Rootbound

Rootbound 2024 is a celebration of the place we call home. Grown in our Thibido Estate Vineyard in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, this expressive blend brings together 71% Zinfandel, 11% Carignan, 9% Grenache, and 9% Syrah. The result is a wine with generous fruit, layers of spice, and the kind of structure that keeps you coming back for another sip.

The 2024 vintage was picked on September 25 at 25.5° Brix, bringing ripe, concentrated fruit into the cellar while retaining the freshness that keeps the wine lively. With only 74 cases produced, Rootbound 2024 is a small-batch expression of our estate vineyard and the character of Willow Creek.

Each variety was vinified separately before being brought together as a final blend to age. The wine was aged in a combination of new and neutral oak, allowing the ripe fruit and natural character of the vineyard to remain at the center while adding subtle layers of spice and complexity. The result is a wine that balances lush fruit with elegant structure rather than letting the oak take over.

The nose opens with aromas of raspberry and ripe strawberry layered with Christmas spice, black pepper, clove, and a hint of forest floor. On the palate, juicy plum, cherry, and boysenberry unfold with lush, generous fruit and mild tannins. The wine is rich without feeling heavy, with layers of elegant flavor and savory spice adding complexity beneath the fruit.

As the wine moves toward the finish, the fruit gives way to a pleasantly dry, structured close with lingering black pepper and subtle earthy notes. Juicy and approachable now, Rootbound has enough structure and complexity to reward lingering over a second glass.

When it comes to pairing this wine with a meal, Rootbound loves dishes with a little smoke, spice, or richness. Grilled Tri-Tip or a wood-fired sausage pizza. For something unexpected — and easy to make at home — pair it with roasted mushroom and caramelized onion flatbread topped with goat cheese and a drizzle of balsamic. The earthy mushrooms play off the forest-floor notes, while the caramelized onions and berries in the wine bring out each other’s sweetness.