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.
River Block Vineyard is the portion of Rochioli Vineyard situated nearest to the Russian River. The winery recently published a detailed map of the Estate Vineyard that is required viewing for fans of the winery.
Light crimson in color. 14.2% ABV. Spellbinding nose of red fruits, cloves, anise and damp forest floor. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. Rich and elegant with perfect balance. Cherries, baking spice, sarsaparilla and earth on the palate. The finish is exceptionally long. I’ve drank Rochioli Pinot Noir going back twenty years now and I could make an argument that this is the best bottle I have had. Certainly the best domestic Pinot Noir I have had this year. What a treat. Drink it if you have it.
My rating: 97 points.
The 2016 version of this wine was recently released to 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.