TN: 2015 Rochioli - Chardonnay "Sweetwater Vnyd" (USA, CA, Sonoma County, RRV)

WINE TALK
1

2015 J. Rochioli Chardonnay Sweetwater Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (4/12/2018)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over a couple hours –

NOSE: obvious Chardonnay, but a bit sulphury and reductive (popcorn); some oak noticeable; solid, but nothing exciting.

BODY: pale – almost a bit hazy – yellow color; medium bodied.

TASTE: medium richness; lots of mineral; medium-high to high acidity; this had a hard time shaking its reduction – not even a vigorous decant and agitation of the decanter did the trick; some oak; labelled at 14.5% alc., and it’s well-hidden; this has historically struck me as the most mineral-laden of Rochioli’s Chardonnays, and I enjoy it for that reason; that said, this bottle lacked the excitement required to make it worth its price tag. Gut impression score: 89 – 91. Hold.

2

2015 J. Rochioli Chardonnay Sweetwater Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (5/29/2018)
– splash decant with vigorous agitation of decanter before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over a couple hours –

NOSE: expressive; initially reductive (which led to the decanting); tropical; French oak.

BODY: light, hazy pale yellow color; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: buttery; soft; some oak; strong smoky mineral on the finish; medium-low to medium acidity; hint of nutmeg; 14.5% alc.; it’s good (gut impression score: 88 – 90), but I think we’re no longer “here” with our preferences. Ash said she’d be happy to pay $50 for this, and I’m pretty much at the same spot, so bad QPR for us.

3

Awesome follow up comparison, thank you for that!

4

hmmmm … I hadn’t even noticed those two bottles were within 2 months of each other … whoops!!

5

No! I think it’s way cool to see the same bottle show up and seeing what someone’s thoughts are.

6

Thank you for the kind words, Anton. I’d like to see more folks do follow-up tastings, too. I just don’t usually do them so quickly! — I suppose that’s a testament to how relatively forgettable this wine was for me. [cheers.gif]

7

I think I will have my wife set aside some bottles of wine and bag 'em and serve me blind over a month or two and have some be the same wine…and see what I think!

Day to day blind tasting…yeah! [cheers.gif]

8

Brian, your first note did say hold!

But if it was forgettable I can see you forgetting that advice . . .

9

Yeah, I’m going to have to put a BIG BOLD specific note in CT for my last bottle. newhere