Beverage of the Week (BOW)
We Know Jack! Riff Raff Rosé Zinfandel Rockpile 2024
Product Story
We had the great pleasure of being introduced to We Know Jack! with their 2021 Rockpile Zinfandel. Their 2022 Rockpile Zin was even better. We thought we knew We Know Jack!, but we didn’t know it all. It was a terrific surprise to recently discover a Rosé from this superb independent wine brand. We know that Zinfandel is the star of the show at this exceptional vineyard. Zinfandel is capable of producing lovely and complex Rosé wines, but many shy away from making it due to the heavy cloud of White Zin that still lingers overhead. It takes a bold team of owners—Mark Zuckerman and Lori Hunt—along with winemaker extraordinaire James MacPhail, to give a Zinfandel Rosé its proper platform. They dedicated a block of their Zinfandel vineyard to Rosé farming and harvested it for this purpose (harvested on 20 September 2024). They directly pressed the grapes after a short steeping to extract some color, as well as aromatics and flavor. While their classic red Zin includes a bit of Petite Sirah in the blend, this wine is 100% Zinfandel. The resulting wine is charming and thought-provoking. Get yours while it’s still available.
Brand Story
We Know Jack! — the humorous name carries a profound double meaning. It all begins with the vineyard established by Jack Florence Sr. Florence Sr. developed this vineyard, among others, in the 1990s, which would later become part of the Rockpile appellation (Sonoma County, CA). The Zinfandel clone was sourced from one of California’s oldest surviving vineyards, located in nearby Cloverdale at St. Peter’s Church. These Zinfandel vines were planted in the 1880s and continue to thrive to this day. Jack Florence Jr. took cuttings from this rare clone, grafted them onto suitable rootstock, and planted them in their Rockpile vineyards. These were known as St. Peter’s Church, but many simply refer to them as the Rockpile clone. If you’re starting to think that this vineyard and these vines are special, you’re right. Jack’s first customer was none other than Kent Rosenblum, a legendary winemaker recognized as one of the California Zinfandel masters. Rosenblum’s Rockpile Zinfandel from 2003 was named one of Wine Spectator’s top wines in 2005. Since then, the grapes have been sold to an impressive list of the region’s top winemakers. Mark Zuckerman and Lori Hunt purchased the vineyard in 2015. They maintained a relationship with both Jack Sr. and Jack Jr. From the moment that Mark and Lori acquired the vineyard, they would walk the property. For some unknown reason, Mark would always pause at a certain spot in the vineyard. When searching for a special block within the vineyard with vineyard manager Jack Jr., he led them to a spot that he had identified as significant. You guessed it — it was the same spot that had stopped Mark and Lori in their tracks for years without reason. This is the We Know Jack! vineyard block. The wines are crafted by James MacPhail, an award-winning winemaker known to every BevX reader through Tongue Dancer Wines. This team, with fruit from an elite vineyard, collaborates to create a phenomenal wine. Get it while it lasts.
Tasting Note
Brilliant, medium ruby color. The aromatics are intense, offering scents of apricot stone, peach, and kumquat with supporting notes of hibiscus flower, cinnamon, and red grapefruit. The palate echoes the nose delivering a ripe orchard fruits-driven core with flavors of white peach, strawberry, and nectarine. The finish is long and lingering with citrus zest accents. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with an opulent yet vibrant texture.
How to Serve
Serve chilled but not too cold. Enjoy a bottle now and lay one or two down in the cellar for next summer. Serve with roasted fowl, oily fish, and herb-crusted roasted pork.
Price: $ 34
BevX Review: http://bevx.com/wine-detail/?id=4532
