WINEMAKER NOTES
In 2019, the vines experienced abundant rain and sunshine, leading to large canopies that protected the fruit. This resulted in concentrated flavors of dried cranberry, plum, black cherry, and delicate oak on the nose. The palate offers rich fruit tones, including plum jam, cherry cola, cranberry, rhubarb pie, and a lingering blackberry finish. With aging, this wine will develop additional floral nuances.
WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES
Clusters were hand-harvested in the early morning to preserve the coolness of the fruit. The grapes underwent meticulous hand sorting, destemming, and crushing to extract the juice from the skins. Fermentation took place in a jacketed open top tank with twice-daily pump overs, where the juice was pumped over the skins to enhance color extraction. As a biodynamic vineyard, we allowed the native yeast to naturally ferment the wine.
FRUIT SOURCE: JD VINEYARD
Located northwest of Dry Creek Valley and elevated above Lake Sonoma, Rockpile is an AVA covering 15,400 acres. Approximately 11 vineyards have planted wine grapes across around 160 acres within this region. Rockpile is renowned for its "signature clone" of Zinfandel, sourced from St. Peter's Catholic Church vineyard in Cloverdale. Situated at elevations between 800 and 2,100 feet, Rockpile vineyards enjoy ample sunlight and less fog, thanks to an inversion layer created by Lake Sonoma.
VINTAGE NOTES
The 2019 growing season in Sonoma County was nearly ideal, with a long winter and ample rainfall followed by a late bloom and extended hang times. This allowed for even ripening, retained natural acidity, and the development of vibrant flavors. Despite the fires, our wines were unaffected as they were already in tank and barrel. The vintage delivered exceptional grapes, resulting in high-quality wines with abundant fruit flavors and fresh acidity.
THE WINERY
Bailarín Cellars was created in 2014 by a collective of family and friends, each following their respective passions. Together, we focus on producing small lots of handcrafted wines from unique vineyard sources. We are proud to share the fruits of our labor and love with you.