Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Displaying a similar style to the 2005, the elegant 2006 Pinot Noir Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard possesses the same gravelly character along with more raspberry and red cherry notes. It is well-made and medium-bodied with tart acidity and an attractive finish.
Range: 90-92 -
Connoisseurs' Guide
With a pronounced bent to ripeness that separates it from its siblings, this broad, somewhat viscous and positively mouthfilling wine smacks of cherries and black soils with flashes of chocolate showing here and there. While fairly full-bodied, it is very well-balanced, and its considerable richness comes with nary a hint of heaviness, and its persistent finish is unstinting in fruit. It will find its best place as a partner to richer dishes, and it should shine with the likes of well-seasoned pork roasts or a classic rack of lamb.
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.