TN: 2013 Rochioli - Chardonnay "River Block" (USA, CA, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley)

2013 J. Rochioli Chardonnay River Block - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/25/2015)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over two days –

NOSE: Day 1: initially very reductive, but this eventually presented tropical-buttery Chardonnay aromatics with a pleasant tanginess in the background. Day 2: very oaky; butter popcorn; a bit fumey.

BODY: powdery yellow color of medium-light to medium depth; medium to medium-full bodied.

TASTE: underbrush and oak; ripe fruit; and then some woody mineral pushes forward on the finish; medium to medium+ acidity; 14.5% alc. well-hidden on the palate; gets buttery as it warms to (warm) room temperature; very good, but bad QPR @ $62. Gut impression: 89 – 91.

Good note!

I think this wine shows best at 55 degrees or higher.

What temperature do you think you used?

EDIT: My error! I just saw your temperature note.

We just tried the 2016 and I found the wine very enjoyable and classy. For a Wente clone this is very tame and balanced. There’s ripe fruit but minerals too, I didn’t think it was overly buttery but the sensitive might disagree.