2023 J. Rochioli Chardonnay River Block Vineyard

A bright yellow color, the 2023 Chardonnay River Block reveals more depth on the nose, with notes of fresh yellow flowers, golden fresh apples, and wet stones. The palate is full and juicy, with fantastic fresh acidity and a long, silky texture, while the acidity just lifts it off the palate with cleanness and ease. It has fantastic ripe pineapple fruit and pretty spices, as well as a long lasting finish. It’s supple and clean on the palate. Drink 2025-2037. 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 Chardonnay River Block Estate is airy, elegant and lifted. Floral accents melt into a core of citrus confit, marzipan, tangerine peel, spice and a kiss of French oak. This is an especially finessed Chardonnay from the shot Wente clone, originally sourced from the Kistler Vine Hill property in the Russian River Valley.