This pack includes one bottle of our the 2018 Secret Stones, Rockpile Vineyard, one bottle of the 2018 Hidden Hillside Reserve, and one bottle of the 2018 Montecillo Vineyard.
Please enjoy and celebrate with us yet another breathtaking moment in our winemaking journey!
2018 Secret Stones
Connoisseurs' Guide | 96 Points
There is host of accomplished Zinfandels to choose from these days, but we have come to expect Beekeeper’s version to vie for top honors as each new vintage arrives, and the latest Secret Stones bottling is a stunning, amazingly well-made wine that does not disappoint. It is a big, remarkably deep working that is brimming with concentrated, very pure varietal fruit and, while fully ripe, never crosses the line into excess. It is nothing short of an absolute show-stopper now, but it has all the hallmarks of a classic rendition that will grow and grow with time, and serious collectors lucky enough to hide a few bottles away in the dark and distant recesses of the cellar for a full decade or more will see just how good genuinely great Zinfandel can be when given the chance to age.
Jeb Dunnuck | 93 points
Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the Rockpile AVA in Sonoma, the 2018 Zinfandel Secret Stones is 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah. It's another elegant, medium-bodied wine from this estate offering terrific complexity in its red and black berry fruits, sandalwood, dried flowers, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. Nicely balanced, fresh, and elegant, it too should have a solid decade of longevity.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is sticky plum, grilled meat, sappy underbrush and licorice. The palate entry is polished red currant and cherry with sappy nectar in the core leading to a finish of broken rock, watermelon and black pepper spice. Drink 2021 — 2030.
2018 Montecillo Vineyard
Connoisseurs' Guide | 95 Points
Taking its accustomed place at the head of the class, Beekeeper comes through once more with a top-tier Zinfandel that impresses equally for its concentration, its precision and sheer fruity depth. Time and again, Beekeeper has proven that richness, ripeness and balance are not mutually exclusive, and, as outgoing and involving as this so very generous wine may be at the moment, it is structured to age famously and is, in our minds, one that absolutely demands time if it is to achieve its full potential. As for cellaring strategy, three years seems the minimum while ten is not too much, and one or two bottles is not nearly enough.
Jeb Dunnuck | 93 points
From a site in Sonoma County sitting at 1,500 feet in elevation, the 2018 Zinfandel Montecillo Vineyard (which includes 2% Petite Sirah) sports a ruby hue as well as a sweet nose of red plums, sandalwood, flowery incense, ripe cherries, and herbes de Provence. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish. This complex, nuanced Zinfandel has loads of character and should have 8-10 years of overall longevity."
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is cassis and spruce needle accented with spiced red plum and blueberry. The palate entry is a saturated, sappy blue plum, currant and licorice leading to a core of lean, youthful pomegranate and raspberry. Vibrant toasted stone fruits on the finish. Drink 2021 — 2030.
2018 Hidden Hillside Reserve
Jeb Dunnuck | 95 points
Lastly, the 2018 Zinfandel Hidden Hillside Reserve is a blend of vineyards (56% from the GT Vineyard in Rockpile, 34% from Montecillo, and 10% from Madrone Spring Vineyard). Aged 15 months in French oak, it offers a touch more blue fruits as well as terrific cigar, peppery herbs, orange blossom, spice, and cedar-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and wonderfully balanced, with more structure than the other releases, it's another brilliant Zinfandel that can be drunk today or cellared for over a decade.
Connoisseurs' Guide | 94 points
Here, again, is an altogether exceptional effort from Beekeeper that is as deep, keenly defined and well-stuffed as any around, and it, too, exhibits terrific fruity purity despite being emphatically ripe. It is a full and muscular wine that makes no pretense to delicacy, and the slight heat that rises in its tanninfirmed finish is a small price to pay for a wine of such richness. Just like its mate below, it fully deserves to be cellared, and, if perhaps not ultimately as long-lived, it is a guaranteed bet to grow for no fewer than six to eight years and should hold for a good many more.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 94 points
The nose is nectarine, mint and blueberry with underlying watermelon and lemongrass. The palate entry is dense blueberry with bright impressions of herb and sticky blackberry in the core finishing with silky dough-like texture to the fresh red plum and dry raspberries. Drink 2022 — 2034.
About the Vintage
2018 and the hits keep coming… another promising Zinfandel vintage in Sonoma County. 2018 had a few significant vintage events: (1) A very warm February caused early bud break, (2) average rainfall, (3) the rest of the season punctuated by hot spells, and (4) we had average temperatures during the growing season—we were not forced to pick by any extreme weather events. It was something normal; we love normal. There are innate qualities to 2018 that offer long term promise of polish and finesse and I think 2018 is very similar to our wonderful 2014 wines that our team loves.
Please enjoy and celebrate with us yet another breathtaking moment in our winemaking journey!
2018 Secret Stones
Connoisseurs' Guide | 96 Points
There is host of accomplished Zinfandels to choose from these days, but we have come to expect Beekeeper’s version to vie for top honors as each new vintage arrives, and the latest Secret Stones bottling is a stunning, amazingly well-made wine that does not disappoint. It is a big, remarkably deep working that is brimming with concentrated, very pure varietal fruit and, while fully ripe, never crosses the line into excess. It is nothing short of an absolute show-stopper now, but it has all the hallmarks of a classic rendition that will grow and grow with time, and serious collectors lucky enough to hide a few bottles away in the dark and distant recesses of the cellar for a full decade or more will see just how good genuinely great Zinfandel can be when given the chance to age.
Jeb Dunnuck | 93 points
Coming from a steep hillside vineyard in the Rockpile AVA in Sonoma, the 2018 Zinfandel Secret Stones is 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah. It's another elegant, medium-bodied wine from this estate offering terrific complexity in its red and black berry fruits, sandalwood, dried flowers, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. Nicely balanced, fresh, and elegant, it too should have a solid decade of longevity.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is sticky plum, grilled meat, sappy underbrush and licorice. The palate entry is polished red currant and cherry with sappy nectar in the core leading to a finish of broken rock, watermelon and black pepper spice. Drink 2021 — 2030.
2018 Montecillo Vineyard
Connoisseurs' Guide | 95 Points
Taking its accustomed place at the head of the class, Beekeeper comes through once more with a top-tier Zinfandel that impresses equally for its concentration, its precision and sheer fruity depth. Time and again, Beekeeper has proven that richness, ripeness and balance are not mutually exclusive, and, as outgoing and involving as this so very generous wine may be at the moment, it is structured to age famously and is, in our minds, one that absolutely demands time if it is to achieve its full potential. As for cellaring strategy, three years seems the minimum while ten is not too much, and one or two bottles is not nearly enough.
Jeb Dunnuck | 93 points
From a site in Sonoma County sitting at 1,500 feet in elevation, the 2018 Zinfandel Montecillo Vineyard (which includes 2% Petite Sirah) sports a ruby hue as well as a sweet nose of red plums, sandalwood, flowery incense, ripe cherries, and herbes de Provence. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, supple tannins, and a great finish. This complex, nuanced Zinfandel has loads of character and should have 8-10 years of overall longevity."
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 93 points
The nose is cassis and spruce needle accented with spiced red plum and blueberry. The palate entry is a saturated, sappy blue plum, currant and licorice leading to a core of lean, youthful pomegranate and raspberry. Vibrant toasted stone fruits on the finish. Drink 2021 — 2030.
2018 Hidden Hillside Reserve
Jeb Dunnuck | 95 points
Lastly, the 2018 Zinfandel Hidden Hillside Reserve is a blend of vineyards (56% from the GT Vineyard in Rockpile, 34% from Montecillo, and 10% from Madrone Spring Vineyard). Aged 15 months in French oak, it offers a touch more blue fruits as well as terrific cigar, peppery herbs, orange blossom, spice, and cedar-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and wonderfully balanced, with more structure than the other releases, it's another brilliant Zinfandel that can be drunk today or cellared for over a decade.
Connoisseurs' Guide | 94 points
Here, again, is an altogether exceptional effort from Beekeeper that is as deep, keenly defined and well-stuffed as any around, and it, too, exhibits terrific fruity purity despite being emphatically ripe. It is a full and muscular wine that makes no pretense to delicacy, and the slight heat that rises in its tanninfirmed finish is a small price to pay for a wine of such richness. Just like its mate below, it fully deserves to be cellared, and, if perhaps not ultimately as long-lived, it is a guaranteed bet to grow for no fewer than six to eight years and should hold for a good many more.
Purely Domestic Wine Report | 94 points
The nose is nectarine, mint and blueberry with underlying watermelon and lemongrass. The palate entry is dense blueberry with bright impressions of herb and sticky blackberry in the core finishing with silky dough-like texture to the fresh red plum and dry raspberries. Drink 2022 — 2034.
About the Vintage
2018 and the hits keep coming… another promising Zinfandel vintage in Sonoma County. 2018 had a few significant vintage events: (1) A very warm February caused early bud break, (2) average rainfall, (3) the rest of the season punctuated by hot spells, and (4) we had average temperatures during the growing season—we were not forced to pick by any extreme weather events. It was something normal; we love normal. There are innate qualities to 2018 that offer long term promise of polish and finesse and I think 2018 is very similar to our wonderful 2014 wines that our team loves.