Rockmere Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021

We love a hands-on and involved vintner, and Chet Pinckernell, the owner of Rockmere, is just that.  Cross-country road trips to Northern California every Summer as a child sparked his love for the West Coast, and continued trips as an adult to Napa Valley cemented his love of California wine.  What seemed only a pipe dream during Napa vacations and between wine study sessions soon came to fruition in 2015.  After many years searching for property, Chet discovered a 5-acre parcel for sale in the southern end of Stags Leap District.  Still living in Memphis then, Chet partnered with a vineyard management company and winemaker friend to maintain and look after the vines during his absences.  It was a welcome retreat when harvest came along, as Chet could justify longer stints in Napa.  He was always first in the vineyard each morning, monitoring the berries’ ripeness and soaking up every morsel of knowledge from the day-to-day team.  And in 2020, Chet couldn’t resist any longer and chose Napa as his permanent home.  Moving into the house on the vineyard meant he could immerse himself further in this previous hobby, turned full-time passion.

Somewhat out of the traditional timeline for selecting a winemaker, Chet knew who he wanted for the job before purchasing his vineyard.  Chet met Jeff Ames, winemaker at TOR Wines in 2010, and as a fellow Tennessean, the two connected instantly.  Theirs was a fateful kinship in learning that Jeff grew up in Memphis, just two miles away from Chet’s home at the time. What struck Chet most about Jeff was not his numerous accolades and “star-studded” resume but his generosity, knowledge of Napa Valley, and adept winemaking skills.   Jeff was the best of Chet’s both worlds, with sure Southern hospitality and deep love of Napa Valley and its terroir.  As an example of Jeff’s giving spirit, he assisted Chet in selecting the vineyard property and cared for the vines long before making the inaugural 2018 vintage.  He worked with Vineyard Manager, Sander Scheer, to learn about the vineyards and prepare themselves for the eventual vinification of the fruit.  Chet’s enthusiasm for wine and his new venture rubbed off on his daughter, Bailey, who caught her father’s wine bug after only one visit to Napa. Bailey joined the team as Marketing Director to assist in the brand design and its implementation, along with working as a harvest “intern” in 2020 to better learn the ins and outs of the production side.  

Rockmere Vineyard is a very rocky site on the eastern side of Stags Leap District, with one side of the property sidling up to the Napa River.  The proximity to the river and rolling hills of the vineyard create pockets of micro-climates throughout.  Fascinated by these slight changes and their impact on the vines, Chet draws heat maps of the vineyards every few days during the heat of Summer, which the vineyard team uses to manage irrigation.  While many would view this as a chore, Chet takes great pride in it, along with his efforts to prune in the early months and drop fruit later in the year.  He wants only the best for his wines and takes it upon himself to ensure that happens.

The 2021 is 100% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the three-acre block of Clone 337, Clone 15, and Clone 30.  After fermentation, the wine aged in French oak, 85% of which was new, for 22 months.  Selecting cooperages is an integral step in the winemaking process, and Jeff picked Darnajou and Taransaud to highlight the clones and terroir of Rockmere.  Aromas of red cherries, blackberries, and lavender burst from the nose, leading into a lush palate with milk chocolate, savory herbs, and red fruit flavors.  Seven months of bottle-aging allowed the tannins to meld and slightly soften while still showcasing the muscularity of the wine but with a lingering and smooth finish.