Blue Rock Vineyard is a small artisanal winery in Alexander Valley that produces high quality, hand-crafted Bordeaux-inspired wines and Pinot Noir from Sonoma County grapes.
The owner of the winery is Kenny Kahn, pictured here. Kenny is a passionate vigneron who is among the producers in Alexander Valley who are deeply committed to producing authentic high quality estate wines. Over the years he has recruited some fine winemakers to help him achieve his goals.
Blue Rock currently has 46 acres of vineyards planted with five Bordeaux varietals and three acres of hillside Syrah. Blue Rock’s vineyards are densely planted with low yielding vines and are managed following sustainable agricultural practices. Since its establishment over a decade ago, Blue Rock Vineyard has expanded its production to 20,000 cases annually and sells its wines in 30 US markets and in Europe.
In addition to producing top quality Bordeaux -inspired wines, Blue Rock Vineyards has begun producing first-class Pinot Noir from a recently purchased 30-acre vineyard in the Petaluma Gap mainly planted with heritage Pinot Noir clones.
We have been tasting Kenny’s wines over the past decade, and they have been getting better and better. The four wines reviewed here are all first-rate and offered at affordable prices for their quality.
The Wines
Blue Rock Vineyard 2021 Baby Blue Blanc Sonoma County ($28) 91+The Baby Blanc is a delicious blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Semillon and 3% Viognier. In contrast to previous vintages of the Baby Blanc which were tropical in style, the 2021 is more Bordeaux blanc in style. It is fresh and flavorful with hints of apple, honey and citrus. It is nicely balanced with medium acidity, and a pleasant finish.
Blue Rock Vineyard 2020 Baby Blue Sonoma County ($32) 92+ The 2020 Baby Blue is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5%Merlot, 2% Syrah, 3%Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc. As in our previous tastings, we find the Baby Blue soft on the attack and very approachable. Primarily sourced from estate fruit, it is a delicious offering of blackberry fruit with hints of cassis and spice. It is also nicely structured with a long finish and has good aging potential. 14.4% alc. Great value.
Blue Rock Vineyard 2019 Estate Cabernet Sonoma County ($55) 93 This is a superb Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark ruby in color, it is primarily crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon and blended with small amounts of Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. It is rich and concentrated on the palate with a soft texture, spicy dark fruit flavors and a long finish. It is clearly among the best Estate Cabernets we have tasted from Blue Rock.
Blue Rock Vineyard 2020 Pinot Noir Gapstone Vineyard Petaluma Gap ($65) 92 The 2020 Pinot Noir Gapstone Vineyard is a welcome addition to Blue Rock’s portfolio. Sourced from their low yielding vineyard in Petaluma Gap, the wine offers a dark ruby color with aromas and flavors of dark berry fruit. On the palate it is silky smooth with a lovely and slightly tart mouth feel. The wine is nicely structured with good acidity and a persistent finish. This is a great wine for those who are transitioning from Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Noir.
