Hey now! This is really delicious Sonoma Cab for $25! When was the last time we said that!? Rockpile is, of course, the unique and very aptly named appellation perched high over the Dry Creek Valley and Lake Sonoma. Known mainly for its wonderfully brambly Zinfandel (and, I suspect, for rattlesnakes), Cabernet Sauvignon also does very well in those austere conditions, creating wines of great intensity and a lot of character. Winemaker Gary Branham adds a bit of dark, juicy Malbec and a dollop of Petite Sirah- just because- to create a large-and-in-charge Cab that wears its 14.9% alcohol like a seamless glove. When we as a staff tasted it, I told the group it reminded me of an old Arrowood Cab with its hints of pipe tobacco, blackberry bramble and dried herb that add complexity to a core of Dutch deep chocolate powder-infused plum, blackberry and mulberry. Rich and satisfying, we were sort of shocked when we saw the price. In a good way….. An excellent House Cab candidate. 300 cases produced.