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The 3 keys to Rosenblum Cellars: Zinfandel, zinfandel and … zinfandel

by Chris Sherman (B-21) under Miscellaneous

You knew that already, yet location counts a lot for the zin masters.

First, Rosenblum may be the closest winery to San Francisco. Honest, only a 20-minute ferry ride across the Bay to Alameda island on the Oakland side. Rosenblum is right next to the ferry stop.

Second, the grapes have a much longer journey for Kent Rosenblum, the cheerful veterinarian who founded the winery, scoured all of California for the best Zin vines often old and forgotten, and sometimes valiant colonies.

We have Rosenblum zins in a half dozen varieties but the greatest to me (and most of my fellow zinners here) is the Rockpile Road AVA. It’s above Geyserville and Dry Creek, an hour off Highway 101. Winemakers who buy grapes there call it heaven or the new Howell Mountain; it’s 2,000 feet up with rocky red soil and it makes bruising red wines with body and extra fire. Rosenblum’s 2007 Rockpile zin ($24.99) is jammy and juicy, sweet with raspberries and licorice and extra pepper… well, it just rocks.

That’s a grand showcase of what zinfandel can be. Zin-man Steve Rayman himself says 93. I say, fix the thickest steak you can find.

Or you could get to know Rosenblum the easy way with Vintner’s Cuvee XXXI ($8.99). No vintage, no specific appellation within California, just zin, big spicy and fruity zin. Your pizza will thank you.

- Chris Sherman, The Blogging Nibbler

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