Rocca Family Vineyards Vespera 2009 Front Label
Rocca Family Vineyards Vespera 2009 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

The aromas here are deep, rich, and inviting, a seamless blend of Cabernet Sauvignon’s dark blackberry and cassis with the sumptuous ripe purple fruit of Syrah. There’s a warm, welcoming spiciness that’s reminiscent of a cozy fire on Christmas Eve, as well as charming notes of graphite and dark chocolate and lavender. The impression on the palate is tremendously full-bodied and lush, but it shows exceptional precision and focus for a wine with this much stuffing. The finish is a perfect balance of delicious fruit, charismatic spice, and rich velvety-soft tannins, and it leaves behind an endearing flourish of fresh lavender.

Professional Ratings

  • 90
    Aimed squarely at dense red berry and licorice notes, this is tight, focused, clean, pure and persistent, ending with a medley of berry flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Syrah. Drink now through 2024.
Rocca Family Vineyards

Rocca Family Vineyards

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Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.

Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.

RAE320193_2009 Item# 169695