{"title":"Beekeeper Cellar Wines","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-zinfandel-black-sears-vineyard-old-vines-reserve-howell-mountain-napa-valley-2012","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Zinfandel, Black Sears Vineyard, \"Old Vines Reserve\", Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, 2012 (MAGNUM)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e---\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The historic Black Sears Vineyard returned my call in Summer of 2012, I was looking for some “famous” hillside fruit to grow the Beekeeper brand and to give our clients another peek at our quality approach. I called many of the famous vineyards, but reputable hillside Zinfandel is highly spoken for and getting really hard to find. Luckily, Black Sears returned the call; our timing was very good.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDry Farmed, old vines, organically grown grapes using biodynamic practices.\u003cbr\u003eAged: 15 months in in 100% French Oak (30% new)\u003cbr\u003eProduction: 4200 Bottles (350 cases)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e99% Zinfandel, 1% Petite Sirah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppellation: Napa Valley, California \u003cbr\u003eVineyard: Black Sears\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eA dark ruby colored wine from rim to rim with a nose of spicy cracked black pepper, cold steel, graphite, dried herbs, violets, wild berry and dark plum, and hints of salted caramel. The mouth is rich, endowed and pronounced; with broad structure, ample tannin, and power, yet balanced within its large frame. \u003cbr\u003eBeekeeper Cellars focuses on crafting beautiful Zinfandel, made from pedigree hillside vineyards with distinctive character and quality winemaking techniques.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 1.4em;\"\u003eAccolades\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 points - 3 Puffs Connoisseurs Guide \u003c\/strong\u003e(Top Ten 3 Puff wines of the year)\u003cbr\u003eOver the past several years, Beekeeper Zinfandels have consistently ranked among our very favorites, and the winery's first bottling from the renowned Black Sears Vineyard follows form and takes a place at the head of the class. It is an enormous wine of great depth and richness, yet it is never outsized or clumsy, and it seamlessly marries lovely oak to its wonderfully well-extracted fruit. It is highly recommended for its varietal purity and focus, but it earns an extra round of applause for its very serious and ageworthy structure, and pulling its cork before at least four or five years have passed would be nothing short of a shame. Be forewarned, however, this is no mild and meek Zinfandel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - eRobertParker.com \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Lastly, the 2012 Zinfandel Black Sears Vineyard from Howell Mountain tips the scales at 15.2% alcohol and boasts a production of 350 cases. This is 99% Zinfandel and 1% Petite Sirah from this high-elevation site in eastern Napa Valley. This sexy, deep, full-bodied, luscious wine has a dense ruby\/purple color, loads of blackberry, licorice and floral notes, a full-bodied opulence, stunning purity, and a long, heady finish. This Howell Mountain Zinfandel should drink well for decade or more. Kudos to Beekeeper, as they seem to be on an impressive track of quality.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: Magnum 1500ML and will require special ONE BOX SHIPPING as it does not ship with 750ML wines.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31882132979754,"sku":"","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/black.png?v=1759441430"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-secret-stones-rockpile-appellation-sonoma-county-california-2015","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, \"Secret Stones,\" Rockpile Appellation, Sonoma County,  2015","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry Farmed, Sustainable\u003cbr\u003eAged:  17 months in 100% French Oak (25% new) \u003cbr\u003eProduction: 280 cases\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e85% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppellation: Rockpile, Sonoma County\u003cbr\u003eVineyard: Madrone Spring Vineyard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccolades\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Report\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points and 3 Puffs - Connoisseurs Guide to Fine Wine \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eSporting 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93+ Points - Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe 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. 280 cases produced.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31884305596458,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/Beekeeper-Cellars-Secret-Stones-Rockpile-Appellation-Sonoma-County-California-2015.jpg?v=1762526382"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-zinfandel-montecillo-vineyard-sonoma-county-2016","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma County, California, 2015","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAged: 17 months, French Oak (25% new)\u003cbr\u003eProduction: 3216 Bottles (268 cases)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e95% Zinfandel, 5% Petite Sirah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppellation: Sonoma Valley AVA\u003cbr\u003eVineyard: Montecillo Vineyard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMontecillo will forever be famous for varietal correctness; this juicy, rich, textural 2015 hillside wine boasts defined cherry, blueberry and plum skin character, with assertive cracked pepper and spice. Beekeeper makes wines that showcase both our high standards and high quality fruit designations. Clay Mauritson and Emma Kudritzki Hall provide day to day winemaking and give Ian Blackburn (aka “chef”) with spectacular wine to blend and study. Unlike other Zinfandel producers, our goal is to showcase a vineyard’s site and Beekeeper style. Our strict grape selection minimizes the jammy character that often masks the qualities of a top vineyard site . Our high-tier aging and blending (Petite Sirah and press fractions) allows us to find the wine's inner “Beekeeper” balance. We use specially chosen French Oak barrels (100% French\/ 15 months\/ 25-30% new) that add refinement, texture, and nuance that integrate seamlessly by year two. Drink now, or let the wine improve for several years in the cellar and enjoy it until 2025. As usual, the virtue of patience is rewarded with properly aged Beekeeper wines. We also recommend drinking our wines just north of cellar temperature around 60 degrees. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccolades\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points + 3 Puffs - Connoisseurs Guide\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eStriking in its depth and a bold, big-boned rendition of serious structure that begs for time in the cellar, the latest from Beekeeper is an authoritative Zinfandel of great substance and strength. Its boundless, blackberry-like fruit is enriched with integral oak and deft touches of sweet spice, and, although not in the least lacking for ripeness, it stays clear of compromising heat. It will not come into its own for a good half-dozen years, and we have no qualms about predicting that it will age beautifully and reward keeping for another decade after that. While a bit different than previous efforts from this winery in that it recalls the extra concentration of a fine Amarone, it is a collectable Zin that takes its usual place among the very best of the vintage. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Report\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe nose is bright red berry with notes of sleek spice, gravel, pepper overlayed beautiful ripe cherry. The palate shows beautiful texture, weight and definition. Polished blueberry, accented with cranberry and currant. Drink 2016 – 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e92+ Points - Wine Advocate \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Zinfandel Montecillo Vineyard has a very serious, rather broody nose of baked black plums and blackberry pie with hints of tar, chargrill, licorice and fertile loam. Medium to full-bodied, the palate sports taut, muscular black fruit and \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":31884312805418,"sku":"","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Beekeeper_Cellars_Zinfandel_Montecillo_Vineyard_Sonoma_County_California_2015.jpg?v=1755542450"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-hidden-hillside-reserve-sonoma-county-california-2017","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Hidden Hillside Reserve, Sonoma County, California, 2017","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Madrone Spring Site is Dry Farmed, and CCSF Sustainably Farmed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e90% Zinfandel \u0026amp; 10% Petite Sirah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e75% GT Vineyard in Rockpile, 25% Madrone Spring Vineyard, Rockpile \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSonoma County, California\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2017 is another great vintage for Zinfandel in Sonoma County. 2017 had a few significant vintage events: (1) Upon bud break, a lighter than normal crop was observed: a well-boding sign of a quality vintage. (2) During bloom (around May) we had a very cool period, which resulted in lots of unfertilized berries. These berries are removed from our sorting table, in observance of our insistence on quality over quantity, and our sorting tables were busy. (3) A significant heat spike in early September sent many wineries into harvest, but our wise team held off and allowed the vineyard to rebound… which brought about amazing perfume, complexity, and depth to a small, high-quality harvest. Our final wines reflect the nuances of the 2017 year and we believe this will be a favorite vintage for many of our fans and collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e97 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe nose is immediately open and assertive with forward orange, plum and wild grape flecked with Demerara and cocoa powder. The palate entry is supple, polished stone fruits integrated with orange, sandalwood and nutmeg that deliver a saturated yet lively dimension to the core. Youthful on the finish. Give it a year, really.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e95+ Points and Top Ten 3 Star Wines of 2020 - Connoisseurs' Guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePicking 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39482814726186,"sku":"","price":110.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Beekeeper_Cellars_Hidden_Hillside_Reserve_Sonoma_County_California_2017.jpg?v=1755542752"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-secret-stones-zinfandel-rockpile-appellation-sonoma-county-california-2018","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Zinfandel, \"Secret Stones\" Rockpile Appellation, Sonoma County 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDry Farmed, Sustainable\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e97% Zinfandel, 3% Petite Sirah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppellation: Rockpile, Sonoma County\u003cbr\u003eVineyard: Madrone Spring Vineyard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe distinctive Madrone Spring Vineyard provides the patient pending fruit quality that is Rockpile.There is always a lavish set of quality marks in our high elevation, dry farm of Rockpile that showcases the secrets nidden in the stones. With great natural acidity and popping red and purple fruits, this 2018 is screaming raspberry fruit roll up! This vineyard gives us more fruit quality in smaller berries, with thicker Skins and more nomogeneous ripening (yes - Lintandel) and more threads in the fabric (acidity, texture, tannin). 2018 is a gloriously balanced and pure expression of Zinfandel and our style allows that to really shine. No raisin, no prune, 100% high tier French oak (20% new), and the kiss of Petite Sirah that fills in the center. Enjoyable now but built to age and improve over the next 3-10 years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - Connaisseurs Guide\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThere 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 or 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 or the cellar for a full decade or more will see just now good genuinely great Zinfandel can be when given the chance to age.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMedium ruby-purple, the 2018 Zinfandel Rockpile Secret Stones offersgenerous layers of blackberries, blueberries and cranberries with tonesof crushed stone, allspice, peaches and wildflowers. The full-bodiedpalate is plush and ripe without going over the top, a streak of stonycharacter anchoring its layered fruits. It is supported by loads of grainytannins and bright acidity that highlight pretty, spicy layers and drive thelong finish. Powerful yet elegant, and blended with a 3% dash of PetiteSirah, it will be long lived in the cellar. 250 cases were made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eComing 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Report\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39784226684970,"sku":"","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/Beekeeper-Cellars-Secret-Stones-Zinfandel-Rockpile-Appellation-Sonoma-County-California-2018.jpg?v=1762528443"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-zinfandel-hidden-hillside-reserve-sonoma-county-california-2018","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Zinfandel, Hidden Hillside Reserve, Sonoma County, California, 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/learnaboutwine.com\/products\/learnaboutwine-presents-zinfandel-wednesday-june-14th-at-7pm\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/FtinZinfandel.png?v=1686166208\" style=\"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 10px; float: right;\" width=\"183\" height=\"183\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Madrone Spring Site is Dry Farmed, and CCSF Sustainably Farmed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e96% Zinfandel 4% Petite Sirah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e56% GT Vineyard, Rockpile, 34% Montecillo Vineyard, 10% Madrone Spring, Rockpile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2018 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. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e2018 is our largest production career to date; we have been told it was the largest harvest in the history of California. It's not that our vineyards went crazy in yields but really homogeneous ripening, a nice extended (and calm) harvest, and we were able to use ALL our fruit, and yes, it was a generous vintage. Punctuated black fruit skins, purple crayon, dark plum, cracked black pepper, gravel, stone, lovely floral and spice perfume with tender hints of vanilla. Tannins are elevated in our 2018 wines and we embrace this salvo for Zinfandel and we like it. We want our wines to age gracefully and take on a claret like style in time.. a decade or more.  Beekeeper wines express the dry farmed hillsides we climb to farm and the Hidden Hillside is a Reserve selection, blending our most ambitious barrels together to make one of our more daring and bold Zinfandel statements, which features approximately 30% newer high-tier French Oak.  The elevated acidity from higher elevation hillside fruit ensures that this wine will age gracefully for a decade or more.  As usual, the virtue of patience is rewarded with properly aged Beekeeper wines. We also recommend drinking our wines just north of cellar temperature, cooler than most, at around 60 degrees.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003eLastly, 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.​\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe 2018 Hidden Hillside Reserve Zinfandel contains 4% Petite Sirah. \u003cspan\u003eMedium ruby-purple, the nose is perfumed and layered, offering scents of blueberry preserves, apricot, licorice, cracked pepper and potpourri. The full-bodied palate is grainy and fresh, with restrained, mineral-driven fruits and a flourish of spicy accents on the long finish. It deserves another year or two in the cellar. 375 cases were made.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e94 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e94 Points - Connoisseurs' Guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40185965084714,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/Beekeeper-Cellars-Zinfandel-Hidden-Hillside-Reserve-Sonoma-County-California-2018.jpg?v=1762529088"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-zinfandel-montecillo-vineyard-sonoma-county-2018","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Zinfandel, Montecillo Vineyard, Sonoma County, 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppellation: Sonoma Valley AVA\u003cbr\u003eVineyard: Montecillo Vineyard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e34-year old vines at elevation, dry farmed, sustainably farmed.….. with one hell of a view. Just a half mile to the Napa Valley line, the fruit is different here. The blue (Blueberry, blackberry) compote with this beautiful delineation of fruit, spice, earth - this is technically inside of the Moon Mountain Appellation and really one of the best sights for Cabernet in the Sonoma Valley AVA. There are 4 acres of ZINFANDEL and we love this fruit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe 2018 Zinfandel Montecillo Vineyard comes from a vineyard co-planted with a small percentage of Petite Sirah and offers thekaleidoscopic aromatics of the best Zinfandels and a great balance ofintensity and elegance. Medium ruby in color, it's bursting with purescents of baked rhubarb, apricot and peach, wafts of tar and exoticfloral and botanical nuances. Medium to full-bodied, its intense fruitsare foiled by juicy acidity and abundant, grainy tannins, and it has along, layered finish. 190 cases were made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis blends grape from Montecillo on Moon Mountain and Madrone Spring on Rockpile, weaving together an intense expression of high-elevation viticulture. Reductive on the nose, it offers inky layers of leather, espresso and blackberry within a full-bodied, sturdy and sophisticated core of structure and complexity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40305201643562,"sku":"","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/Beekeeper-Cellars-Zinfandel-Montecillo-vineyard-Sonoma-County-2018.jpg?v=1762529321"},{"product_id":"beekeeper-cellars-hidden-hillside-reserve-sonoma-county-california-2017-magnum","title":"Beekeeper Cellars, Hidden Hillside Reserve, Sonoma County, California, 2017 (Magnum)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eBeekeeper Cellars is the vision of best friends and co-winemakers Ian Blackburn and Clay Mauritson. The two collaborated after adventurous individual careers in the wine business, and at last, decided to work together on a project of their own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClay, a 7th generation grape grower, and his family found themselves the owners of a significant slice of the Rockpile Appellation, through an amazing set of historical land transactions. The Mauritson family realized the potential and parented the creation of the ROCKPILE AVA. In 1998, Ian and Clay climbed the hill and watched the Madrone Spring Vineyard get planted, while discussing the future of Rockpile and the dream it represented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeekeeper started with a simple vow: \"craft beautiful vineyard expressions from premier vineyard sites, and reintroduce the quality wine audience to Zinfandel.” Today, we continue towards this goal. 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. Because of this meticulous approach and our mission, our wines are built to age. In fact, they require age. We strive to assure our audience that our Zinfandel is a worthy investment and that patience will be rewarded with additional cellarage. Ian, Clay, and day to day winemaker Emma Kudritzki Hall cannot be more excited about sharing their wines for years to come.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy Beekeeper?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the 1800s, you needed to have a noble profession gain entry into America, and Ian's great grandparents were entertainers “pre” Vaudeville, and that was NOT considered a noble profession…. quite the opposite! His family lived off the land and worked as beekeepers, hunters, farmers… and singing and dancing was part of their life. They took some liberties and said “we are beekeepers” as that was (and still is) a \"noble profession.\" The family “bi-line” was established; “we come from a long line of beekeepers.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Madrone Spring Site is Dry Farmed, and CCSF Sustainably Farmed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eWinemakers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIan Blackburn and Clay Mauritson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e90% Zinfandel \u0026amp; 10% Petite Sirah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e75% GT Vineyard in Rockpile, 25% Madrone Spring Vineyard, Rockpile \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSonoma County, California\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Note\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2017 is another great vintage for Zinfandel in Sonoma County. 2017 had a few significant vintage events: (1) Upon bud break, a lighter than normal crop was observed: a well-boding sign of a quality vintage. (2) During bloom (around May) we had a very cool period, which resulted in lots of unfertilized berries. These berries are removed from our sorting table, in observance of our insistence on quality over quantity, and our sorting tables were busy. (3) A significant heat spike in early September sent many wineries into harvest, but our wise team held off and allowed the vineyard to rebound… which brought about amazing perfume, complexity, and depth to a small, high-quality harvest. Our final wines reflect the nuances of the 2017 year and we believe this will be a favorite vintage for many of our fans and collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e97 Points - Purely Domestic Wine Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe nose is immediately open and assertive with forward orange, plum and wild grape flecked with Demerara and cocoa powder. The palate entry is supple, polished stone fruits integrated with orange, sandalwood and nutmeg that deliver a saturated yet lively dimension to the core. Youthful on the finish. Give it a year, really.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e95+ Points and Top Ten 3 Star Wines of 2020 - Connoisseurs' Guide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePicking 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProduct size: 1.5L\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Merchant of Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44567122182449,"sku":"","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/products\/Beekeeper-Cellars-Hidden-Hillside-Reserve-Sonoma-County-California-2017_c6932057-11f5-4fe1-99c8-35a524f0c652.jpg?v=1759443600"}],"url":"https:\/\/marchantofwine.com\/collections\/beekeeper-cellar-wines.oembed","provider":"Merchant of Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}