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A special opportunity for Rochioli fans: our first-ever offering of Little Hill Chardonnay!
The block of Chardonnay on Little Hill consists of just 3.5 acres that were planted in 1972 to clones 4 (aka Wente clone) and 108. While the Wente clone brings tropical fruits, citrus, crisp apple and a creamy texture, clone 108 is the secret to the wine’s complexity, mouthwatering acidity and minerality. It is also historically significant as this once popular clone now exists in only a small number of vineyards after developing a reputation as a late ripener. Growers like Tom Rochioli who resisted ripping out their 108 are mighty glad they have it today! The 2024 vintage produced a wine that balances the opulence of the growing season with the precision-driven style that Tom Rochioli favors. Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarded the wine 94 to 96 points for its vibrance, balance, texture, and pure Russian River character. Our allocation of this limited-production wine is minuscule! Get it while you can!
When it comes to Russian River Pinot Noir, Rochioli Vineyards is an iconic name. After all, Rochioli supplied the fruit in wines made by Williams-Selyem and Davis Bynum that won awards and established the Russian River Valley as a great region for the “notoriously fickle” Pinot Noir. When Rochioli decided to release a wine under their own label, in 1985, it was named “best Pinot Noir in America” by the Wine Spectator. Today, Rochioli Vineyards and Winery is owned and operated by Joe Rochioli Jr. and his son, Tom, who farm over 50 hectares of vineyards southwest of Healdsburg. In this region with diverse soils and a moderate climate, they produce sought-after Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc in vineyard-designated and estate bottlings.
Yet the history of Rochioli Vineyards is also an iconic story in the history of Sonoma County agriculture. Unlike the Napa Valley, which had always featured fancy estates and close ties to San Francisco and European high society, Sonoma was all about poor immigrant families who were farmers first and winemakers on the side. Joe’s father (Joe Sr.) immigrated from Italy to a life of hardscrabble farm work on the land he would eventually purchase one parcel at a time. Joe Jr. was born in Sebastopol and worked in the fields with crops that supported the family: hops, prunes, string beans as well as a few acres of grapes used in “jug” wines produced by the likes of Gallo. Only gradually (but before most other farmers in the area) did the Rochiolis shift toward planting vineyards for varietal wines, beginning with Sauvignon Blanc in the late 1950s and moving into Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the early 1970s. Joe Jr. had an instinct for viticulture, for he pioneered such techniques as seeking out and planting diverse clones, crop thinning to limit yields, and leaf pulling to better manage sunlight on grape bunches. In 1985, the Rochiolis built a winery, and since then have made wine under their own label as well as continuing to supply fruit to other top wineries in the area. Winemaker Tom Rochioli follows such Burgundian methods as using natural yeasts, fermenting vineyard blocks separately, aging on fine lees, assembling the blends after time in barrel, and avoiding fining or filtering.
It should be said that Rochioli does not make wine in the vibrant, low alcohol style of the “In Pursuit of Balance” group of winemakers. On the other hand, dedication to viticulture and “hands off” winemaking methods lead Rochioli to make wines that express the terroir of the Russian River Valley, which they describe as “silky-smooth, fruit-forward Pinot Noirs; rich, opulent Chardonnays; and tangy, food-friendly Sauvignon Blancs.”
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Appellation(s) | Russian River Valley (Sonoma) |
| Winery | Rochioli |
| Vintage | 2024 |
| Color | White |
| Varietal(s) | Chardonnay |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Bottle Size | 8.5 x 30.5 |
| Case Size | 35.5 x 27.0 x 31.5 |
| Alcohol | 14.5% |
| Product Code | RC24LHC |
| UPC | NONE |
94 points – Antonio Galloni/Vinous.
Aromas of crisp orchard apple, hazelnut, and fresh vanilla bean are backed by a touch of tropical fruit. The palate is textured and deep with flavors of lemon curd and apricot, perfectly balanced by mouthwatering acidity before culminating in a long, mineral-driven finish.
100% fermented and aged in French oak; bottled in December 2025.