Winemaker Notes
This wine is a blend from our top Estate Chardonnay vineyards. The blend consists of fifty two percent from the Mid-40, forty two percent from the River Block, and six percent Little Hill. It is a fine example of the unique characters from our property and the Russian River Valley. Complex aromas of spice, apple, pear, vanilla, and a touch of yeasty complexity combine with the rich apple flavors and crisp acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is wonderfully expressive! It has inviting aromas of poached pears, quince, vanilla, beeswax and hazelnut. The medium-bodied palate features pure, mineral-laced flavors and a seamless, silky texture. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a very long, elegant finish.
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Wine Spectator
A distinctive version, offering a creamy, elegant mix of poached pear, tangerine and wildflower honey, with honeysuckle accents. Its details of cardamom and white peach are complex and detailed, while a toasted brioche element and a drizzle of sweet cream emerge on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2036. 2,280 cases made.
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is a gorgeous entry-level wine in this range. Pear, spice, tangerine peel and light tropical accents all grace this understated offering from Tom Rochioli. This 2023 is a fine edition of the Estate Chardonnay.
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.