as it reaches its tenth anniversary.”

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“Lastly, the 2017 Zinfandel Hidden Hillside Reserve Blend is another Sonoma release. It includes 5% Petite Sirah and spent 18 months in 30% new French oak. This beauty boasts a vivid ruby/purple color as well as classy notes of black cherry and blackberry fruits interwoven with cedary spice, crushed flowers, and violets. It packs plenty of fruit yet stays light and elegant, with medium to full body, sweet tannins, and terrific balance. It should keep for a decade. Drink 2020-2030.”

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast

“A reserve-tier wine made only in worthy years, this delivers complex, richly layered flavors of blueberry, blackberry and nutmeg with plenty of power in the glass. Blended with a small amount of Petite Sirah, it comes from two sites in Rockpile, aged 15 months in French oak. Soft, rounded and in balance within its context of concentration, it offers firm tannin, dried herb earthiness and a lasting taste of black pepper and licorice.”