2022 The Stalker Pinot Noir
ABOUT THE STALKER PINOT NOIR
The Stalker Pinot Noir is a unique wine. The fermentation style was developed by ROCO’s founding winemaker, Rollin Soles in a quest to develop deeper, richer flavors in a Pinot Noir without adding heavy, over-the-top green tannins. The name refers to Rollin’s time in Australia, where they call the grape stems ‘stalks’. The label features Rollin being “stalked” by our logo, a Thunderbird: It was conceptualized by his wife and co-founder, Corby Stonebraker-Soles and was carved into a linoleum block for printing.
WINEMAKING PROCESS
Hand picked Pinot Noir grapes are chilled overnight to 40F. The next day, whole berries are de-stemmed into small 1.6 tons fermenters for a 10-Day cold soak. During this cold soak, 100% of the stems that were removed are collected and separately aged for 7 days under inert gas. Removing the stems is a paramount step, since traditional whole cluster fermentation does not ensure fully ripe stems. Then the aged stalks/stems are hand punched into the cold grape berry fermenters, kicking off the fermentation. They are punched down twice a day until end of fermentation. The grapes are then gently pressed and the juice is transferred to French oak barrels and matured for 9 months before bottling.
2022 VINTAGE NOTES
The 2022 vintage was a challenging yet extraordinary season in the Willamette Valley. Despite early setbacks with Spring frost affecting the primary buds, our vineyards' diverse locations and elevations, along with strategic positioning across the region, allowed us to overcome these hurdles.
The unique interplay of warm days in September and October paved the way for a late but exceptional harvest, resulting in wines that showcase intense aromas, ripe fruit characteristics, and high natural acidity.
Finding Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with both quick-ripening and late-season character is a rare occurrence. The 2022 vintages offer this distinctive combination, making them particularly noteworthy.
TASTING NOTES
Aromas unfold with layers of dark chocolate bark and dried cranberry mingling with hints of blackberry, black cap raspberry, and Bergamot tea. On the palate, flavors of cola and black pepper are complimented by luscious, ripe tannins with a touch of fig jam, creating a harmonious expression of fruit and structure.
CLUB PRICING
Collector: $34
Premier: $36
Signature: $38
Club discounts applied at checkout.
