Rochioli is one of the true pioneers in Russian River Valley, with a winemaking history dating back to the the late 1950′s. In 1987 Rochioli released their first estate wine, the 1985 Rochioli Pinot Noir. Although best known for their world class Pinot Noir, Rochioli also produces remarkable Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The winery recently published a detailed map of the Estate Vineyard that is required viewing for fans of the winery.
From the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines in California. Bright gold in color. 14.5% ABV. Racy nose of tropical fruits, citrus and freshly mowed grass. Crisp, refreshing and tangy with bright acidity. Lemons, mango and grapefruit on the palate. The finish is long and vibrant. Stunning Sauvignon Blanc that is aging beautifully. I don’t typically consider domestic Sauvignon Blanc to be particularly ageworthy. This wine is certainly an exception. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
My rating: 93 points.
The Old Vines Sauvignon Blanc is released every Spring with the Single Vineyard Chardonnay and is only available to long time mailing list members.
At present time (and for the foreseeable future) buying from Rochioli via the mailing list is not an option. The Estate wines do show up at retail periodically, and the winery’s Russian River Valley tasting room is still open for public tasting. They may only be pouring a couple of wines, but it’s a great opportunity to buy a bottle for a picnic on their lovely patio and a few more to bring home for the cellar.
I’ve blogged about Rochioli previously in the The 2017 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings and the Fab 5 of Mailing Lists.