2022 Chardonnay River Block

“Our yields were brutal in 2022,” Tom Rochioli explained. “We lost 50% of the Chardonnay crop and about 20% of the Pinot. I think what we saw was the accumulated stress of drought. The canopies were not at all healthy in 2021, and they set a small crop for the following year, even though the vines recovered in 2022.” The Chardonnays are quite pretty, although they show the softer style of the year. I found the Pinots to be more complex and dynamic. The wines saw a brief cold soak, followed by 10-14 days on the skins. Whole cluster inclusion was minimal, at 5-8%. The wines were blended in March 2023 and bottled in December, with no fining or filtration. Time in barrel was about 15 months. The winery looks well poised to move into the next generation, as Tom Rochioli’s children, Rachel and Ryan, are increasingly involved.