Our Wine
We Know Jack!
We Know Jack!
2021 Rockpile "Riff Raff" Zinfandel
Big, Bold and Robust, yet elegant and balanced with fresh fruit flavors of blueberries, raspberries and cassis followed by a long smooth finish…
$65.00 (Free Shipping on Case Orders)
Rockpile Riff Raff
Our 2021 Release
Vintage Notes:
2021 was a drought year with a warm spring followed by a hot summer leading to an early harvest. However, ripening was even with sugars, acids and phenolic maturation optimally coinciding. It produced an outstanding wine that is well-balanced with mature, soft tannins.
ROCKPILE RIFFRAFF
We Know Jack! Rockpile Riff Raff is a single vineyard, single block Zinfandel with a pinch of our Petite Sirah; both from our Jack Florence Sr. Vineyard. Big, Bold and Robust, yet elegant and balanced with fresh fruit flavors of blueberries, raspberries and cassis followed by a long smooth finish. In blind tastings, it can be confused for a cabernet, a red blend or a weighty pinot.
Cheers!
Winemaker:
James MacPhail
Assistant Winemaker:
David Sailer
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ROCKPILE
This greater region of northwestern Sonoma, has been called Rockpile for at least150 years and has a rich history of hard-working pioneering immigrant farmers and ranchers, indigenous Americans, colorful outlaws, celebrities, and other assorted characters. Insightful accounts can be found online (e.g. https://rockpilegrapegrowers.org/history.html) and Cathy Park’s wonderful book “A Place Called Rockpile.” THE STORY and VINEYARD accounts of our Jack Florence Sr Vineyard and WE KNOW JACK! are no different!
Rockpile is one of the smallest viticultural areas in planted acres and one of only a few defined by a minimum elevation, which is just above our fog line at 800 ft. The region is rugged, remote, and beautiful with both lake and maritime influences providing cooler temperatures, longer hangtimes and slower, more even ripening. It is one of the most acclaimed zinfandel regions in the world.
About We Know Jack!...
THE LEGACY
In preparation for what was to be our first meeting, we Googled then owner, Jack Florence Sr. In the first citation, he was referred to as the legendary winegrower. Jack had come to Dry Creek in the mid 70’s after an international engineering career and became a founding member of the Dry Creek Grower’s Association.
Later, he and his son Jack Jr., a fabled viticulturist and vineyard manager, bought properties on Rockpile, built homes, planted ridge top vineyards, and helped to establish the Rockpile AVA. The fruit was initially sold to the legendary winemaker Kent Rosenblum. The 2003 Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel was rated the third best wine in the world by Wine Spectator in 2005.
Winemakers call the Jack Florence Sr. Vineyard iconic. Due to a coalescence of factors, it may be one of the best zinfandel vineyards in the world. This is the perfect starting point for WE KNOW JACK! to begin its journey and take its place among the great zinfandels and the great wines of the world.
Our Founders
LORI HUNT
Lori was born and raised in Rhode Island, lived in England for ten years and later became a corporate flight attendant for a noteworthy Oregon born and raised CEO. He thought it was important for his staff to be well versed in domestic wine to best serve the executive team. Lori followed his suggestions and developed an incredible palate. Always an altruist, she shared her knowledge and
bottles with Mark. An excellent cook, mother and grandmother, family is everything to Lori.
MARK ZUCKERMAN
Mark was born and raised in New Jersey. After medical school and training, he settled in Massachusetts for a career in pathology. In 2004, Mark and Lori blended their families. While the kids were occupied at college, they began the first of many trips to California Wine Country. A science geek, Mark began to acquire books about vineyard soil and development, and began to search the MLS listings. After a few aborted attempts, Lori identified the Florence property …. and the rest is history.
