2012 Pinot Noir West Block

The 2012 Pinot Noir West Block is the most vivid and expressive of these 2012 Pinot Noirs. Violets, cloves, new leather and blueberries burst from the glass in an explosive, full-bodied Pinot loaded with personality and class. Ideally, readers should give the 2012 at least a year or two in bottle to soften. This virus-stricken parcel, planted in 1970, produces tiny berries with thick skins and yields rich, deep Pinots.

The 2012 Pinot Noir West Block is the most structured, backward and brooding of these offerings. It possesses tremendous density as well as potential with a very high ceiling in front of it, but it was much more difficult to evaluate. The color is deep, and the wine has a significant sense of weight and richness in the mouth, but the finish is loaded with tannin and extract. Hints of underbrush, wet gravel and black fruits are noticeable, but this wine needs 2-3 years of cellaring. It should easily last more than a decade. Most knowledgeable people in the wine world have enormous respect for the integrity, honesty and exceptionally high quality of the wines emanating from the Rochioli Vineyards in the Russian River area. Currently, Tom Rochioli runs the show, and if you are not on their mailing list, chances are you only have an opportunity to purchase their Estate Chardonnay, Estate Pinot Noir, and possibly their Sauvignon Blanc. Mailing list customers have access to their best single vineyard wines. The consistency of these wines, even in less than ideal vintages, has been remarkable over my career. When I saw Tom Rochioli in October, he was thrilled with what 2012 had provided, and was even more excited by the fact that 2013 may be even better. The Pinot Noirs are largely produced from different clonal materials, and each parcel represents different blocks within the Rochioli estate vineyards. Tel. (707) 433-2305