2008 Pinot Noir West Block

Bright ruby. Knockout nose combines cherry, licorice pastille, smoky Indian spices and dried rose, plus a suggestion of bitter chocolate. Dense, sweet and sharply delineated, with an urgent, surprisingly lively quality to the flavors of dark berries, bitter cherry and spicecake. Packs a solid punch and shows impressive depth but finishes with nervy lift and mineral snap.

It is difficult to say the dark ruby/purple-tinged 2008 Pinot Noir West Block is superior, but it offers beautiful blueberry, raspberry, and kirsch-like fruit, full-bodied power, sweet ripeness and density, and a lavish, extroverted style. The wine is creamy and expansive with silky tannins as well as wonderful depth. This is another beautiful portfolio of wines from Tom Rochioli. Since they all possess a similar style, one can quibble over just how much difference there is between all the different cuvees of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. However, there are subtle differences that I will do my best to articulate. With respect to his Pinot Noirs, Rochioli completely destems his grapes, does a cold soak for 4-5 days, and keeps the wines in 100% Francois Freres French cooperage for 14-16 months or less. The wines are racked directly from barrel to tank, and are bottled without fining or filtration. Tel. (707) 433-2305; Fax (707) 433-2358