2011 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Sweetwater Vineyard

Deep ruby. Pungent, smoke-accented aromas of cherry and dark berries, with cola and licorice accents. Weighty and chewy in texture, offering powerful cherry-cola and black raspberry flavors and an energizing note of white pepper. Closes with excellent clarity and length, leaving notes of mocha and cola behind. The most masculine of this year's set of pinots from Rochioli and the one most in need of patience.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Sweetwater is quite closed today. There is good density and length in the fruit, but the elements haven’t fully come together just yet, probably because of the recent bottling, one month before this tasting. Sweet floral notes meld into hints of tobacco and new leather, but the fruit remains a bit muted today. It will be interesting to see where the Sweetwater goes in the next 6-12 months. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. Tom Rochioli describes 2011 as a cold vintage with lower ripeness and alcohol levels than the norm. Considering these are usually fairly rich, bold wines (the style Rochioli prefers), the combination of a cooler year and the inherent depth that is the house signature is particularly appealing. Tel. (707) 433-2305