Where can I start. This Pinot was incredible, especially considering its age. There were solid fruit flavors that were probably faded from an earlier date, but who cares, this tasted very Pinot-like in a good way. Dark color and super smooth.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of birch, raspberries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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Another cali-noir, another winner? This one is a little older, a little more restrained than the Evening Land but in the same juicy sweet style with a lighter, more deft touch. I like the Red Car better but this bottle disappeared just as quickly.......
Since this bottle was a gift, the PQR was great!
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WOW! Amazing flavors, integrated, layers of stuff. Tannins have softened nicely, without giving up the backbone. No cherry/berry soda pop flavors on this one. Spectacular!
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Light red in color. Almost translucent. Inviting on the nose with scents of dark fruits, earth, fresh mushrooms and baking spices. Medium body with tremendous acidity. Super texture and mouth feel. Flavors of black cherry, nutmeg, cloves and anise. The finish is tremendous. This wine is remarkably still improving in bottle. Better than either of the bottles I had in 2013 and 2014. Although this was my last bottle I think this will drink well for another 2-3 years. This clearly bodes well for the single vineyard designates from 2006.
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Gave this around 45 min of air before serving. Dark garnet color. Classic RRV nose showing bing cherry, black tea & cola. Concentrated dark red fruit. Moderate acid & supple tannins. Very fruit forward, but clean & fresh. Easy to enjoy, not overly complex.
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This wine is still very vibrant. Enough acidity to compliment the fruit. The depth of the finish is amazing. A hint of some spice in the nose. I have been tasting through RRV 2006-2007's Pinot Noir in my cellar and this one really stood out. Pity it was last bottle from what was once a case. This wine could still benefit with some more age. Impressive to say the least.
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Surprisingly young fresh and vibrant, tart cranberry, red cherry and red raspberry dominated the palate with touches of the vanilla and cola to compliment. A beautiful Russian River Pinot in the typical Russian River style.
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Nice almost 10 year old PN. Dark cherries, mellow fruit, nice soft nose, and well-balanced. Paired well with Salmon. Drink up as this won't get any better. If anything, it is on the decline.
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Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, acacia, pepper, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, Bing cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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The color is beatiful clear ruby and garnet and is translucent. The smells are sweet exotic spices, red licorice, strawberry, olive and sweet cherry. The tastes are cherries, sassafras, black pepper, and earthy notes. The finish is lengthy and so flavorful. The tannins are soft satin and the fruit really comes through on this beautiful wine.
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This is an absolutely fantastic wine. My palate favors wines that are right down the middle between old-world and new-world and this wine delivers. Beautiful fruit, but not jammy or perfum-y at all. Very pretty nose with wonderful fruit flavors. Medium-long finish and great structure. This wine is drinking absolutely wonderfully right now!!!
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Light red in color. Almost translucent. 14.2% ABV. Clove, spice, earth and tree sap on the nose. Medium bodied. Crisp acidity. Cherries, forest floor, mushrooms and brown sugar on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish. This wine is in a great place right now. Drink over the next year or so while you wait on the Single Vineyard bottlings.
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Medium ruby color with minimal signs of age. Dark berry and baking spice aromas. Dark raspberry, cinnamon and vanilla flavors that integrate seamlessly into a lengthy, and pleasantly acidic finish.
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Popped and poured. Bright cherry and strawberry notes on the red fruited nose. Sweet, broad and deep flavors on the black fruited palate, showing very little acidity, and very slight fine grained tannins. There is a bitter edge to the finish that adds some welcomed complexity. Delicious and nothing out of place, but relatively simple and candidly boring.
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Required 90 minutes in decanter. Has picked up a little weight since last taste 2 years ago. Good balance of still bright and fragrant raspberries and spice box and now a better mouthfeel. By 2 hours softened to a really wonderful and delicate complexity. Last sip at 3 hour mark showed no sign of falling apart. Not likely to get a lot better but seems to have good runway left.
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Decanted for an hour. Consistent with my last taste 6 months ago. Delicate style, fragrant, lovely Pinot fruit balanced by good acidity.and lovely balance. Long finish. Last bottle.
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Delicate style, fragrant, and lovely balance. Strawberries and cherries (or something like that). Long finish. This wine is at a great place - perfect to drink now. I will finish my last bottle very soon.
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Took some time to open up which leads me to believe this has a little more time left. Minimal aromas of dark fruit, violet and alcohol. Raspberry, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors with medium-light body and nice length to the finish.
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Bright transluscent dark red. Full bore upfront cherry and raspberry fruit. Plenty of midpalate heft and glycerine mouthfeel. Not a shy wine by any means but not the solid core of a single block wine. Definitely more fruity in recent years as it appears Rochioli has changed stylistically in the early part of the decade. The 2001 are gracefull while the wines from 2004 onward are very fruit forward. I prefer the old style but this is still nice.
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I found this quite nice overall in a slightly restrained style for CA pinot. No oak noticable and some good acidity and even some tannin present. Plenty of cherry fruit yet not at all overdone, feminine for Cali pinot nut no hint of green/earth or anything like that. Quite nice especially considering the vintage.
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A nose of sweet cheery and spice, light to medium amber in color. A medium bodied, smooth and elegant Pinot, with cherry, strawberry, plum with light spice and acidity, was disappointed, found it good but one dimensional.
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Dark raspberry red with high transparency. Aromas of grape, raspberry, blackberry, vanilla, and cinnamon spice. Grape, raspberry, strawberry, and blood orange fruit dominates the palate with an alcoholic finish that goes into a long afterburn. The grape notes dominate the fruit finish. I'm not sure when this integrates and gets rid of that grape character, but if it does, it will also have to figure out how better to wear its alcohol. The material here appears to be of high quality. Needs to come together and acquit itself.
P.S. An hour in the glass helps the alcohol and overt grape notes blow off and this is a pleasant cocktail quaff at that point. Recommend decanting for at least two hours if you want to fast-forward through the turbulence at this point.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over 90 minutes.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of rose petals, briar patch, berries and cherries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries with a hint of plum on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 2- years.
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Probably not getting any better, and not as distinctive as the single-vineyard releases, but pretty darn good expression of the RRV style that I love so much.
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Infanticide. This wine is beautiful, but way too young. We opened it and immediately put the cork back in and waited until the next day, when the wine showed its stuff, but was still tight. Beautiful fruit, good grip, acidity and length. Medium complexity, but that may change as the wine evolves. If you can, hold off for a few years. If not, decant and wait a minimum of 6 hours.
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Medium ruby core, pale narrow ruby rim. Slightly smoky, sweet red fruit - cherry and strawberry, vanilla, some spice. Medium/full bodied on the palate with well concentrated, very sweet, almosy syrupy, red fruits, vanilla, a hint of spicy/gamey development but overall a little simple, nice fresh acidity, finally a long if slightly warm finish. (14.2% ABV)
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Red cherry, cranberry, leather, chocolate, spicy clove and spring flowers. Crisp, with good energy. Just enough grip on the finish to provide focus. Reasonable complexity. Has matured nicely over the last two years, a classic RRV profile. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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Fantastic. Drinking very well right now. I love the 06s, a bit more lean and acidic, also more aromatic and ultimately very balanced. Gonna try to find more.
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Classic and enjoyable but as noted not overly complex. Nice earthy nose, tastes of cherries and a hint of blackberry on opening. Gets a bit more spicy as it opens up, but the fruit disappears.
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Same as last tasting - crushed red berry, cola, Xmas spice, a floral edge. Nice bite to balance the sweet red fruits. Has improved since release and should be good for another 3-5 years.
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I might be taking the balance and craft of this wine slightly for granted, but in terms of fruit, concentration, and complexity it what I would consider a quintessential 90 point wine. Or 91. No flaws. Very nice, but not ultimately distinctive.
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consistent with previous notes - old faitful. Man this is good with a grilled salmon that's been "Rubbed With Love" (smoked paprika, brown sugar, thyme).
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Cola, crushed berry, cloves, wild flowers, damp earth and a touch of game. The aromas have good intensity. The finish is vibrant with zesty, wild raspberry and a touch of earthy tannin, the later being less prevalent than previously. I suspect that this will peak in 1-2 years. Very good for the vintage.
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really quite good. not decanted but left open for an hour or so before consuming. really loaded with dark cherries from nose to finish. solid on the palate for a non-vineyard rochioli. i love the spicy, peppery undertone of this bottle. finish is adequate tho not long lasting. sure, i could drink this everyday!
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Fine Wino Friday (Sean's Place): High impact pinot with red crayola crayon, intense but vague fruits, and hints of white pepper and cream. Burnt paper on the finish. A tad boozy on the nose and just a notch over sweet/ ripe.
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Same score as previous bottle from back in September. 1 hour decant or even just let the bottle sit open for a little while and that's all this wine needs to shine. I'm definitely looking forward to the release of the 07s in January and will have to pick up at least a 6 pack.
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Old faithful for pinots. Decanted for 60 minutes, nothing spectacular, but a solid effort. Still getting strawberry, red cherry and spice as predominant flavors. I think the price point is a little high on this, but it's clearly enjoyable.
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Lovely medium bodied Pinot. Aromas of cranberry, cinnamon and black pepper. Some sort of a cough syrup essence on the palate. Not too shabby, but didn't live up to the Rochioli hype. Jill and I loved it though. A solid wine for a fabulous evening.
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This bottle was really quite good. I read my notes from the previous bottle back in June and I must say that while this is, as expected, in line with that one in terms of the details, I think that this bottle is a little better then the last one. This could easily be attributed to the extra "rest time" this bottle had over the previous one, which was consumed only a couple of months or so after bottling. Rochioli Pinot Noir is really something to try if you haven't had it before. And to think, this is just the regular estate wine and not one of the fabulous single vineyard wines. Excellent stuff here.
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Our first tasting of Rochioli Pinot and we enjoyed a lot. I always know we've hit a good wine..pinot especially when we both look at each other and just nod...recognizing what a good wine it is. Good nose...very good fruit and a very nice finish.
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Decanted for 2 hrs. Raspberry and strawberry up front, followed by gobs of dark cherry and spice. If you're looking for the perfect pairing, try this Rochioli with wild sockeye with Tom Douglas's "Rubbed With Love" (brown sugar/paprika/etc.) and grill it on a cedar plank. The spice note in the pinot hits the cedar/sweet in the salmon and it's amazing.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose of tar, berries, cherries and potpourri. Rich flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Decant if drinking now or continue to hold.
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earth and sl candied cherry nose; bright dark cherry fruit with excellent balance, good acidity, modest tannins; medium body; more than enuf stuffing to stand up to mushroom tasting menu and a duck entree at martini house; already drinking well and can age a bit;
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Raspberry, strawberry, and sassafrass aromas introduce a lithe wine that is lightweight but expressive. Racy, with austere raspberry and tart cherry flavors and lingering acidity. The fruit flavors are not complex, but are focused. Benchmark Russian River Valley pinor noir. Outstanding for the vintage.
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4th of July Blowout (Chez Rick): Not bad. Definitely lighter and more interesting than the Kosta Browne served alongside it. Clean fruit and good freshness, but it's definitely not profound and somewhat one-dimensional. I liked it, but I think it's a poor QPR.
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Having recently had a couple of bottles of the Kosta Browne RRV pinot noir, I wanted to give this Rochioli RRV estate pinot a try for comparison. They are both roughly at the same price point, unless you consider that the KBs are much harder to come by and you end up paying a premium for them whereas the Rochioli RRV estate bottling can be purchased direct from Rochioli for less then $50. I really liked this wine right from the start. It has good fruit on the nose with scents resembling red twizzlers mixed with a bit of pine needles and clove. Very much in line with what one would expect from the Russian River Valley. Tastes are very smooth and enjoyable with just the right amount of acidity and excellent length. It just lacks the wow factor of the Kosta Browne RRV which is why I would score it a few points lower. However, I like that I can buy this wine direct from Rochioli instead of having to make back-alley private deals for bottles of Kosta Browne.
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Ruby color. The nose had berry and cherry aromas with only the slightest suggestion of tobacco and leather to hint at RRV. The palate was consistent with the nose, with the berry flavors being more upfront. The wine was medium bodied and a lighter style of Pinot than the concentration of aromas on the nose suggested. Very nice and easy to drink as well as a wine that would be very food friendly.
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Tasted May 4, 2008. PURPLE opened this by accident (was reaching for the Chardonnay) so pretty much popped and poured. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose of black cherries, black berries, plums and a hint of spice toward the end. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums and just a hint of currants or maybe some other "jammy" like fruit (just a dash folks). Medium acidity, tannins and body. Good balance. Drink let's say over the next 5 years. Be sure and decant if opening now.
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Suprisingly open, fruit forward nose with aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cola, clove and some vanilla notes. Medium bodied, more herbal in the mouth. There is a slight drying sensation from mid-palate thru the finish which shows moderate length and citrusy. Nice but at this point not as good as the '02-'05 vintages. Maybe the palate will open with time?
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Youthful ruby red color with a real glisten. Pure clean Russian River pinot with medium red fruits on the nose. Sweet red cherries and a little framboise on the palate with a bit of piquant spices. Classic Rochioli Estate pinot that is so easy to drink. Still, I try to limit myself to two glasses due to the 14+% avb. I love this wine year in and year out especially chilled a touch concentrate the cherry flavor and reduce any heat on the back end. This is a nice vintage of the estate bottling.
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11/20/2022 - Les Raisins Du Aron Likes this wine: 94 Points
Where can I start. This Pinot was incredible, especially considering its age. There were solid fruit flavors that were probably faded from an earlier date, but who cares, this tasted very Pinot-like in a good way. Dark color and super smooth.
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5/31/2021 - Nothung Likes this wine: 91 Points
Past it’s peak, but still drinking really well.
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12/28/2020 - dfcrutcher Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely. No visible sign of ageing. Fairly light in weight with nice cherry notes.
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3/23/2020 - rwerner wrote: 92 Points
Still tasting well. Classic rich pinot flavors with long finish. No brown edges indicating advanced age.
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12/18/2018 - JCaress wrote: 92 Points
Nice cherry and tart berry. Drinking well with a porchette.
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5/21/2018 - wiscgrad wrote: 91 Points
Similar to others recent notes. No signs of fading. A bit of heat on the back end. Otherwise really nice RRV PN
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5/6/2017 - Pinot1313 Likes this wine: 92 Points
REBUY - YES, had with Salmon. Great aromas of rich cherries, Nice earthy flavors, good body, nice finish. Very enjoyable
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1/27/2017 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of birch, raspberries and cherries. Flavors of berries, cherries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
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7/17/2016 - camben Likes this wine:
Quite funky upon opening; first hour or so
Comes together nicely with raspberry nectar, strawberry, white fig, dust, wet bark
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5/4/2016 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 89 Points
Another cali-noir, another winner? This one is a little older, a little more restrained than the Evening Land but in the same juicy sweet style with a lighter, more deft touch. I like the Red Car better but this bottle disappeared just as quickly.......
Since this bottle was a gift, the PQR was great!
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3/4/2016 - drwinenut Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOW! Amazing flavors, integrated, layers of stuff. Tannins have softened nicely, without giving up the backbone. No cherry/berry soda pop flavors on this one. Spectacular!
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12/3/2015 - LoireFan wrote: 78 Points
For those who enjoy syrupy pinot noir, this is your wine. (Purchased direct on release and very, very disappointed.)
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8/2/2015 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Light red in color. Almost translucent. Inviting on the nose with scents of dark fruits, earth, fresh mushrooms and baking spices. Medium body with tremendous acidity. Super texture and mouth feel. Flavors of black cherry, nutmeg, cloves and anise. The finish is tremendous. This wine is remarkably still improving in bottle. Better than either of the bottles I had in 2013 and 2014. Although this was my last bottle I think this will drink well for another 2-3 years. This clearly bodes well for the single vineyard designates from 2006.
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7/24/2015 - rralls wrote: 91 Points
Very nice given age. Was a little worried but was pleasantly surprised how well this showed.
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6/3/2015 - JBVino wrote:
solid understated pinot. decent length, solid texture and secondary flavors, lacked a bit of presence and performs better accompanying a meal.
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3/19/2015 - Anthony Lombardi Likes this wine: 90 Points
Gave this around 45 min of air before serving. Dark garnet color. Classic RRV nose showing bing cherry, black tea & cola. Concentrated dark red fruit. Moderate acid & supple tannins. Very fruit forward, but clean & fresh. Easy to enjoy, not overly complex.
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2/25/2015 - marka wrote: 89 Points
Notes of RC Cola. Pleasant for during the week, but not to my liking these days. Good fruit, RC Cola, pleasant nose of red fruit and earth.
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1/26/2015 - filstan Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is still very vibrant. Enough acidity to compliment the fruit. The depth of the finish is amazing. A hint of some spice in the nose. I have been tasting through RRV 2006-2007's Pinot Noir in my cellar and this one really stood out. Pity it was last bottle from what was once a case. This wine could still benefit with some more age. Impressive to say the least.
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1/24/2015 - glapuyade wrote: 93 Points
Surprisingly young fresh and vibrant, tart cranberry, red cherry and red raspberry dominated the palate with touches of the vanilla and cola to compliment. A beautiful Russian River Pinot in the typical Russian River style.
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1/19/2015 - marka wrote: 90 Points
Nice almost 10 year old PN. Dark cherries, mellow fruit, nice soft nose, and well-balanced. Paired well with Salmon. Drink up as this won't get any better. If anything, it is on the decline.
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7/27/2014 - rwerner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic pinot. Nice nose and lots of fruit in the middle with a long finish. Black cherry and soft tannins.
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1/3/2014 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind at a wine tasting.
Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, acacia, pepper, black berries and black cherries. Flavors of black berries, Bing cherries and black raspberries. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
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12/29/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is beatiful clear ruby and garnet and is translucent. The smells are sweet exotic spices, red licorice, strawberry, olive and sweet cherry. The tastes are cherries, sassafras, black pepper, and earthy notes. The finish is lengthy and so flavorful. The tannins are soft satin and the fruit really comes through on this beautiful wine.
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9/13/2013 - tcdonovan wrote: 90 Points
Yeah
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8/3/2013 - cns Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is an absolutely fantastic wine. My palate favors wines that are right down the middle between old-world and new-world and this wine delivers. Beautiful fruit, but not jammy or perfum-y at all. Very pretty nose with wonderful fruit flavors. Medium-long finish and great structure. This wine is drinking absolutely wonderfully right now!!!
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8/2/2013 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Light red in color. Almost translucent. 14.2% ABV. Clove, spice, earth and tree sap on the nose. Medium bodied. Crisp acidity. Cherries, forest floor, mushrooms and brown sugar on the palate. Silky tannins and a long finish. This wine is in a great place right now. Drink over the next year or so while you wait on the Single Vineyard bottlings.
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3/3/2013 - davidspieker wrote: 91 Points
Medium ruby color with minimal signs of age. Dark berry and baking spice aromas. Dark raspberry, cinnamon and vanilla flavors that integrate seamlessly into a lengthy, and pleasantly acidic finish.
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3/3/2013 - Sheila62 Does not like this wine:
This wine bored me with its sweetish soft fruit, and lack of acidity. Heat and oak on the nose with a hint of darkish fruit.
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2/4/2013 - llink wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Bright cherry and strawberry notes on the red fruited nose. Sweet, broad and deep flavors on the black fruited palate, showing very little acidity, and very slight fine grained tannins. There is a bitter edge to the finish that adds some welcomed complexity. Delicious and nothing out of place, but relatively simple and candidly boring.
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1/6/2013 - mwellington wrote: 91 Points
Required 90 minutes in decanter. Has picked up a little weight since last taste 2 years ago. Good balance of still bright and fragrant raspberries and spice box and now a better mouthfeel. By 2 hours softened to a really wonderful and delicate complexity. Last sip at 3 hour mark showed no sign of falling apart. Not likely to get a lot better but seems to have good runway left.
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6/24/2012 - peterk wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour. Consistent with my last taste 6 months ago. Delicate style, fragrant, lovely Pinot fruit balanced by good acidity.and lovely balance. Long finish. Last bottle.
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4/5/2012 - Sizeola wrote: 93 Points
One of my favorite producers. Dark fruits, nice acid, decanted about 30 mins ahead and it was lovely.
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12/26/2011 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 91 Points
surprisingly enough, it is peaking now. Not the structure I expected. Drink up
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12/4/2011 - peterk wrote: 92 Points
Delicate style, fragrant, and lovely balance. Strawberries and cherries (or something like that). Long finish. This wine is at a great place - perfect to drink now. I will finish my last bottle very soon.
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9/12/2011 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
Took some time to open up which leads me to believe this has a little more time left. Minimal aromas of dark fruit, violet and alcohol. Raspberry, cinnamon, and vanilla flavors with medium-light body and nice length to the finish.
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9/3/2011 - Chateaunewf wrote: 91 Points
Bright transluscent dark red. Full bore upfront cherry and raspberry fruit. Plenty of midpalate heft and glycerine mouthfeel. Not a shy wine by any means but not the solid core of a single block wine. Definitely more fruity in recent years as it appears Rochioli has changed stylistically in the early part of the decade. The 2001 are gracefull while the wines from 2004 onward are very fruit forward. I prefer the old style but this is still nice.
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6/6/2011 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
I found this quite nice overall in a slightly restrained style for CA pinot. No oak noticable and some good acidity and even some tannin present. Plenty of cherry fruit yet not at all overdone, feminine for Cali pinot nut no hint of green/earth or anything like that. Quite nice especially considering the vintage.
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3/15/2011 - corkscrews wrote: 89 Points
A nose of sweet cheery and spice, light to medium amber in color. A medium bodied, smooth and elegant Pinot, with cherry, strawberry, plum with light spice and acidity, was disappointed, found it good but one dimensional.
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2/17/2011 - fredb wrote:
Dark raspberry red with high transparency. Aromas of grape, raspberry, blackberry, vanilla, and cinnamon spice. Grape, raspberry, strawberry, and blood orange fruit dominates the palate with an alcoholic finish that goes into a long afterburn. The grape notes dominate the fruit finish. I'm not sure when this integrates and gets rid of that grape character, but if it does, it will also have to figure out how better to wear its alcohol. The material here appears to be of high quality. Needs to come together and acquit itself.
P.S. An hour in the glass helps the alcohol and overt grape notes blow off and this is a pleasant cocktail quaff at that point. Recommend decanting for at least two hours if you want to fast-forward through the turbulence at this point.
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2/15/2011 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over 90 minutes.
Garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of rose petals, briar patch, berries and cherries. Flavors of black berries and black cherries with a hint of plum on the medium finish. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next 2- years.
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1/9/2011 - MK Vienna wrote: 91 Points
very good - a classic Pinot Noir, well inside the drinking window. Very good structure.
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12/27/2010 - 2loyal wrote: 90 Points
Probably not getting any better, and not as distinctive as the single-vineyard releases, but pretty darn good expression of the RRV style that I love so much.
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11/27/2010 - Tree512 wrote: 90 Points
Fruit forward, tasty, classic. Tastes like it should. Will evolve but unlikely to improve.
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11/25/2010 - wmccone54 wrote: 89 Points
Black cherry and spice on the nose. Light to medium bodied with great balance and acidity. Flavors of cherry and spice with a nice finish.
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9/23/2010 - cns wrote: 91 Points
Infanticide. This wine is beautiful, but way too young. We opened it and immediately put the cork back in and waited until the next day, when the wine showed its stuff, but was still tight. Beautiful fruit, good grip, acidity and length. Medium complexity, but that may change as the wine evolves. If you can, hold off for a few years. If not, decant and wait a minimum of 6 hours.
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9/4/2010 - mwellington wrote: 90 Points
drinking nicely. requires decanting. a little light in the mouth, but lovely red fruit and spice.
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6/13/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 91 Points
Ruby red color with cherry, floral and spice notes. Drinking well.
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5/23/2010 - Paul D wrote: 85 Points
Medium ruby core, pale narrow ruby rim. Slightly smoky, sweet red fruit - cherry and strawberry, vanilla, some spice. Medium/full bodied on the palate with well concentrated, very sweet, almosy syrupy, red fruits, vanilla, a hint of spicy/gamey development but overall a little simple, nice fresh acidity, finally a long if slightly warm finish. (14.2% ABV)
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4/17/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Red cherry, cranberry, leather, chocolate, spicy clove and spring flowers. Crisp, with good energy. Just enough grip on the finish to provide focus. Reasonable complexity. Has matured nicely over the last two years, a classic RRV profile. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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3/20/2010 - blaine wrote: 92 Points
Fantastic. Drinking very well right now. I love the 06s, a bit more lean and acidic, also more aromatic and ultimately very balanced. Gonna try to find more.
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1/16/2010 - FPNova wrote: 90 Points
Red berry aroma w/hint of tobacco. Bright tart cherry, plum & raspberry flavor w/medium finish. Very nice Russian river Pinot
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1/2/2010 - Fishboy wrote: 91 Points
Great pinot with floral, cherry, and earth notes.
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11/25/2009 - Cellar4040 wrote: 87 Points
Classic and enjoyable but as noted not overly complex. Nice earthy nose, tastes of cherries and a hint of blackberry on opening. Gets a bit more spicy as it opens up, but the fruit disappears.
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11/25/2009 - cadamson wrote: 88 Points
Medium dark red, good nose of red fruits and cinnamon. On the palate, lots of acidity, sour cherry and light oak. Tart. Decent, easy drinking pinot.
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10/16/2009 - matthen wrote: 91 Points
An elegant wine with rich, concentrated flavors. Floral aromas and cherry with flavors of plum, berry and cherry.
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9/21/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Same as last tasting - crushed red berry, cola, Xmas spice, a floral edge. Nice bite to balance the sweet red fruits. Has improved since release and should be good for another 3-5 years.
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9/16/2009 - silton wrote: 90 Points
I might be taking the balance and craft of this wine slightly for granted, but in terms of fruit, concentration, and complexity it what I would consider a quintessential 90 point wine. Or 91. No flaws. Very nice, but not ultimately distinctive.
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8/23/2009 - BamaBeliever wrote: 92 Points
Very good
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8/8/2009 - cpoulos wrote: 92 Points
Delicious wine, with a core of effusive red fruits. Scrumptious , sumptuous Pinot Noir, if not very complex.
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7/17/2009 - DukeDrew wrote: 90 Points
consistent with previous notes - old faitful. Man this is good with a grilled salmon that's been "Rubbed With Love" (smoked paprika, brown sugar, thyme).
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7/17/2009 - Weej wrote: 90 Points
Good,not the bestg ever pinot, but good for sure.
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6/2/2009 - redderthanred wrote:
Decanted for about an hour.
Nose is of cola, cherries, touch of smoke and a pinch of orange blossom.
Palate was very nice, balanced, and I dare say slightly sweeter than I expected...but with good acidity and the finish was nice.
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5/8/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Cola, crushed berry, cloves, wild flowers, damp earth and a touch of game. The aromas have good intensity. The finish is vibrant with zesty, wild raspberry and a touch of earthy tannin, the later being less prevalent than previously. I suspect that this will peak in 1-2 years. Very good for the vintage.
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4/7/2009 - smphelps wrote: 90 Points
Floral and somewhat feminine in style with lighter plum and cherry flavors. Distinct floral spice nose.
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1/31/2009 - jc-mmb wrote: 91 Points
really quite good. not decanted but left open for an hour or so before consuming. really loaded with dark cherries from nose to finish. solid on the palate for a non-vineyard rochioli. i love the spicy, peppery undertone of this bottle. finish is adequate tho not long lasting. sure, i could drink this everyday!
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1/23/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 91 Points
Fine Wino Friday (Sean's Place): High impact pinot with red crayola crayon, intense but vague fruits, and hints of white pepper and cream. Burnt paper on the finish. A tad boozy on the nose and just a notch over sweet/ ripe.
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12/27/2008 - beecavewino wrote: 90 Points
Drank at Fred & drinda
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11/26/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote:
Same score as previous bottle from back in September. 1 hour decant or even just let the bottle sit open for a little while and that's all this wine needs to shine. I'm definitely looking forward to the release of the 07s in January and will have to pick up at least a 6 pack.
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11/15/2008 - DukeDrew wrote: 90 Points
Old faithful for pinots. Decanted for 60 minutes, nothing spectacular, but a solid effort. Still getting strawberry, red cherry and spice as predominant flavors. I think the price point is a little high on this, but it's clearly enjoyable.
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10/21/2008 - beezer6 wrote: 89 Points
Lovely medium bodied Pinot.
Aromas of cranberry, cinnamon and black pepper.
Some sort of a cough syrup essence on the palate.
Not too shabby, but didn't live up to the Rochioli hype.
Jill and I loved it though. A solid wine for a fabulous evening.
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10/17/2008 - burningstarIV wrote: 91 Points
50+5+12+17+7=91
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10/6/2008 - rralls wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Needs more time, although was showing better after a few hours.
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9/17/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote: 92 Points
This bottle was really quite good. I read my notes from the previous bottle back in June and I must say that while this is, as expected, in line with that one in terms of the details, I think that this bottle is a little better then the last one. This could easily be attributed to the extra "rest time" this bottle had over the previous one, which was consumed only a couple of months or so after bottling. Rochioli Pinot Noir is really something to try if you haven't had it before. And to think, this is just the regular estate wine and not one of the fabulous single vineyard wines. Excellent stuff here.
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9/1/2008 - DukeDrew wrote: 91 Points
Similar to previous note - strawberry, with a little raspberry and red cherry. This is drinking great right now.
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8/24/2008 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Too young. Has potential, but just overpowers, even after 2 hours in the glass
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8/9/2008 - pinotluvr wrote: 91 Points
Our first tasting of Rochioli Pinot and we enjoyed a lot. I always know we've hit a good wine..pinot especially when we both look at each other and just nod...recognizing what a good wine it is. Good nose...very good fruit and a very nice finish.
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8/4/2008 - DukeDrew wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs. Raspberry and strawberry up front, followed by gobs of dark cherry and spice. If you're looking for the perfect pairing, try this Rochioli with wild sockeye with Tom Douglas's "Rubbed With Love" (brown sugar/paprika/etc.) and grill it on a cedar plank. The spice note in the pinot hits the cedar/sweet in the salmon and it's amazing.
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8/2/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91+
Tasted August 2, 2008 at a retail tasting.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose of tar, berries, cherries and potpourri. Rich flavors of berries, cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Decant if drinking now or continue to hold.
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8/2/2008 - mmurry wrote: 91 Points
Pinot Noir: Oregon vs. California (Farpointe Cellar): The nose had cherry and forest floor, with hints of spice and raspberry. The palate had cherry and raspberry, and finished with spice and forest floor.
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7/23/2008 - wabi47 wrote: 91 Points
earth and sl candied cherry nose; bright dark cherry fruit with excellent balance, good acidity, modest tannins; medium body; more than enuf stuffing to stand up to mushroom tasting menu and a duck entree at martini house; already drinking well and can age a bit;
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7/19/2008 - FieldingYost wrote: 92 Points
Raspberry, strawberry, and sassafrass aromas introduce a lithe wine that is lightweight but expressive. Racy, with austere raspberry and tart cherry flavors and lingering acidity. The fruit flavors are not complex, but are focused. Benchmark Russian River Valley pinor noir. Outstanding for the vintage.
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7/4/2008 - steffenpelz wrote:
4th of July Blowout (Chez Rick): Not bad. Definitely lighter and more interesting than the Kosta Browne served alongside it. Clean fruit and good freshness, but it's definitely not profound and somewhat one-dimensional. I liked it, but I think it's a poor QPR.
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6/28/2008 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
Having recently had a couple of bottles of the Kosta Browne RRV pinot noir, I wanted to give this Rochioli RRV estate pinot a try for comparison. They are both roughly at the same price point, unless you consider that the KBs are much harder to come by and you end up paying a premium for them whereas the Rochioli RRV estate bottling can be purchased direct from Rochioli for less then $50. I really liked this wine right from the start. It has good fruit on the nose with scents resembling red twizzlers mixed with a bit of pine needles and clove. Very much in line with what one would expect from the Russian River Valley. Tastes are very smooth and enjoyable with just the right amount of acidity and excellent length. It just lacks the wow factor of the Kosta Browne RRV which is why I would score it a few points lower. However, I like that I can buy this wine direct from Rochioli instead of having to make back-alley private deals for bottles of Kosta Browne.
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6/18/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 90 Points
Good, but just missing a little complexity that i've come to expect from Rochioli.
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5/10/2008 - last chance wrote: 90 Points
Ruby color. The nose had berry and cherry aromas with only the slightest suggestion of tobacco and leather to hint at RRV. The palate was consistent with the nose, with the berry flavors being more upfront. The wine was medium bodied and a lighter style of Pinot than the concentration of aromas on the nose suggested. Very nice and easy to drink as well as a wine that would be very food friendly.
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5/8/2008 - CMCLR wrote: 91 Points
Almost as good as the '05. Can't wait to see what the '06 Single Vineyards bring.
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5/4/2008 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91?,PURPLE92
Tasted May 4, 2008. PURPLE opened this by accident (was reaching for the Chardonnay) so pretty much popped and poured. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Tight nose of black cherries, black berries, plums and a hint of spice toward the end. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums and just a hint of currants or maybe some other "jammy" like fruit (just a dash folks). Medium acidity, tannins and body. Good balance. Drink let's say over the next 5 years. Be sure and decant if opening now.
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4/28/2008 - pgordon62 wrote: 89 Points
Suprisingly open, fruit forward nose with aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cola, clove and some vanilla notes. Medium bodied, more herbal in the mouth. There is a slight drying sensation from mid-palate thru the finish which shows moderate length and citrusy. Nice but at this point not as good as the '02-'05 vintages. Maybe the palate will open with time?
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4/21/2008 - Chateaunewf wrote: 91 Points
Youthful ruby red color with a real glisten. Pure clean Russian River pinot with medium red fruits on the nose. Sweet red cherries and a little framboise on the palate with a bit of piquant spices. Classic Rochioli Estate pinot that is so easy to drink. Still, I try to limit myself to two glasses due to the 14+% avb. I love this wine year in and year out especially chilled a touch concentrate the cherry flavor and reduce any heat on the back end. This is a nice vintage of the estate bottling.
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2/8/2008 - tanglenet wrote:
Tasted at the winery. Gobs of dark cinnamon and clove. Seemed disjointed and somewhat primary. Needs more time. Unrated.
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