Rochioli River Block Chardonnay 2016
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Ripe apple, mineral, and hazelnut aromas combine with its balanced finish. It is structured for aging and will reward those with the patience to cellar this wine.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Chardonnay River Block was barrel fermented and spent 9 months in 30% new French oak. It offers a medium gold color as well as a classic, gorgeously layered bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, caramelized citrus, brioche, and spice. Deep, full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, it's a classic, old-school Chardonnay done brilliantly. It's going to age beautifully.
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Wine Spectator
Zesty lime and citrus notes are trim and lively, clean and refreshing, with fig, anise, apricot and melon flavors moving to the forefront, giving this depth and persistence. Drink now through 2023.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Chardonnay River Block delivers gorgeous grapefruit, ripe apple and lime leaves with hints of baking bread, nutmeg and yuzu with a waft of ginger. Medium to full bodied, the palate sings with grapefruit and lime freshness, marked by a racy line, finishing long and minerally.
Other Vintages
2019-
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling
The Rochioli family has been growing grapes on its 136-acre ranch since the 1930s. In 1987, Tom Rochioli created the first Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir which Wine Spectator named “The Best Pinot Noir in America.” The Rochioli Vineyard is situated in a very diverse part of the Russian River Valley promoting diversity in the soil types, proximity to the ocean, as well as the contours of the valley, allowing for morning fog and cool evening breezes.
With three generations of dedication to the land, Rochioli Vineyards & Winery has earned the reputation as one of Sonoma County’s finest wineries. The decades-long tradition of outstanding vintages continues today with wines that consistently receive rave reviews and 90+ scores. Always in demand, always revered and always rated among the best varietals sought after around the world.
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.