04 Sep Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Rockhound 2022 Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

The Radian Vineyard is the westernmost vineyard along Santa Rosa Road in Sta Rita Hills. The exposure and proximity to the Pacific Ocean make it one of the coolest vineyards in the appellation. At Radian Vineyard you understand why the Sta. Rita Hills’ climate is described as “refrigerated sunshine”. I have visited the top of  Radian Vineyard which looks like Mars. With the wind blowing, you can see the vines struggle. But the struggle is worth it as the Pinot Noir made from these vines is delicious, like the Rockhound 2022 Pinot Noir, Radian Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Rockhound Wine

Rockhound Wine is a new label from Megan & Reed Skupny, the second generation of the well-known Napa Valley winery Lang & Reed. Lang & Reed was started by Reed’s father John Skupny to focus on Cabernet Franc. It was Reed and Megan who introduced Chenin Blanc to the Lang & Reed portfolio. With Rockhound Wines, Reed and Megan have stepped out on their own. Their idea is to “produce exciting wines of unparalleled quality, unconstrained by preconceived notions or boundaries,” in other words, wines that break out of the box.

They launched their own label with the 2021 Hawkbox Rosé, a rosé of Pinot Noir sourced from the Radian Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Ynez, as well as the 2021 Rockhound Pinot Noir, also from the Radian Vineyard. The 2022 Hawkbox Rosé, as well as the 2022 Rockhound Pinot Noir, are their second release.

Tasting Notes

The Rockhound Pinot Noir is a co-ferment of three different pinot noir clones (115, 667 and 777) aged for 16 months in hand-selected French Oak barrels. The wine is a dark ruby color. The wine has classic Pinot Noir aromas of dark cherry, bramble, and blood orange, as well as licorice, pepper, and sweet vanilla notes. On the palate the wine has flavors of plum skins and cherries. The wine is opulent and fills the palate but it also has fresh acidity and a mouthwatering finish. Each sip will leave you wanting another.

Food Pairing

Pinot Noir is a food friendly wine and the Rockhound Pinot Noir from the Radian Vineyard was no exception. I paired this wine with a Mediterranean dinner that my brother prepared. The freshness and acidity of the wine worked with every plate but the wine paired especially with the chicken cooked in spices as the spices of the chicken brought out the spice notes of the wine.

Where To Purchase

The Rockhound Pinot Noir retails for $90 and is available for purchase on the Lang & Reed website.