Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Made from three sections of the famous vineyard, the majority from a share of River Block and the Mid 40, this white is remarkably good, complex and memorable. Matchstick notes give way to barrel oak, vanilla and spicy caramel apple, the palate textured and layered in additional elements of lemon peel, Key lime and pear. Full bodied, it holds its weight and breadth in balance, producing enduring beauty.
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Jeb Dunnuck
I was able to taste two wines under the Rochioli label. Starting with the 2017 Chardonnay, it has a vivid gold color as well as classy notes of ripe peach, tart pineapple, and tangerine. With subtle oak, medium to full-bodied, beautiful balance, and good acidity, it's an incredibly elegant Chardonnay that's well worth seeking out.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay Estate has a warm, open nose of chamomile, yellow apple, toasted almond and quince paste with touches of baking bread and honey. The palate is medium-bodied with luscious, pure fruits and loads of savory accents, lifted by juicy acidity and finishing very long. 1,500 cases produced.
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Wine Spectator
There's an engaging minerality to the Fuji apple and pear tart flavors, which are awash in buttery and creamy accents. The spicy finish turns unctuous. Drink now through 2022.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.