Rocca Family Vineyards
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville
Auction 14 | Lot No. 40
Vintage: 2008
Rocca Family Vineyards
Cabernet Sauvignon
Yountville
5 cases produced
Description
Rocca Family Vineyards is proud to present this expression of our Grigsby Vineyard, custom-blended exclusively for Premiere Napa Valley 2010. In keeping with the Rocca house style that has garnered widespread critical acclaim, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers waves of flamboyant, rich, lush fruit that surround an exceptionally soft, velvety tannin structure. Napa's rising star winemaker Paul Colantuoni has crafted a perfect example of our Grigsby Vineyard's signature ability to balance power and elegance—a wine that is undoubtedly a future classic.
Aging Process
This special blend was aged for 21 months in small French oak barriques. New barrels represent 88 percent of the final blend.
Wine Facts
- pH: 3.74
- Wine is unfiltered
- Single vineyard wine
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Tasting Chart
| bone dry |
|
very sweet |
| light body |
|
very full bodied |
| soft, gentle |
|
very crisp |
| no tannins |
|
heavy tannins |
 |
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.
Q&A With the Winemaker
Q: Premiere Napa Valley wines are innovative and allow each winery to showcase the region's sense of exploration in fine winemaking. What kind of exploration did your Premiere Napa Valley wine allow you to do?
A: Premiere Napa Valley is a very special opportunity for a winemaker, as there are no constraints placed on what is possible. The task is simply to create a supremely delicious wine that is unique in the world. We tasted dozens of potential blends for this wine, hand-selecting the very best barrels from our finest lots. We arrived at a blend that is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Syrah, exclusively from our Grigsby Vineyard, in an expression of this site that is unlike anything we've ever bottled.
Q: What was your inspiration for this offering?
A: At Rocca Family, everything we do is inspired by our beautiful estate vineyards. In creating this special wine we simply listened to the vineyards, experimenting extensively with the wonderful raw materials they provided from the 2008 growing season, to find the most exciting and faithful expression possible of our terroir.
Q: Fill in the blanks: I chose to make this wine from this particular ______________ because ______________.
A: I chose to make this wine from this particular blend because In the 2008 vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Syrah from our Grigsby Vineyard in Yountville practically begged to be blended together. The Cabernet has an almost regal personality, with beautiful rich fruit and very polished tannins. The Syrah is a perfect complement, bringing high-tone aromatics and a spicier, exotic edge to the final blend. The result is an exciting, charismatic wine that faithfully reflects this vineyard's trademark ability to unite richness and concentration with style and finesse.
Q: Why should a wine lover have a bottle of this wine in their cellar?
A: This bottling is a one-of-a-kind, delicious expression of a world-class vineyard, made with complete fidelity to the site. We expect it to age beautifully for many years, and the blend is sure to be a fascinating addition to any blind tasting. Cheers!
Hi-Time Wine Cellars
250 Ogle Street
Costa Mesa CA 92627-3808
949-650-8463
Premiere Napa Valley Wine Collection
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZD Wines | Non-vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 26 |
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| Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2018 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 24 | |
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| Morlet Family Vineyards | 2014 | Cabernet Franc | Oakville | Le Fabuleux Franc | 20 |
| PEJU | 2014 | Petit Verdot | Napa Valley | Persephone Vineyard Hebe Block | 20 |
| Progeny Winery | 2014 | White Wine | Mount Veeder | 20 | |
| Kenefick Ranch Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | Clone Select | 19 |
| V. Sattui Winery | 2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Two x Two—Morisoli Brothers Rutherford Dust-Up | 19 |
| Beaulieu Vineyard | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Single Barrel Blend | 17 |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | To Kalon Vineyard, Monastery Block | 17 |
| Summers Estate Wines | 2011 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Calistoga | 17 | |
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| Somerston Estate | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Gauntlet | 16 |
| Whitehall Lane | 2010 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Deep Six | 16 |
| Fontanella Family Winery | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Melanson Vineyard | 15 |
| Regusci Winery | 2009 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Block 3, Clone 6 | 15 |
| Grgich Hills Estate | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon | 14 |
| Hewitt Vineyard | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Unique Hewitt Vineyard Blend | 14 |
| Rocca Family Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 14 | |
| Rombauer Vineyards | 2008 | Cabernet Sauvignon | St. Helena | Proprietors Reserve Stice Lane | 14 |
| ZD Wines | Non-Vintage | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Petit Abacus | 14 |
| Groth Vineyards and Winery | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Reserve Vineyard | 13 |
| Larkmead Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Larkmead 125 | 13 |
| Louis M. Martini Winery | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Premiere 254 | 13 |
| Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 13 | |
| Silver Oak Cellars | 2007 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Atlas Peak | 13 | |
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| Beaulieu Vineyard | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Cabernet Clone Blend with Petit Verdot | 12 |
| Beringer Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Howell Mountain | 12 | |
| PEJU | 2006 | Red Wine | Napa Valley | ASV - Cabernet Sauvignon 50% -Cabernet Franc 50% | 12 |
| Schrader Cellars, LLC | 2006 | Old Vine Zinfandel | Napa Valley | The Gnarly Cull | 12 |
| The Terraces | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Quarry Cuvee | 12 |
| Truchard Vineyards | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Carneros | 12 |
| Beringer Vineyards | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Ridge to Ridge | 11 |
| Groth Vineyards and Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Preview | 11 |
| Krupp Brothers | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 11 | |
| Louis M. Martini Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 11 | |
| Regusci Winery | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Block 11 | 11 |
| Robert Mondavi Winery | 2006 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | Nostalgie | 11 |
| Beaulieu Vineyard | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Clone 6 from BV#1 Vineyard | 10 |
| Freemark Abbey | 2004 | Red Wine | Rutherford | Right Bank Cuvée | 10 |
| Pine Ridge Vineyards | 2004 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | Bella Oaks Lane | 10 |
| Silver Oak Cellars | 2005 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | The Baron Duncan's Blend | 10 |
| Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2004 | Malbec (78% Malbec, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot) | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | Empleon | 10 |
| Revana Family Vineyard | 2003 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 9 | |
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| Schramsberg Vineyards | 1994 | Sparkling Wine | Napa Valley | 9 | |
| Twomey Cellars | 2003 | Merlot | Napa Valley | 9 | |
| Bouchaine Vineyards | 2003 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 8 | |
| Jessup Cellars | 2002 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 8 | |
| Lang and Reed Wine Company | 2002 | Cabernet Franc | Calistoga | Madrigal Vineyards | 8 |
| Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2002 | Red Table Wine | Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley | OKD 5 | 8 |
| Grgich Hills Cellar | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Yountville | 7 | |
| PEJU | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Rutherford - HB Vineyard | 7 |
| Freemark Abbey | 2001 | Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot | Napa Valley | "FREEMARK" | 6 |
| Lang and Reed Wine Company | 2000 | Cabernet Franc/Merlot | Napa Valley | Right Bank | 6 |
| Trefethen Family Vineyards | 2000 | Red Table Wine | Napa Valley | Mènage á Trois | 6 |
| Chimney Rock Winery | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Special Barrel Selection | 5 |
| Jessup Cellars | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Lauer Vineyard | 5 |
| Ristow Estate | 1999 | Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend | Napa Valley | Quinta de Pedras Vineyard | 5 |
| Truchard | 1999 | Red Table Wine | Los Carneros | Truchard Estate | 5 |
| PEJU | 1998 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Rutherford | HB Vineyard | 4 |
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