About the Vintage
The drought influenced 2015 vintage started with cool stormy conditions, resulting in a difficult flower set and chicks and hens (small unfertilized berries) in the clusters. Extensive table sorting resulted in tiny yields and smaller than average berry sizes with lower than normal acidity but with great concentration and an abundant nose.
Winemaker Tasting Notes
The resulting blend displays a highly spiced set of concentrated dried fruits, fresh cracked black pepper, patient pending "purple crayon” perfume, dried underbrush, and bitter sweet chocolate. Our step high altitude hillsides provide defined stoney minerality characteristics, and add to the complexed nose that will continue to evolve in the bottle. The ripe forward nature of 2015 is unique, and should allow 2015 to be accessible earlier but will reward considerable time in the cellar.
Connoisseurs' Guide | 96 points
Sporting the density and muscular structure that we have come to expect in Beekeeper Zins, the latest Secret Stones offering is a fascinating, multi-faceted look at the variety that evokes an unmistakable sense of fruity depth and potency as well as yet-to-be-fully-revealed complexity. Its slowly expanding, dark berry aromas are laced with elements of soil and spice that are carried into its very solid, impressively concentrated, somewhat brooding young flavors, and, although presently slightly roughed up by its late-arriving tannins, it possesses such fruity stamina that there is simply no doubting that great things lie ahead. It belongs in the cellar for now and not at the table, and drinking it before it has had another four or five years of age would be doing it an unforgivable injustice.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is a Deeply Saturated meat and earth with cranberry, tapenade, raspberry and pepper. The palate entry is firm and savory meat, licorice and carbon with nectarine, blossom, raspberry and red apple. Drink 2019-2026.
Wine Advocate | 93+ points
The 2015 Zinfandel Rockpile Secret Stones is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and delivers dark fruited, earthy notions of blackberry compote, baked blueberries and plum preserves with nuances of charcoal, scorched earth and espresso. Full-bodied and built like a brick house in the mouth, it has a firm structure of chewy tannins and lively acid supporting the densely packed black fruit and earthy layers, finishing long and savory.
Beekeeper Cellars
Grape: 87% Zinfandel & 13% Petite Sirah
Vineyard: Madrone Spring Vineyard, Dry Farmed,
Sustainably Farmed CCSW
Appellation: Rockpile, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2015 - Bottled February 21, 2017.
Winemakers: Clay Mauritson, Ian Blackburn &
Emma Kudritzki
Alcohol: 14.4%
Aged: 17 months in 100% French Oak (25% new)
The drought influenced 2015 vintage started with cool stormy conditions, resulting in a difficult flower set and chicks and hens (small unfertilized berries) in the clusters. Extensive table sorting resulted in tiny yields and smaller than average berry sizes with lower than normal acidity but with great concentration and an abundant nose.
Winemaker Tasting Notes
The resulting blend displays a highly spiced set of concentrated dried fruits, fresh cracked black pepper, patient pending "purple crayon” perfume, dried underbrush, and bitter sweet chocolate. Our step high altitude hillsides provide defined stoney minerality characteristics, and add to the complexed nose that will continue to evolve in the bottle. The ripe forward nature of 2015 is unique, and should allow 2015 to be accessible earlier but will reward considerable time in the cellar.
Connoisseurs' Guide | 96 points
Sporting the density and muscular structure that we have come to expect in Beekeeper Zins, the latest Secret Stones offering is a fascinating, multi-faceted look at the variety that evokes an unmistakable sense of fruity depth and potency as well as yet-to-be-fully-revealed complexity. Its slowly expanding, dark berry aromas are laced with elements of soil and spice that are carried into its very solid, impressively concentrated, somewhat brooding young flavors, and, although presently slightly roughed up by its late-arriving tannins, it possesses such fruity stamina that there is simply no doubting that great things lie ahead. It belongs in the cellar for now and not at the table, and drinking it before it has had another four or five years of age would be doing it an unforgivable injustice.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is a Deeply Saturated meat and earth with cranberry, tapenade, raspberry and pepper. The palate entry is firm and savory meat, licorice and carbon with nectarine, blossom, raspberry and red apple. Drink 2019-2026.
Wine Advocate | 93+ points
The 2015 Zinfandel Rockpile Secret Stones is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and delivers dark fruited, earthy notions of blackberry compote, baked blueberries and plum preserves with nuances of charcoal, scorched earth and espresso. Full-bodied and built like a brick house in the mouth, it has a firm structure of chewy tannins and lively acid supporting the densely packed black fruit and earthy layers, finishing long and savory.
Beekeeper Cellars
Grape: 87% Zinfandel & 13% Petite Sirah
Vineyard: Madrone Spring Vineyard, Dry Farmed,
Sustainably Farmed CCSW
Appellation: Rockpile, Sonoma County
Vintage: 2015 - Bottled February 21, 2017.
Winemakers: Clay Mauritson, Ian Blackburn &
Emma Kudritzki
Alcohol: 14.4%
Aged: 17 months in 100% French Oak (25% new)