George M Wood

9.3

Always great quality, smooth, definable fruit — 4 months ago

with Meital, Danny and 1 other

Ken Parker

9.4

Brought home from a CA trip, finally opened and find it quite nice! As others have mentioned there are chocolate and “jammy” notes. Quite nice indeed. — 4 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.5

First time trying these Malbecs from Jesse Katz and Devil Proof. Thanks Lauren for cracking these for us! Lush purplish red that completely coats the glass. Rich and dark on the nose with spices, dark cocoa, a bit smoky, mocha and black cassis. Heavy smooth tannins (8/10) and full bodied. Love the texture on the palate with layers of lush dark blackberries, blueberries, cassis, sweet spices and a bit spicy too. Long finish. Drink till 2038.


Wow. This is the best Malbec we have ever had from the United States and possibly even from any other wine region. Excellent work Jesse! This is made up of 100% Malbec from the Rockpile Ridge vineyard which is managed by the Mauritson Family and dry farmed. It is aged in 100% new French oak barrels and comes from an elevation of 1,100 feet.


First stop (Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof Vineyards) on our very first trip to Sonoma, and we were not dissappointed. The wines made by Jesse Katz have a ton of finesse, power and character, but the wines under his Devil Proof Label are at another level. Definitely a Malbec that needs to be on any wine collector's radar. The photo for the label was taken by Andy Katz, Jesse's father, back when he was commissed by the Cuban Government to take photos of their way of life. We love the saying for the label "Live well, drink well, and the devil can't get you". We do not know about you but we will follow her lead and hopefully become a little bit Devil Proof. — 6 years ago

with India

Jerry Dixon

9.0

Had at PROJECT ZIN — 8 months ago

Kevin Mullally

9.0

Lots of delicate fruit, some nice structure, good acid and refreshing — 2 years ago

Steve Somermeyer

9.3

Typical dry creek fruit & just coming into prime without tannins softening. — 4 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Inaugural vintage of a brand new winery with Jesse Katz as their winemaker.
Light greenish yellow showing its youth. Complex nose layered with honeysuckle, stone fruits, lychee, melon, acacia, nectarine and white peaches. A touch fizzy on the attack of the palate with medium plus acidity (7/10) and medium plus bodied. Love the texture on this Sauvignon Blanc, rich and silky as well as being well balanced. Notes of ripe tropical and stone fruits, melon, peach, kiwi and a touch creamy. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2023.


The Setting Wines is a new winery with wines made by Jesse Katz of Aperture Cellars and Devil Proof. This is the maiden vintage of their Barrel Fermented Sauvignon which comes from the Grandma's Block Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley AVA. This vineyard is owned by the Mauritson Family and is planted with a mix of Sauvignon Blanc clones, specifically for this bottling is the Musqué clone which adds to the strength of the aromas as well as weight on the palate. This bottling is made up of 100% Sauvignon Blanc and aged in an interesting oaking program. Which is as follows: 10% custom Haut-Brion toasted new French oak with acacia barrel heads, 30% new Francois Freres medium and light toast and 60% once used French oak. Only 94 cases produced or 4 barrels. One of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs to date.

$$ - Sample provided by the winery. Release price is $38.00. — 6 years ago

with Sean and India

Kevin Mullally

9.0

My favorite red of the day. Super chocolate-y. Dark cassis, maybe some coffee notes too. — 2 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.3

Shout out to winespies for bringing this bottle to my attention. I’m a Rockpile fan (great, but small, AVA in north Sonoma) and when I saw that Clay Mauritson was one of the winemakers, had to grab this one. Dark berries, both black and Gwen pepper, chalk, earth tones and more come through with this. Tannins were softer than expected. If you haven’t had a Rockpile Zin, try it! — 3 years ago

John Riddick

9.1

I don't always drink Cali Zin, but when I do it's Rockpile. Mineral component is amazing. Dark blackberry and cassis. Rich and aging well. — 6 years ago

with Lauren