Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

First time trying these Malbecs from Jesse Katz and Devil Proof. Thanks Lauren for cracking these for us! Lush purplish red that completely coats the glass. Rich and dark on the nose with spices, dark cocoa, a bit smoky, mocha and black cassis. Heavy smooth tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Love the texture on the palate with layers of lush dark blackberries, blueberries, cassis, sweet spices and a bit spicy too. Long finish. Drink till 2038.


Wow. This is the best Malbec we have ever had from the United States and possibly even from any other wine region. Excellent work Jesse! This is made up of 100% Malbec from the Rockpile Ridge vineyard which is managed by the Mauritson Family and dry farmed. It is aged in 100% new French oak barrels and comes from an elevation of 1,100 feet.


First stop (Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards) on our very first trip to Sonoma, and we were not dissappointed. The wines made by Jesse Katz have a ton of finesse, power and character, but the wines under his Devil Proof Label are at another level. Definitely a Malbec that needs to be on any wine collector's radar. The photo for the label was taken by Andy Katz, Jesse's father, back when he was commissed by the Cuban Government to take photos of their way of life. We love the saying for the label "Live well, drink well, and the devil can't get you". We do not know about you but we will follow her lead and hopefully become a little bit Devil Proof. — 6 years ago

with India

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

8.9

Ripe squished blackberries dripping off of a leather saddle into a campfire. — 7 years ago

Craig Sedmak

9.5

had for the first time since its Feb bottling. has loads of minerality #impressive #zinfandel #rockpile @wondermentwines — 8 years ago

with George

GodoftheGrapes

9.3

Good Zin. Plenty of power lots of dark fruit and juicy as. Lots of time left.
— 8 years ago

Murray Hestley

9.8

Incredibly drinkable. Well balanced — 8 years ago

Dan Horowitz

9.1

Chocolatey, silky, fruity, nice — 9 years ago

Rebecca Fletcher

8.9

Overripe cherry and balsamic. — 9 years ago

Ryan Twohey

9.5

Beautiful Rockpile vineyard fruit from Sonoma County — 9 years ago

John Sweeney

9.2

2012 Jeff Cohn Cellars Buffalo Hill Syrah — 9 years ago

Elizabeth Kurdziel

9.8

Very tasty Cabernet Savignon. Went great with spaghetti. — 10 years ago

John Riddick

9.1

I don't always drink Cali Zin, but when I do it's Rockpile. Mineral component is amazing. Dark blackberry and cassis. Rich and aging well. — 6 years ago

with Lauren

Rob Brobst III

9.8

Big rich full bodied wine! Wow after 14 years it still needs more time. If you like deep dark fully extracted fruit that possesses chocolate, plum, blackberry flavors like I do, then this is your wine. Good luck finding a bottle..... @Paul Treadway @Evan Bienstock @leon egozi @Eric S @Eric LaMasters @Jacqueline @Vanessa D @Carl Fischer @Jim Trobaugh @James Parker Huston, CWE @David L @Warren Sapp @TheSkip @Terri Walker @Terri Walker @Warren Sapp @jesus g @Kimberly Anderson — 7 years ago

John Grady

9.0

Paired pumpkin clam chowder was great! Contrasted with the soup's sweetness and creaminess superbly — 7 years ago

Natalie Griffin

9.7

Rose water scent. Dry honey and almost ripe plums, nice finish. My favorite rosé of the year. — 8 years ago

Jeremy Buss

9.0

Cherry, blackberry, hint of tobacco and smooth. The tannins on this were medium to even medium low. Great blend and worthy of Mothers Day! — 8 years ago

Mac McCarthy

9.6

Spectacularly delicious. Pretasting for Taster's Guild Diablo Chapter dinner — 9 years ago

Lauren Vance

Buyer Whole Foods Market Oakland

9.3

Predominantly cab, 20 months in French oak. Barrel tannins, petit Verdot definitely noticeable at 14%. Warm nose, large tannin. Finish is big and lingering. Steak all day. — 9 years ago

with Miguel and Erik

Rollie Wright

Sales Wine Spectrum

9.0

This is the Petite Sirah dessert wine. — 9 years ago

Dave Smigielski

9.4

Still rocking it — 9 years ago

Paul Riccomini

10

Not sure which is better smelling the wine or tasting it!! Delicious. — 10 years ago

Michael Kvasnicka

9.3

Beautiful. Thanks Devon for the Cherry on top. — 7 years ago

Natalie Griffin

9.3

deeper fruit than the Dry Creek. Yum! — 7 years ago

Erik

9.2

A little bit jammy but dry and fantastically spicy zin that we drank with (1) no food and (2) leftover spicy pork sausage and pepper lentil pasta. Holla at the versatility — 7 years ago

with Shannon

Ellen Clifford

9.0

K so having a WSET 3 tasting club is making me burn through my supplies faster than usual. And burn through their supplies too. Oops for all of us. Now I've tried all of Kokomo's offerings in terms of Zin (although I wish I had been wealthy enough to crack them all open side by side) and I must say Pauline's vineyard=least fave. Rockpile was the best. Timber Crest was in the middle and...to be honest? The least pricy "Dry Creek Valley" is both really excellent and not as pricy as Rockpile Zin. My top two were probably both the least expensive (Dry Creek) and most pricy (Rockpile) so there ya go. Anyway I'm reviewing Rockpile here! Tis purple-ruby in color, on the nose black sweet cherries and chopped vanilla beans plus crushed blackberries. On the tongue: medium acid, low plus tannins, medium body, black cherries and blackberries and vanilla ice cream and the finish...it is medium in length and there is more of everything I mentioned you smell and taste and anyway... Taste both the more generic-in-name-only Dry Creek Valley Kokomo Zin (avail to all) and the Rockpile(I think only club members can get this). And my blind wine tasting club will have more samplings soon that I can't wait to share. — 8 years ago

Dan Gasparo

9.3

Love this wine. One of my favorites from Coppola. 100% Cab Franc from Knights Valley. Big fruit-forward flavors of black cherry, plum, and black berries, nice peppery spice with soft tannins, with a little kick at 15% ABV. That said, super smooth and drinkable, great with steak. One of the flagship wines so winery exclusive. — 8 years ago

Palmer Emmitt

Owner/Winemaker Judge Palmer

9.1

Seamlessly supple with big flavor. Love me some Rockpile. — 9 years ago

with Eric

Jeremy Buss

9.0

Had 2011 and loved it! Definitely decant- for an hour or so. Black fruit, modest alcohol, long finish and distinctive flavor. I call this better than many Argentina Malbecs. — 9 years ago

Nicole Fleming

9.6

SO good. One of my favorites. — 9 years ago

Chris Garmon

9.8

Took three home. Well balanced — 10 years ago

Manuel Cabral

9.9

Beautiful — 11 years ago