FMW 96 Points: “The 2021 Castalia Pinot Noir “Rochioli” is a tiny production gem sourced from what is the equivalent of a “grand cru” vineyard in Burgundy. The wine shows a ruby, almost translucent color, and has intense notes of black cherries, plums, violets, and a whiff of earthiness. This youngster is a real crowd-pleaser, lush, yet elegant, with amazing finesse yet still powerful and intense. This is an amazingly well-made wine that will benefit from short-term cellaring, or a good decant, and should cellar well for a good 10 years.
Tasting Notes: This youngster offers up-front red fruits (raspberry and strawberry) with gorgeous aromatic and complex notes of spice and flowers. The wine is medium to full in body and serves up a fruit-forward, supple, undeniably delicious mouthfeel. This makes for a stellar Pinot Noir. All the elements come together in a dynamic, vibrant wine that is loaded with personality and pizzazz.
Winemaker notes: “I first made Pinot Noir as a home winemaker in 1985. I have been working at Rochioli Winery since 1990 and worked the 1988 & 1989 Crush, and have been Cellar Master at Rochioli for the last 30 years. I created the Castalia label in 1992. The wine was kept for 15 months in oak, 25% new, all French. This has given the wine a much softer feel at release. As always the wine is sourced 100% from the Rochioli vineyards and should age for at least ten years and be in its prime from 4 to 7 years. Castalia Pinot Noir possesses the full-bodied complexity and subtle cherry essence that is so typical of the finest Russian River Pinot Noirs. Many fine restaurants in the greater Bay Area have recognized that reputation by serving Castalia Pinot Noir year after year. I am pleased to now offer a limited quantity of our most recent vintage to the general public.”
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