BamBam, Happy Wednesday ya'll! Enjoy.
Another heavy hitter from J. Rochioli, this West Block selection is probably their more known wine in the international community. Once again, one of the best wines I have had. My personal favorite is the East Block.
2001 J. Rochioli, West Block, Russian River Valley
consumed Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, with friends, Retail $120
Well first of all, I about had heart attack after cutting the foil off of the bottle. I could see where a little wine had reached the top of the cork usually a sign the wine is corked. Meaning oxygen has gotten into the wine prematurely and basically spoiled it. As I dug into the cork with the wine opener, more problems arose, since the wine had made its way all the way to the top the cork and the fact that it was 9 years old, the cork screw was just shredding the cork, luckily we got enough of it in to where we could wiggle it out of the bottle. The true test came with a little sniff of the wine....... my heart pounding....... expecting it to smell like wet socks (smell typical of a corked wine)....... I was delighted to smell a tight wine ready to open!! Phewwwww! Not only was it the wine that I was worried about but all during Thanksgiving I had been talking up this wine to my girlfriends family and was excited for them to try it so luckily it was good!
With older wines (and even high quality younger wines) you should really let the wine sit for at least an hour before enjoying. Since I am impatient and trying to educate myself I jumped right in! The aroma upon opening was subtle, and what to me felt like a Christmas present waiting to be opened. Everything great about the wine was there, however, it was closed off waiting for something to kick in the door.
Meet oxygen, after about 30 minutes the wine really hit it's stride, I mean really. It's interesting to taste the wine as it goes through this process. The wine opened up with big bright red fruit, (Russian River Valley at it's finest) bing cherry, raspberry, a little licorice, the wine was pleasantly balanced, and the finish lingered forever. This is why I have fallen in love with wine!
******
Showing posts with label Rochioli. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rochioli. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
2001 J. Rochioli, East Block (G's Tasting Series)
Hailing from the esteemed Russian River Valley in Sonoma County near the city of Healdsburg is this beautiful pinot noir. The Russian River has some of the best conditions for growing pinot and chardonnay in the United States and the world. This area and in particular Healdsburg, holds a special place in my heart as it is where I lived during harvest this year. If you find yourself visiting wineries in Sonoma Country you have got to visit downtown Healdsburg, one of my favorite cities (well villages I guess, its not that big). As one winemaker told me, "we are just a bunch of hillbillies making great wine." That statement, for me, in it's purest form, is exactly what making wine and life is about around here. It is not 'hillybilly' in a negative connotation but rather a way of living: laid back, caring, sustainable, fresh food, open, approachable, friendly, and romantic. I have never felt at home in a city more than I have with Healdsburg and Sonoma County. And on to the tasting.......
2001 J. Rochioli East Block, Russian River Valley
consumed Friday Nov. 12, 2010, with friends, Retail $159.99
One of the top pinot noirs in California and the world. In fact for the single vineyard selections (like this East Block) there is a 5-6 year wait to get on the buying list direct from the winery so to obtain these bottles you must go the retail route (typically boutique wine shops). However, you can get their Estate (entry level) pinot noirs directly from the winery.
This 9 year old wine was absolutely stunning. By far the best wine I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It was bright fruit dancing on the tongue, black cherries, velvety, rich, smooth, refined, pretty, earthy, and had a long structured finish. YUMMMMMMMMM! Great drinking wine, ready now!
******
2001 J. Rochioli East Block, Russian River Valley
consumed Friday Nov. 12, 2010, with friends, Retail $159.99
One of the top pinot noirs in California and the world. In fact for the single vineyard selections (like this East Block) there is a 5-6 year wait to get on the buying list direct from the winery so to obtain these bottles you must go the retail route (typically boutique wine shops). However, you can get their Estate (entry level) pinot noirs directly from the winery.
This 9 year old wine was absolutely stunning. By far the best wine I have ever had the pleasure of drinking. It was bright fruit dancing on the tongue, black cherries, velvety, rich, smooth, refined, pretty, earthy, and had a long structured finish. YUMMMMMMMMM! Great drinking wine, ready now!
******
Sunday, October 17, 2010
American Dream
I know this blog is supposed to be grounded in the business of wine however I wanted to spend some time thinking and writing about myself and where I am at personally. Writing for me is a release and a way to express myself. My hope is also that if someone reading this is in similar situation, that they know they are not alone. While I am very fortunate about getting this harvest job and how everything has worked out, from turning down the financial job I was certain I was going to take, to being laid off, to deciding that I wanted to move to California and work a harvest to kick of this quest, it is a constant battle.
There are times when I question exactly what I am doing. I have made a conscious decision to go outside the norm and to pursue true passion relentlessly at the expense of comfort and safety. I have made this decision, no one else, while I am supported by my family and friends (thank you so so so much, you mean the world to me!) I feel alone in this. I am betting the house on myself and at times it does scare me. Fear, the most paralyzing feeling that can ultimately lead to inaction. I am constantly battling this fear, fear of no job, fear of no retirement savings, fear of not having a "career", in sum, fear of stepping out of what you are taught to do starting as a little dude in kindergarten. I look at my friends who are married, settling down, putting down roots and I wonder what that must be like and sometimes I think that I want that. I crave a place to call home, that is mine. I wonder where I am going to get the money to put this together, to pay for education, to live, to live the way I want to live. I am thinking that everyone that has every attempted to start a business has gone through this. Bill Gates did not just all of a sudden become the richest man in the world. I am sure there was tons and tons of blood, sweat, and tears. I mean the guy dropped out of Harvard to start his own company! Tom Rochioli didn't just all of sudden make some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot in the world, it took serious dedication and hard work. Bruce (whose family I live with) raised two kids with his wife while operating his landscaping company in San Francisco while at the same time building Zinscape (Zinscape). This is America. America is full of people like this, they took a chance and pursued it with everything they had. They bet the farm on themselves, some won and some lost. This is America, America is NOT free handouts, entitlements, lazy, big government, bailouts on and on and on. It takes constant reassurance in my own head that I am doing the right thing. I have these little battles with myself on a daily basis. Especially earlier this week, as it was very very difficult but you pick yourself off the floor, dust yourself off and charge forward because there is no other option not for me, not ever.
One thing I do know is that as much as I feel the way I do, I know that I am on the right path, I know this is right, it has to be. I get up every day at 6am and not once have I felt like awww, dang time for work, I want to go back to bed! I get the greatest satisfaction out of what I am doing now. Creation, creating something with my own hands, knowing that what I am learning is invaluable, that it will help me in whatever I do next. This is my journey.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definetely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. - Goethe
There are times when I question exactly what I am doing. I have made a conscious decision to go outside the norm and to pursue true passion relentlessly at the expense of comfort and safety. I have made this decision, no one else, while I am supported by my family and friends (thank you so so so much, you mean the world to me!) I feel alone in this. I am betting the house on myself and at times it does scare me. Fear, the most paralyzing feeling that can ultimately lead to inaction. I am constantly battling this fear, fear of no job, fear of no retirement savings, fear of not having a "career", in sum, fear of stepping out of what you are taught to do starting as a little dude in kindergarten. I look at my friends who are married, settling down, putting down roots and I wonder what that must be like and sometimes I think that I want that. I crave a place to call home, that is mine. I wonder where I am going to get the money to put this together, to pay for education, to live, to live the way I want to live. I am thinking that everyone that has every attempted to start a business has gone through this. Bill Gates did not just all of a sudden become the richest man in the world. I am sure there was tons and tons of blood, sweat, and tears. I mean the guy dropped out of Harvard to start his own company! Tom Rochioli didn't just all of sudden make some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot in the world, it took serious dedication and hard work. Bruce (whose family I live with) raised two kids with his wife while operating his landscaping company in San Francisco while at the same time building Zinscape (Zinscape). This is America. America is full of people like this, they took a chance and pursued it with everything they had. They bet the farm on themselves, some won and some lost. This is America, America is NOT free handouts, entitlements, lazy, big government, bailouts on and on and on. It takes constant reassurance in my own head that I am doing the right thing. I have these little battles with myself on a daily basis. Especially earlier this week, as it was very very difficult but you pick yourself off the floor, dust yourself off and charge forward because there is no other option not for me, not ever.
One thing I do know is that as much as I feel the way I do, I know that I am on the right path, I know this is right, it has to be. I get up every day at 6am and not once have I felt like awww, dang time for work, I want to go back to bed! I get the greatest satisfaction out of what I am doing now. Creation, creating something with my own hands, knowing that what I am learning is invaluable, that it will help me in whatever I do next. This is my journey.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definetely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings, and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now. - Goethe
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Weekend! Best Ever!
I know that I just posted a post on Friday and today is Monday, are you getting sick of me? I just had one of the best weekends ever and had to share!
I had Wednesday and Friday off of last week so my weekend was really the majority of the week!! On Wednesday I went to Coppola Winery (the one near Healdsburg, not Rubicon) which is currently being renovated but still open to the public during construction, it seems almost done. What really got me is that they are installing a public pool at the winery complete with a swim up bar!!
I went there for lunch as I heard it was a good spot, so I grabbed my seat at the bar and started chatting with the bartender, who informed me that the restaurant (Rustic Restaurant ) had only been open for about 3 weeks. I was certainly impressed, I started out with a side salad, later the chef brought out some fried bread, awesome, which I smothered with a little balsamic and oil!! Yum!
By the time I was done eating I didn't feel like tasting any wine, I was sooo dang full.
As Friday rolled around I was getting extremely excited for two things, my girlfriend coming to town and the Rochioli BBQ! I picked her up pretty late on Friday at SFO and we drove straight to Healdsburg which is about a 2 hour drive, I was sooo sleepy and tired. Saturday we woke and went to the Healdsburg Farmers Market! It was small, compared to what I am used to at DC's Eastern Market, but Healdsburg has maybe a population of 12,000 vs. DC permanent residents at 500,000. Anyways, the market was so good. From cheese producers to roasted red pepper guy to the best dang tomatoes on the planet, hands down. I don't like tomatoes by themselves, however, I was talked into trying REAL tomatoes and I was absolutely amazed. I can't even describe them, you don't need to doctor them at all, I just eat 'em straight up, just like an apple!! They are so flavorful! And it totally makes sense, the same climate/soil that produces some of the best wines in the world produce the best produce in the world.
After a little farmers market action, we decided to just walk around Healdsburg. We stopped at the Downtown Bakery (Downtown Bakery) which supposedly is the best bakery west of the Mississippi! Boy did it hold its own, we stopped in and grabbed a Sticky Bun which is the daily breakfast choice by the Asst Winemaker at Rochioli so I had to stop in and try one. IT WAS SOOOO GOOD, I wish I had a picture to share. We strolled through the plaza park and walked up and down the streets of downtown Healdsburg until we found this place for lunch.
I have been told multiple times that Healdsburg is a foodies paradise.... I can see why.
After lunch we went over to Rochioli for a tasting which was impressive (as usual, ha). We went back home and rested up for the BBQ.
The BBQ started at 6 with hor d'oeuvres and some wine of course, after some mingling it was time for some of the single vineyard stuff aged to perfection. We started with multiple chardonnays, my favorite was the 1999 (I believe) Rachel's Vineyard Chardonnay, which was absolutely beautiful (floral, peaches, lime, and a minerality to it). A true Chardonnay!
As we sat down to dinner (krcatering) the wine really began to come out, 1999 - 2003 single vineyard Pinots! I have never in my entire life enjoyed a better bottle of wine than what I tasted through that night. Each wine (5 single vineyard labels total) showed not only it's difference in vintage but also it's personality of being planted in different spots on the property and of different clones. The wines expressed their different terroir beautifully. Each single vineyard had it's own personality. I now fully understand why people will spend hundreds of dollars on bottles of wine and lay them down for years. Age makes a wine so soft and silky smooth and the fruit so balanced. It's really hard to put into words what I am feeling right now while attempting to recall that night.
Not only was the wine unreal, the people, again were wonderful. The nicest, funniest, and humblest people around. Big thanks to the Rochioli family, and all of the other people involved with the winery that I met. I'm so lucky to have found this job at such an awesome company!
If you have an interest in wine, go out to your favorite wine retailer and have them help you find a ultra premium wine of your favorite varietal and if it's old enough drink it!! If not, lay it down for a while and pull it out on a special occasion. It will blow your mind! Set aside some money for it and enjoy, do it now!!!!
What a great night!!!
Sunday rolled around and we ate some more tomatoes, went wine tasting at Ferrari-Carano, lunch/wine tasting at Terroir in Geyersville, then back to the airport!
An awesome weekend!!
I had Wednesday and Friday off of last week so my weekend was really the majority of the week!! On Wednesday I went to Coppola Winery (the one near Healdsburg, not Rubicon) which is currently being renovated but still open to the public during construction, it seems almost done. What really got me is that they are installing a public pool at the winery complete with a swim up bar!!
I went there for lunch as I heard it was a good spot, so I grabbed my seat at the bar and started chatting with the bartender, who informed me that the restaurant (Rustic Restaurant ) had only been open for about 3 weeks. I was certainly impressed, I started out with a side salad, later the chef brought out some fried bread, awesome, which I smothered with a little balsamic and oil!! Yum!
By the time I was done eating I didn't feel like tasting any wine, I was sooo dang full.
 |
| yes, I ate all of this, Italian sausage, mushrooms, mozzarella, and grated parmigiana |
 | |
| Entrance to Coppola |
 |
| Tomatoes as big as your hand!!! |
After a little farmers market action, we decided to just walk around Healdsburg. We stopped at the Downtown Bakery (Downtown Bakery) which supposedly is the best bakery west of the Mississippi! Boy did it hold its own, we stopped in and grabbed a Sticky Bun which is the daily breakfast choice by the Asst Winemaker at Rochioli so I had to stop in and try one. IT WAS SOOOO GOOD, I wish I had a picture to share. We strolled through the plaza park and walked up and down the streets of downtown Healdsburg until we found this place for lunch.
I have been told multiple times that Healdsburg is a foodies paradise.... I can see why.
 |
| Seared Tuna, pickled ginger, some crunch chips, wasabi mayo! |
After lunch we went over to Rochioli for a tasting which was impressive (as usual, ha). We went back home and rested up for the BBQ.
The BBQ started at 6 with hor d'oeuvres and some wine of course, after some mingling it was time for some of the single vineyard stuff aged to perfection. We started with multiple chardonnays, my favorite was the 1999 (I believe) Rachel's Vineyard Chardonnay, which was absolutely beautiful (floral, peaches, lime, and a minerality to it). A true Chardonnay!
As we sat down to dinner (krcatering) the wine really began to come out, 1999 - 2003 single vineyard Pinots! I have never in my entire life enjoyed a better bottle of wine than what I tasted through that night. Each wine (5 single vineyard labels total) showed not only it's difference in vintage but also it's personality of being planted in different spots on the property and of different clones. The wines expressed their different terroir beautifully. Each single vineyard had it's own personality. I now fully understand why people will spend hundreds of dollars on bottles of wine and lay them down for years. Age makes a wine so soft and silky smooth and the fruit so balanced. It's really hard to put into words what I am feeling right now while attempting to recall that night.
Not only was the wine unreal, the people, again were wonderful. The nicest, funniest, and humblest people around. Big thanks to the Rochioli family, and all of the other people involved with the winery that I met. I'm so lucky to have found this job at such an awesome company!
If you have an interest in wine, go out to your favorite wine retailer and have them help you find a ultra premium wine of your favorite varietal and if it's old enough drink it!! If not, lay it down for a while and pull it out on a special occasion. It will blow your mind! Set aside some money for it and enjoy, do it now!!!!
 |
| The food by KR catering was superb, the wine was ok (haha) |
Sunday rolled around and we ate some more tomatoes, went wine tasting at Ferrari-Carano, lunch/wine tasting at Terroir in Geyersville, then back to the airport!
An awesome weekend!!
 |
| Ferrari-Carano |
 |
| Cork tree, it was so spongey! so cool! |
 | ||||
| Terroirs in Geyserville! |
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