Rocca Family Vineyards
Collinetta Vineyard Winemaker’s Barrel
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
Coombsville
Auction 24 | Lot No. 138
Vintage: 2018
Rocca Family Vineyards
Collinetta Vineyard Winemaker’s Barrel
Cabernet Sauvignon
Coombsville
5 cases produced
Highlights
- 100% estate grown Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon, Clone 337, CCOF-certified, organically farmed
- Winemaker Paul Colantuoni’s favorite barrel of the vintage, from Collinetta’s most expressive vines
- Meticulously hand-picked, cluster-sorted and berry-sorted; uninoculated, unfined and unfiltered
- To be bottled after 20 months of aging in a new Darnajou Château Ferré barrel, medium-plus toast
Description
Our Collinetta Vineyard consistently produces some of the most sophisticated, elegant, highly structured Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley. Exclusively for Premiere Napa Valley 2020, we asked esteemed winemaker Paul Colantuoni to create 60 bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon from his single favorite barrel of the 2018 vintage. The result is the “Collinetta Vineyard Winemaker’s Barrel.” This one-of-a-kind wine is the purest possible expression of the vineyard: 100% estate grown, certified organically farmed Cabernet from the most beautifully expressive vines on the property. We meticulously hand-picked and hand-sorted the clusters, gently destemmed the grapes, then sorted the individual berries again for absolute perfection. We added nothing to the grapes, allowing them to ferment exclusively with the vineyard’s own indigenous yeasts, and bottled the wine without fining or filtration after 20 months of aging. Paul calls it “a quintessential wine geek’s wine,” a perfect combination of Old World and New World appeal. This Premiere Napa Valley wine has Collinetta’s trademark color and structure and depth, but with some of the purest, most luscious fruit and smoothest tannins the vineyard has ever shown. This gorgeously concentrated, exquisitely structured, uniquely delicious creation is a Napa Valley classic that is sure to be a treasured addition to any cellar.
Paul Colantuoni
Winemaker, Rocca Family Vineyards
Rocca Family's esteemed winemaker, Paul Colantuoni, has had an exciting international career. Paul broke into the business in Napa Valley, where he worked with Robert Mondavi Winery and Neyers Vineyards. He then spent several years in Europe, honing his talents at Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and with Brancaia in Maremma on the Mediterranean coast of Tuscany. Paul returned to Napa Valley in 2006, and is now focused on crafting world-class artisanal wines for Rocca Family.
Paul brings a strong scientific background to his craft, having studied Chemical Engineering and Molecular Biology at Princeton University until his senior year, when he changed majors to Italian and set his sights on a career as a winemaker. Paul's remarkable creative talents were inspired and refined by years of working with such renowned figures as Ehren Jordan, Bruce Neyers, Frederic and Daniel Brunier, and Carlo Ferrini.
Country born: United States
Education: Princeton University - Chemical Engineering, Molecular Biology, and Italian
Years in the wine industry: 20-30 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
Our winemaking philosophy is focused on fully realizing the potential of our beautiful estate vineyards. We strive to express their signature qualities as faithfully as possible, by organically growing the very best possible grapes and then staying out of their way with an emphatically non-interventionist approach in the winery.
Winery Distribution
Rocca Family Vineyards is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Rocca Family Vineyards Contact: Angelique Ball
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