Yesterday we quickly sold out of our back-vintage Spottswoode collection, today we travel west over the Mayacamas crossing from Napa Valley into Sonoma's Russian River Valley. Here Pinot Noir is king. And there's no name that's demanded more attention through the grape's rapid rise in attention last decade quite like J. Rochioli. Today's offer includes limited quantities of Rochioli's best parcels spanning 2004 to 2009.

As great as the demand was for Rochioli upon release, today's enthusiasm for these vintages has increased tenfold. The upfront pleasure these initially provided meant that very few have been left to age, and those that do become available are quickly snatched up by collectors. Many featured today are the only offers in the country.

Rochioli Pinot Noir from this era marks an important shift at the winery where the power and extraction was dialed back, giving way to a more nuanced and energetic style. Although the micro-batch, non-interventionist approach draws inspiration from a Burgundian model, the wines are Russian River Valley through and through. The sun-kissed element of Pinot Noir from this section of Sonoma is the centerpiece of the wines. However, it was Rochioli that was a leader in the region's focus toward extreme site-specific winemaking. The unique alluvial and sandy "Yolo" loam soil along the Russian River gave an opportunity to vinify each parcel separately, offering wild distinctions between plots.

2006 Rochioli East Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2007 Rochioli East Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2009 Rochioli Little Hill Pinot Noir
$119 per bottle.

2008 Rochioli River Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2009 Rochioli River Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2009 Rochioli Sweetwater Pinot Noir 
$119 per bottle.

2009 Rochioli Three Corner Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2004 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2005 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2006 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2007 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2008 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

2009 Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir
$149 per bottle.

Joe Rochioli Sr. settled on this land in 1934, originally planting Cabernet Sauvingon in 1959. His son, Joe Rochioli Jr., realized Pinot Noir was better suited and was a pioneer in bringing clones in from Burgundy in 1968. At this time very little was known in Sonoma about the grape. But, when Williams-Selyem began purchasing the fruit in the early 80's everything began to change, and the successes convinced the Rochioli family to begin to estate-bottle.

Today, Rochioli is very much to Sonoma Pinot Noir what Mondavi is to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately, the scale of production has continued to be very small. Today's perfectly stored, back-vintage releases of their top parcels is a rare collection not to be missed!