Winemaker Notes
This single vineyard wine is the result of over seventy-five years and three generations of winemaking and grape-growing experience in the Russian River Valley. Specially-selected barrels and traditional winemaking techniques give this Estate wine its unique style and flavor. Production is strictly limited, ensuring that this wine represents the very best Rochioli has to offer. It will continue to age gracefully for years to come.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Produced exclusively fro, Rochioli Clone fruit, the medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir River Block gives up notions of red currants, warm cranberries, violets and chocolate box with suggestions of rose hip tea and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied with buckets of vibrant red fruits on offer in the mouth, it has a lovely silken yet firm texture, amazing freshness and a long, fruity finish.
Rating: 94+
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Wine Spectator
Deftly balanced, with a pleasing mix of red and dark berry, spice, loamy earth, cedar, anise and sage flavors, ending on a gliding finish. Drink now through 2025.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.