2013 Bedrock Wine Company Gibson Ranch Heritage, 6-bottle Lot

Bedrock Wine Co. was founded in 2007 in a Sonoma chicken coop. But it’s not an exaggeration to say that Morgan Twain-Peterson, Bedrock’s founder and winemaker, has been in the wine business since birth. His father is Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood, the iconoclastic Sonoma producer known for powerhouse Zinfandel, and Morgan began blending his own wine at age five. After college in New York, Morgan worked in various areas of the wine industry before returning to California and starting Bedrock, named for one his family’s vineyards. He sources grapes from Bedrock and other vineyards throughout the region and often seeks out old vine vineyards. Bedrock’s flagship wine is the Bedrock Heritage, usually a blend of mostly Zinfandel and Carignan. Bedrock also makes Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and many red and white blends. Reviews have been highly complimentary. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Twain-Peterson “has hit the wine scene with a bang, producing vibrant, personality-filled, delicious wines from extremely old vines and, in some cases, virtually unknown grapes, such as Aubun, Teredalgo, Trousseau Noir, Le Noir, Mission, Trousseau Gris, Grand Noir and Abouriou, as well as Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Carignan, Alicante Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo. Many of these sites are heritage terroirs from the ancient past which, until Peterson's arrival, were largely ignored or were co-mingled into some innocuous industrial blend. Bedrock's portfolio is filled with exciting wines.” Twain-Peterson has earned the distinction of becoming a Master of Wine by successfully completing the rigorous program at The Institute of Masters of Wine. It is one of the mostly highly regarded qualifications in the world of fine wine.

Mendocino AVA was established in 1984 and amended in 1989. It includes numerous sub-appellations. Mendocino AVA is entirely within Mendocino County, and the AVA is known for its Mediterranean climate. Vintners successfully grow Carignan, Charbono, Grenache, Zinfandel, Petit Sirah and Syrah. In cooler parts of the region Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also grown. Mendocino County is home to nearly 600 vineyards, and many have been certified organic for decades, thanks to the region’s famous “green and sustainable” approach to agriculture and nearly everything else. Mendocino was named for 16th century explorers, a pair of brothers whose last name was Mendoza. Winemaking, however, didn’t start until the 19th century when some would-be gold miners decided it was more profitable to make wine than to pan for gold. Italian immigrants in the late 19th century continued to establish winemaking ventures.