WINES
2008 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon, Grigsby VineyardOur Rocca Family 2008 Grigsby Vineyard Cabernet is a perfect example of this vineyard’s signature ability to balance richness and concentration with style and elegance. On the nose, it is immediately obvious that this is classically deep, ripe Napa Valley Cabernet. Flamboyant aromas of dark raspberries, boysenberries, and blackberry jam quickly open up to reveal underlying hints of licorice, creamy vanilla, and rock dust. The wine’s initial approach is full and rich and soft, with great depth of sweet, ripe fruit. The exceptionally polished, velvety tannins that are Rocca’s calling card are wrapped in delicious dark fruit, lending the wine an elegant sophistication. Cases produced: 583
We don’t often send our wines out for review before we have released them, but this year we did, and we wanted to share these reviews with you for our 2008 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon, Grigsby Vineyard, Yountville:2008 Rocca Syrah
James Suckling :
“Beautiful wine with bright raspberry and mineral character. Full and velvety with firm tannins and plenty of fruit underneath. Score: 93”
Wine Spectator: Insider’s Report
93 points
“Strikes a fine balance between firm, ripe currant and dark berry fruit, with tight, cedary tannins and subtle floral, raspberry, vanilla and black licorice notes on the finish. Should only get better. Drink now through 2023.—J.L.”
Our 2008 Grigsby Vineyard Syrah is a pure, concentrated expression of ripe Syrah fruit. The overall impression is that the wine's dense, rich purple color aptly conveys its personality: this is a deep, extracted, intense example of Syrah. On the nose the wine shows great varietal typicity, with the aromas initially dominated by rich dark fruit notes reminiscent of ripe boysenberries, blueberries and huckleberries. With a bit of air, elegant hints emerge of acacia flowers and violets, along with warm flourishes of cocoa powder and toasty oak. On approach the wine is broad and full, with substantial palate presence and a lush, sumptuous mouthfeel. The flavors here are pure Syrah, reflecting the concentrated, fruit-forward character of the 2008 vintage. Through the mid-palate and onto the finish, our Grigsby Vineyard's vibrant natural acidity and hallmark velvety tannins lend remarkable balance and elegance to this rich wine, which leaves the palate coated with delicious Syrah fruit.
2008 Rocca Merlot
Our 2008 Grigsby Vineyard Merlot is a beautiful example of the elegance and seamlessness that made so many of us fall in love with great Merlot in the first place. While it certainly reflects the depth and rich, sumptuous fruit of the 2008 vintage, this bottling expresses those characteristics with exceptional balance and refinement. The aromatics here are warm and inviting, as dominant notes of ripe, dark red fruits intertwine with subtle hints of milk chocolate and mocha, cinnamon, and a charming mineral component reminiscent of crushed stone. On approach the wine is broad and lush, leading into substantial weight and richness on the mid-palate. The tannins here are classic Grigsby Vineyard: rich and full, but with a silky softness that reminds one of melted dark chocolate. The finish is long and highly polished, with vibrant natural acidity lending emphasis to the wine’s purity and finesse. At the very end, a hint of oak spice provides a final, charismatic flourish.
2008 Rocca “Vespera”
This inaugural 2008 bottling of Vespera is our most up-front, friendly, warm-and-cozy wine of the vintage, a vinous equivalent of Nonna's home cooking. The aromas here are rich and warm and inviting, a fruit-forward mix of cassis, black cherry, milk chocolate and espresso, with hints of cinnamon and creamy vanilla. On the palate the wine is round and full, with dense layers of dark fruit and a pleasing touch of spice. Perhaps the most striking feature of this unique blend, though, is its remarkably elegant texture. The tannins on the lingering finish are pure silk, almost caressing, as though they had simply melted into the wine. For a blend with this much concentration and richness, our 2008 Vespera shows an unusually soft touch. It promises to age beautifully for another 5 to 10 years, but why wait?
2008 Rocca Cabernet Sauvignon, Collinetta Vineyard
From start to finish, our 2008 Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is all about subtle beauty and seamless elegance. While it unmistakably shows the rich fruit and early charm of the 2008 vintage, it does so with exquisite finesse and precision. On the nose, gorgeous dark fruit aromas of black cherry and blackberry form an intriguing mix with delicate notes of lavender and violets, dark chocolate, graphite, and a notion of warm vanilla beans. The initial approach is round and soft, pure and focused, and ushers in a rich core of ripe, dark fruit. The wine offers substantial heft on the palate, but the overall impression is one of exceptional balance and refinement. The tannins here are wonderfully soft and caressing, even by the standards of Rocca’s past vintages, and are coated with delicious lingering flavors of black cherry and spicy vanilla.