Made from the Mt. Eden clone, the 2009 Chardonnay Rachael’s Vineyard displays aromas of white flowers, crushed rocks, sweet corn, nectarines and a hint of honeysuckle. Stunning in the mouth with a layered, full-bodied opulence, terrific acidity as well as a magnificent personality and length, this prodigious effort may be one of the finest Chardonnays Tom Rochioli has yet produced. It should drink well for at least a decade. Tom Rochioli is about as reliable as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west. One can quibble over whether or not he makes too many cuvees of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but no one doubts that this is a fabulous estate. The wines all come from separate blocks and they offer an education in how different clones perform in sites with different expositions and micro-climates. Rochioli told me that he had no difficulty achieving full ripeness with his 2009 Pinot Noirs. The wines combine freshness and elegance with substantial flavor authority. That is evident across the board with his generic Pinot as well as the five single vineyard offerings. All these Pinots tend to be made primarily from the newer Dijon clones. Tel. (707) 433-2305; Fax (707) 433-2358