2023 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir River Block Vineyard

A youthful ruby red, the 2023 Pinot Noir River Block is forward and needs some air on opening, with notes of scorched earth, woodsy spice, ripe cherries, and a lush, floral perfume. The palate has a more rounded and broader feel without ever feeling heavy, there’s still underlying acidity, and it’s fully dry. Drink 2025-2045. Tom Rochioli is leading his historic family winery and vineyards along with his wife Theresa and their children, Rachael (General Manager) and Ryan (Assistant Winemaker). The focus is on estate-grown expressions of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and old vine Sauvignon Blanc. Tom’s grandparents immigrated from Italy in 1911 and came to the Russian River Valley in 1938, moving to the 125-acre Fenton Acres property where the winery is today. In the 1970s and 1980s, Tom’s father Joe began selling their grapes to winemakers Davis Bynum and Williams Selyem, who produced some of the best wines in the region. It wasn’t until 1983 that Rochioli decided to produce their own wines and changed the name of the property from Fenton Acres to Rochioli Vineyards.

The 2023 Pinot Noir River Block Estate is endowed with notable precision. Chalk, white pepper, sage, mint and orange peel meld into a core of sculpted red-toned fruit. This mid-weight, vibrant Pinot has a ton to offer. The River Block is sourced from vines planted in 1989. It is one of the most elegant, perfumed wines in this range.