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2018 Private Stash Pinot Noir

ABOUT PRIVATE STASH PINOT NOIR

ROCO’s premier Pinot Noir, Private Stash is a numbered series of small production Pinot Noir sourced from a 2-acre plot on the Soles’ private 21-acre vineyard. This complex Pinot offers layer upon layer of intense, silky, full-bodied flavor that is elegantly balanced. Derived from Rollin’s special clonal propagation, 3A, otherwise called “the ROCO selection” these vines produce smaller than normal clusters of tightly packed berries. We hold that this wine will stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest Pinot Noirs from around the globe. The 2018 Stash is No.16 in the production series that began in 2003.

2018 VINTAGE NOTES

The 2018 Willamette Valley vintage saw an unusually dry, warm season more reminiscent of California. A record dry May and hot summer gave way to cooler September weather and early October rain. Ideal ripening conditions prevailed from October 10-22. Irrigated vineyards fared well despite the dry conditions. The resulting wines showcase ripe fruit flavors balanced by good acidity. ROCO wines from this vintage feature their signature rich mid-palate and juicy finish.

WINEMAKING PROCESS

ROCO Pinot Noir is handpicked and then chilled overnight to 38°F in our large cold room. The chilled bunches are gently de-stalked and the whole berries fall into small 1.6 ton open fermenters. The berries soak for ten days before beginning ferment with our proprietary, house-cultured indigenous wine yeast. Soaking allows gentle extraction of color and flavor from the berry skin, and not the bitter-tasting seeds. The fermentations are hand punched twice a day to mix skins and fermenting juices. Ferments are allowed to reach about 28°C. A post-fermentation soak occurs until the wine is just right for removing from the skins and seeds. At that time the ferment is gently pressed in our modern tank press. The young wine is sent to barrel for malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity and to add further complexity, then racked once to a unique ratio of new to three-year-old, tight-grained, French oak barrels. The wines are aged in barrel for 18 or more months before bottling.

VINTAGE NOTES 2018

2018 vintage was completely different from the previous three years when vintners harvested their grapes earlier than normal. The wet, cool spring delayed flowering until late June, setting the stage for a later harvest. Hot, dry conditions prevailed through the summer and fruit set was higher than average requiring thinning to ensure incredible wines. There is a fresh fruit component and complexity that emerges to the forefront in the wines.

WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES

"Such a deep, complex wine from the start. Bright red Cherry and strawberry fruit, and an enticing mix of savory tarragon, Russian sage blossom, violets, cinnamon stick, and vanilla spice rack. The nose is rounded off with a Griotte cherry hit. It’s a HUGE palate from the get-go! Masculine tannins are tempered by luscious fruit. The fruit shifts from red to black cherry and raspberry. Spices hints of bay leaf, tarragon, and clove are grounded by a sense of forest floor, red velvet cake, and black currant liqueur richness. Taunt, youthful now and will age a very long time on the back of its super long voluptuous finish."

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