From my dad’s cellar, this was my first Rochioli Pinot in years, and what a wine. Still quite young, with boisterous dark cherry fruit, but then underneath all that juicy joy there was a deeper, more savory base of damp earth, moss, a touch of soy and a dash of cinnamon. Very complex aromatics that were then echoed on the palate. The fruit was sweet and fresh, and tethered to the earthy foundation. I wish I had multiples of this, but there was only one left in dad’s collection. Fascinating, and makes me want to look for current Rochioli Pinots despite having zero need to explore more producers.
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Last tasted 3 1/2 years ago, and drinking very well with similar notes. Nice color, black cherries, blackberries, minerals, floral, and some spice in the nose and flavor. Concentrated, well balanced wine with nice complexity and a medium to long slightly sweet finish.
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The 2009 Little Hill is still performing wonderfully after ten years. Very nice color and rich, concentrated dark fruits. Black cherries, blackberries, minerals, floral, and some spice. Well balanced wine with nice complexity and a medium to long finish
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Without straining my mediocre mind with abstractions like cranberry cola and juniper pie, let me just say that if you want 2007 Marcassin flavor, but are short the coin, hit the Rocchioli West Block And Little Hill vints. I have neither had nor heard tell of a bad bottle. Delicious and rewarding ripe Pinot with bright red and black fruits. Good acididity. Firm tannins. Would pair with chunks of ferro-concrete and tennis balls. Does the 2007 Marc taste better? Yes, it does. Does it taste three times better? No, it does not.
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WOTN for my wine group at a Pinot Noir dinner. The overwhelming favorite of the dinner. Definitely on the big and bolder side of Pinot. But it still has enough acidity and lighter red fruit, so that it doesn't overpower your palate.
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Popped 'n poured at a restaurant with my wine group. I really enjoyed this much more than my previous bottle. The bouquet had notes of kirsch. Still lots of fruit on the palate, I think it has plenty of life ahead of it.
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This is the 1st higher end pinot I've tasted and wow...was not expecting this. We popped and poured. Out of the gate; intense sourdough, wet forest floor with red fruit on the nose which was oddly pleasant. Gave it a good hour in the glass with heavy agitation and this beauty morphed into a big, balanced charmer. Now I see why Burgundies dominate the highest end wines. I want more!
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What a surprise in light of my 97 rating one year ago. Bit of green vegetable funkiness on the nose. First glass poured from the bottle, remaining wine consumed following a 75-minute decant. Improved somewhat with aeration but certainly nothing I could rate highly. Will be interesting to see if this is bottle variation or its fruit is falling off.
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PnP. Medium dark red. Luscious nose of ripe berries, especially raspberries with a hint of oak. Full on the palate but at least initially a bit clenched on the finish. Gets better w air - good not great.
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Popped and poured, and maybe that was a mistake. Oddly, I was expecting more from this. Its really very good, maybe just short of outstanding. Something about it seemed closed down, and a little "clunky." I have had other Little Hills and enjoyed them more than this one. I have two more bottles of this and will probably finish them over the next 12 months.
WA rated this twice, once by Robert Parker in Feb 2011 and he gave it a (95-97) rating, and a year later by Galloni who gave it 92 points. The Cellartracker average as of this post is 94.3.
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something of a brooding monster. This is undoubtedly a very good wine but the fruit core seemed a little shut down for me, especially on the palate (aroma wise there was all sorts going on). Decanted for 1.5 hours and drunk with barbecued fillet of beef, there was certainly plenty of acidity, indeed there was a slightly sharp edge to the finish, and there was comparatively quite obvious tannin for a Pinot Noir but the hoped for burst of cherry and smoky earthiness that the nose promised never fully materialised. A big wine in many ways and I would love to try again in a few years time.
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WOW! This wine is a stunner! From the open without a decant, wonderful lush fruit on the nose.........you can smell it from across the table. Cherries, strawberries, cranberry, raspberry. On the palate, medium to heavy red fruit with great complexity, masterful balanced mid palate with plenty of acid and a long finish. Don't think it is going to get any better. Paid $102 for this bottle three years ago and worth every penny. Have had some great CA Pinots, Kistler, KB, Sojourn. But this blew me away. If you can find it.......buy it. If you have it in your cellar......what are you waiting for!
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Incredible wine. Decanted the first glass in the bottle for about an hour. Rich cherry, floral, medium to heavy bodied and very well balanced. The only problem? Maybe give it a year or so, and this is my last one!
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted a couple glasses non-blind over a couple hours --
NOSE: expressive; very floral; rich red/purple fruits
BODY: magenta-red color of medium depth; medium to medium-full bodied
TASTE: rich red/purple fruits; oak is noticeable, but not overbearing; big; rather lush wine, and a bit sweet; medium-low to medium acidity; 14.5% abv. is well-hidden by the ripe, lush fruit; this strikes me as well-balanced, but mostly by virtue of the lush fruit; drinking well now; I’d consider this a medium-term ager, at most; drink now or over the next 10 years. Gut impression score: 90 – 91.
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A vibrate nose and a smooth attack with no flaws to catch your attention. This is wonderfully restrained in the mouth with flavors that allow room for food, or your imagination, to fill in the small space left by the wine. Simply the finest new world Pinot Noir I've had in a very long time. 94-95 points on my scale.
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intense cherry dominating the red fruit profile, undertones of spice. has nice grip with acidity and tannic structure with just enough oak. while indulgent and quite enjoyable now, i think a few years will help this come together and evolve a bit. there's just too much going on here not to see where it goes...
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Deep, complex, layered, balance, finesse. This pinot has it all. Outstanding! Nothing in California pinots has come close to this level in the last several years.
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6/30/2023 - Rieslingfan wrote:
From my dad’s cellar, this was my first Rochioli Pinot in years, and what a wine. Still quite young, with boisterous dark cherry fruit, but then underneath all that juicy joy there was a deeper, more savory base of damp earth, moss, a touch of soy and a dash of cinnamon. Very complex aromatics that were then echoed on the palate. The fruit was sweet and fresh, and tethered to the earthy foundation. I wish I had multiples of this, but there was only one left in dad’s collection. Fascinating, and makes me want to look for current Rochioli Pinots despite having zero need to explore more producers.
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6/28/2023 - peterk Likes this wine:
Still going strong, but time to enjoy.
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9/4/2022 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Last tasted 3 1/2 years ago, and drinking very well with similar notes. Nice color, black cherries, blackberries, minerals, floral, and some spice in the nose and flavor. Concentrated, well balanced wine with nice complexity and a medium to long slightly sweet finish.
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10/25/2020 - Minnesota wrote: 94 Points
Bottle variation the answer to 2016 tasting question. Lovely and refined. Drinking at or near its apex.
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2/29/2020 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking quite well for an aged CA Pinot. Nice balance and structure. Good Pinot qualities.
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2/2/2019 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2009 Little Hill is still performing wonderfully after ten years. Very nice color and rich, concentrated dark fruits. Black cherries, blackberries, minerals, floral, and some spice. Well balanced wine with nice complexity and a medium to long finish
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10/7/2018 - jdtonic Likes this wine: 94 Points
Without straining my mediocre mind with abstractions like cranberry cola and juniper pie, let me just say that if you want 2007 Marcassin flavor, but are short the coin, hit the Rocchioli West Block And Little Hill vints. I have neither had nor heard tell of a bad bottle.
Delicious and rewarding ripe Pinot with bright red and black fruits. Good acididity. Firm tannins. Would pair with chunks of ferro-concrete and tennis balls.
Does the 2007 Marc taste better? Yes, it does.
Does it taste three times better? No, it does not.
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9/23/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
WOTN for my wine group at a Pinot Noir dinner. The overwhelming favorite of the dinner. Definitely on the big and bolder side of Pinot. But it still has enough acidity and lighter red fruit, so that it doesn't overpower your palate.
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6/25/2018 - JoeDwine wrote: 93 Points
same as previous bottle.
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5/20/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
Popped 'n poured at a restaurant with my wine group. I really enjoyed this much more than my previous bottle. The bouquet had notes of kirsch. Still lots of fruit on the palate, I think it has plenty of life ahead of it.
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1/14/2018 - hadlieh2 wrote: 88 Points
Barnyard nose,complex, slow to open, hot after initial pour, dark currant. We think needs another year two. Not bad now, but.
Had w grilled lamb rack
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3/11/2017 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 92 Points
Darker color, fragrant nose, lovely palate feel.
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1/3/2017 - Fatman in the Bathtub wrote: 95 Points
This is the 1st higher end pinot I've tasted and wow...was not expecting this. We popped and poured. Out of the gate; intense sourdough, wet forest floor with red fruit on the nose which was oddly pleasant. Gave it a good hour in the glass with heavy agitation and this beauty morphed into a big, balanced charmer. Now I see why Burgundies dominate the highest end wines. I want more!
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11/3/2016 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
Darker color, more mature, bright, cherry, strawberry, fills the mouth and a good finish. It's a buy.
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7/2/2016 - Minnesota wrote: 90 Points
What a surprise in light of my 97 rating one year ago. Bit of green vegetable funkiness on the nose. First glass poured from the bottle, remaining wine consumed following a 75-minute decant. Improved somewhat with aeration but certainly nothing I could rate highly. Will be interesting to see if this is bottle variation or its fruit is falling off.
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11/29/2015 - rosenst1 wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Medium dark red. Luscious nose of ripe berries, especially raspberries with a hint of oak. Full on the palate but at least initially a bit clenched on the finish. Gets better w air - good not great.
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11/26/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured, and maybe that was a mistake. Oddly, I was expecting more from this. Its really very good, maybe just short of outstanding. Something about it seemed closed down, and a little "clunky." I have had other Little Hills and enjoyed them more than this one. I have two more bottles of this and will probably finish them over the next 12 months.
WA rated this twice, once by Robert Parker in Feb 2011 and he gave it a (95-97) rating, and a year later by Galloni who gave it 92 points. The Cellartracker average as of this post is 94.3.
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9/7/2015 - belfast taxman wrote: 91 Points
something of a brooding monster. This is undoubtedly a very good wine but the fruit core seemed a little shut down for me, especially on the palate (aroma wise there was all sorts going on). Decanted for 1.5 hours and drunk with barbecued fillet of beef, there was certainly plenty of acidity, indeed there was a slightly sharp edge to the finish, and there was comparatively quite obvious tannin for a Pinot Noir but the hoped for burst of cherry and smoky earthiness that the nose promised never fully materialised. A big wine in many ways and I would love to try again in a few years time.
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6/18/2015 - Minnesota wrote: 97 Points
Think NCWino1 pretty much nailed it....
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6/13/2015 - NCWino1 Likes this wine: 96 Points
WOW! This wine is a stunner! From the open without a decant, wonderful lush fruit on the nose.........you can smell it from across the table. Cherries, strawberries, cranberry, raspberry. On the palate, medium to heavy red fruit with great complexity, masterful balanced mid palate with plenty of acid and a long finish. Don't think it is going to get any better. Paid $102 for this bottle three years ago and worth every penny. Have had some great CA Pinots, Kistler, KB, Sojourn. But this blew me away. If you can find it.......buy it. If you have it in your cellar......what are you waiting for!
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7/12/2014 - JoeDwine wrote: 94 Points
red fruit aromas. raspberries, cloves, black cherry and spice. Combines depth and power going on and on.
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3/9/2014 - Fred44 wrote: 96 Points
"A Short Ride on a Fast Machine" to quote John Adams. Beautiful nose-deep, floral and fruity. Explosive and intense pinot.
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1/3/2014 - christyspring Likes this wine: 95 Points
Incredible wine. Decanted the first glass in the bottle for about an hour. Rich cherry, floral, medium to heavy bodied and very well balanced. The only problem? Maybe give it a year or so, and this is my last one!
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12/8/2013 - grafstrb wrote:
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted a couple glasses non-blind over a couple hours --
NOSE: expressive; very floral; rich red/purple fruits
BODY: magenta-red color of medium depth; medium to medium-full bodied
TASTE: rich red/purple fruits; oak is noticeable, but not overbearing; big; rather lush wine, and a bit sweet; medium-low to medium acidity; 14.5% abv. is well-hidden by the ripe, lush fruit; this strikes me as well-balanced, but mostly by virtue of the lush fruit; drinking well now; I’d consider this a medium-term ager, at most; drink now or over the next 10 years. Gut impression score: 90 – 91.
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9/5/2013 - Scharin wrote: 92 Points
Solid Pinot, but a bit too heavy and flabby for my taste. A bit too much plum / prune for it to really excel.
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6/22/2013 - Melli Likes this wine: 97 Points
I had to do a double take. Just grabbed a bottle and WOW. This is amazing!!!!!
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10/23/2012 - Stevo-the-wino wrote: 94 Points
A vibrate nose and a smooth attack with no flaws to catch your attention. This is wonderfully restrained in the mouth with flavors that allow room for food, or your imagination, to fill in the small space left by the wine. Simply the finest new world Pinot Noir I've had in a very long time. 94-95 points on my scale.
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5/6/2012 - kthornton78 wrote: 93 Points
intense cherry dominating the red fruit profile, undertones of spice. has nice grip with acidity and tannic structure with just enough oak. while indulgent and quite enjoyable now, i think a few years will help this come together and evolve a bit. there's just too much going on here not to see where it goes...
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5/3/2012 - samiamx_1999 wrote: 92 Points
Gives meaning to the terms balance and integration, the latter vis a vis fruit and tannins. Medium finish and weight, but beefy pinot. Touch of heat.
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3/8/2012 - yovinny wrote: 98 Points
Deep, complex, layered, balance, finesse. This pinot has it all. Outstanding! Nothing in California pinots has come close to this level in the last several years.
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1/23/2012 - yovinny wrote: 96 Points
Deep. Complex. Got Cherries?
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