96 Pts
Each year, I feel Yves and I get closer to achieving the vision we have had for this project. I have always felt that this vineyard brings a very Hermitage aspect to the table.
Aromatically this wine explodes out of the glass with a sensual, slightly savory, dark chocolate and white floral notes.
A Collaboration project with Yves Cuilleron from the Northern Rhône Valley, our 8th Vintage. Aromatically this wine explodes out of the glass with a sensual, slightly savory, dark chocolate and white floral notes. The palate is loaded with sweet cream, black berry and black cherry with a hint of fresh vanilla, toast and roasted Herbs de Provence. This wine flows from a very giving front palate to a mid-palate that really showcases the minerality of the vineyard. Multi-layered with sweet tannins that take the wine to an incredibly long finish showing flavors of black cherry, olive tapenade, fresh vanilla bean and dark roasted coffee.
This vineyard is located in the prestigious Rockpile AVA, one of the smallest and most distinctive American Viticultural Areas in the United States, known for producing ultra-premium hillside fruit.
Originally a former sheep ranch, the property was transformed in 1991 by Rod Park and Cathy Park into what is now Rockpile Vineyard. Perched at roughly 2,000 feet above sea level, the site sits above the fog line, ensuring abundant sunlight and a long, even growing season. Average temperatures ranging from 50° to 80°F allow the fruit to achieve full ripeness while retaining structure and balance.
The vineyard’s soils—an intricate mix of granite, quartz, clay, and loam—play a defining role in the wines. The clay contributes weight and richness, while the granite and quartz lend a pronounced mineral backbone, giving the wines structure, tension, and depth. The rocky, hilly terrain naturally stresses the vines, concentrating flavors and producing fruit of remarkable intensity.
Since 1998, Jeff has worked with this sustainably farmed site, drawn to the exceptional synergy between high-elevation, rocky soils and Syrah. The result is a series of Rockpile Syrahs that are deeply expressive, layered, and truly unique in character, each vintage reflecting the vineyard’s rugged terroir and elevated profile.
