posted by admin on Jul 3
It took me a long time in my evolution as a wine lover to truly understand the amount of money and sweat and energy that goes into building a world class winery over decades, even centuries.
Many wine lovers early in their education (and in their earning power) are often flummoxed by prices for wines that start to head north of $80 or $90 per bottle. Should they pursue their love of wine long enough to really learn (and descry for themselves) what kind of work goes into some of the world’s best vineyards, and to smack the wine that they produce, of that kind prices no longer seem outrageous.
Indeed, there are more wineries and vineyards in the world that be seen to produce wines of such quality and consistency as to be nearly magical. In Europe, and especially France, such pieces of land are many times given special designations, in the same state as Grand Cru, to signify their quality.
There are self-same small in number plots of land in California that might be accorded Grand Cru status, should Americans decide to institute some process of classifying vineyards for quality, if only for many of California’session vineyards are so relatively reinvigorated. There are some very few, however, that have definitively proven their distinctiveness and quality over individual decades.
Unquestionably, the leading vineyard on my invoice of in the same state wineries and vineyard sites would be Rochioli Vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Tucked in between Westside Road and the meandering curves of the Russian River as it heads south past Healdsburg, Rochioli Vineyards produces some of the greatest in quantity sought after Pinot Noir in California.
Since the early part of the century, the 162 acres of flats and sloping hillsides that run down towards this detailed bend in the river have been farmed by someone with the hindmost name Rochioli. After working the land despite decades, Joe Rochioli, Sr., began buying up the come to land, atom by scintilla. By the 1950’s, he had been joined by his son Joe Rochioli, Jr. and together they spent manifold decades growing grapes that were sold to wineries throughout Sonoma County.
It wasn’t until the early Seventies, however, that the farm produced Pinot Noir. Like many long-running family winegrowers, however, eventually the craving to make their own wine started to germinate, and in 1976 Joe Jr. made a group of Pinot Noir at one of his customers’ wineries.
By the early Eighties, the Russian River Valley had clearly proven its possible for growing Burgundian varietals, and Pinot Noir in particular, and the Rochioli’s saw a gradual increase in the demand for their fruit. One small winery named Williams Selyem became a particularly good customer, and the single vineyard wines they made from Rochioli fruit rapidly made their fortunes and brought Rochioli to national and international attention.
Around this time, Joe Jr.’session son Tom had grown dissatisfied with his business career and positive to go to the family employment. Capitalizing on the rapidly increasing demand for the family’s fruit, Tom helped transform the Rochioli ranch from a farm to a full working winery. With the help of another of their customers, Gary Farrell, the family produced its first vintage subordinate to the Rochioli grade in 1982, a 150 case production of Pinot Noir from a vineyard plot known as the West Block.
Within a few years, Tom had taken over as winemaker, a position which he continues to hold today, even as his father Joe Jr. continues to direct the management of the family’s vineyards.
Producing about 13,000 cases of wine each year, Rochioli produces appellation designated wines under the Rochioli Vineyards label, and single vineyard and block-designated wines in the state the J. Rochioli label. These latter wines, including this River Block Pinot Noir, are available only to their mailing list customers.
Tom Rochioli’s winemaking style, as well in the same proportion that his entire family’s philosophy of wine production are based in the traditions of Burgundy, and in particular the Cote d’Or. Exacting quality standards, clonal diversity, and vineyard management techniques produce top quality fruit, which is then babied from one side a traditional hands-off winemaking process that attempts to manipulate the wine as little as possible through its lifecycle.
More so than almost any other Pinot Noir in California, Rochioli wines are built to age, and do so beautifully. I be seized of had the pleasure of drinking bottles dating back to 1990 in the farther than few years, and they are holding up magnificently. Whether they have the 50+ year longevity of old world Burgundy, only time will tell, on the other hand if any Pinot Noir America will pleasing age in that fashion, it will most certainly have existence Rochioli.
Whenever possible I avoid partiality, as I believe my life and the lives of my readers benefit from a multiform exploration and recommendation of wines. However, when it comes right below the horizon to it, there are few wines in California wine that I care for more than Rochioli’sitting block designated Pinot Noirs, especially when they are properly old for a decade or two.
Tasting Notes:
Medium ruby in guise, this wine has a bright, bold nose of cranberry and spice aromas that you can smell long in the sight of your nose is in the glass. On the palate the wine has a gorgeous glassy silk texture that conveys an impression of coolness, while everything but bursting with bright, juicy raspberry fruit and a deep complexion of mulling spices and fresh herbs that linger in a very long finish. Incredibly accurately balanced and poised, this wine has fantastic acidity that makes it a beatitude to drink now and a firm bet for a couple decades of aging.
Food Pairing:
I’d love to drink this wine with a crostata of goat cheese and sauteed chanterelle mushrooms with fresh thyme.
Overall Score: around 9.5
How Much?: $85
This wine is available for property on the Internet.
