RIC FORMAN & CHERYL EMMOLO
Five generations of Emmolo men and women have been working the valley's fertile farmland for nearly 100 years. Cheryl was born and raised on Rutherford's Galleron Road, where her father, Frank Emmolo, owned one of the largest rootstock and nursery businesses in California. She grew up pulling spray rigs, working in her mother's gardens and selling rootstock to local winemakers, a childhood that gave her an extraordinary intimacy with vineyards and vines.
Ric's Napa Valley tenure began over 55 years ago in the vineyards and cellars of Stony Hill Winery, although most people recognize him as the man who helped put Sterling Vineyards on the map. Following his time there and at Newton Vineyard, Forman tacked on several consulting projects with esteemed wineries like Villa Mt. Eden, Inglenook, Charles Shaw and Kendall Jackson, but it was when he started his own label, Forman Vineyard, in 1983 that Forman's talent for cultivating steep, hillside slopes evidenced itself in his focused, racy Cabernets and elegant, Burgundian-style Chardonnays.
OUR FAMILY OF WINES
ROSSI - WALLACE
ROSSI - WALLACE
"We like elegant, structured wines rather than those
big blockbuster wines
that are intriguing rather than overwhelming."
Ric Forman and his wife, Cheryl Emmolo offer high quality, limited production, select varietals in honor of their mothers, Annie Rossi and Roz Wallace. Both long-time, esteemed veterans in the wine business (Ric Forman of Forman Vineyard and Cheryl Emmolo of Emmolo Wines), this is their collaboration together producing high-quality, reasonably priced wines.
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
Chateau la Grande Roche is a brand within the Rossi-Wallace portfolio and is owned by husband and wife team, Ric Forman & Cheryl Emmolo. The name was derived in recognition of the presence of the gravel nature of the Forman Vineyard property which is surrounded by massive boulders (Grande Roche) in a true clos-like fashion. It is 100% estate grown and is generally predominantly made up of Cabernet Sauvignon but, depending on thevintage, can also have Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot as minority components of the blend. The brand was created in 1984 to insure that the Forman Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon would consistently meet the exacting standards that the wine maintains. One could analogize the brand; Grande Roche is to Forman Vineyard as Pavillion Rouge is to Margeaux.
Certain lots of wine each year, because of the extremely tight specifications of quality for the Forman Vineyard Cabernet, become necessary to isolate and thus go into
the Grande Roche blend. Rarely, because of the high-quality of the grapes produced on the estate, are the selected lots terribly far off from the quality of the Forman Vineyard lots.
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
2022
NAPA VALLEY . ESTATE BOTTLED
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Bottled: June 14, 2024 - 325 Cases (750ml)
Components: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon,
22% Cabernet Franc,
100% Forman Vineyard Estate
Aged: 22 Months:
100% in Previously Used Bordeaux Barrels
Alcohol: 14.8%
Total Acidity: 0.57 g/100ml
pH: 3.72
Glucolse/Fructose: 0.05 g/100ml
Malolactic: Positive
WINE DESCRIPTION
Harvest 2022 started very early….August 29th and finished early as well….September 15th. This is quite in contrast to the 2023 vintage which didn’t even start until October 5th. Overall yield was moderate to low and ripeness during this brief, but quite warm harvest season, was very ample and produced full-bodied, yet quite elegant wine. Because of the slight crop load we were not able to produce a normal quantity yet what was made was quite representative of the vineyard and very harmonious at this early stage. The wine is delightful … ENJOY EVERY SIP!
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
2021
NAPA VALLEY . ESTATE BOTTLED
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Bottled: June 20, 2023 - 564 Cases (750ml)
Components: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon,
22% Cabernet Franc,
100% Forman Vineyard Estate
Aged: 22 Months:
100% in Previously Used Bordeaux Barrels
Alcohol: 14.9%
Total Acidity: 0.60 g/100ml
pH: 3.73
Glucolse/Fructose: 0.04 g/100ml
Malolactic: Positive
WINE DESCRIPTION
2021 was such a wonderful year, it made choosing what lots to keep out of the Forman blend and go into the Grande Roche blend very difficult. All lots were quite ripe but also in beautiful shape with no shrivel at these elevated sugars. Even with the ripeness, however, the acid is balanced, perfect for positive development in bottle.
The classic Forman Vineyard gravel vineyard strncture, as always, has displayed more of a Claret nose than California. Deep berry but also a spicey Cabernet herbal quality exists - a hallmark of the vineyard.
Harvested September 07 - 17, 2021
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
2020
NAPA VALLEY . ESTATE BOTTLED
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Bottled: June 17, 2022 - 352 Cases (750ml)
Components: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon,
20% Cabernet Franc,
100% Forman Vineyard Estate
Aged: 21 Months:
80% in Once Used Bordeaux Barrels
20% in New Bordeaux Barrels
Alcohol: 14.8%
Total Acidity: 0.57 g/100ml
pH: 3.66
Glucolse/Fructose: 0.04 g/100ml
Malolactic: Positive
WINE DESCRIPTION
We love our 2020 vintage of Grande Roche Cabernet. The vintage overall was outstanding for us and we feel so fortunate once again. This is a fully aeromatic
and extracted wine which will impress
right from the get-go. There is full-blown
fruit and mouth-feel that excites!
Harvested September 15 - 17, 2020
(10 days prior to Glass Fire)
REVIEWS
92 PTS.
CHATEAU LA GRANDE ROCHE
2019
NAPA VALLEY . ESTATE BOTTLED
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Bottled: June 9, 2021 / 1,026 Cases (750ml)
Components: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc,
5% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot
100% Forman Vineyard Estate
Aged: 21 Months:
80% in Once Used Bordeaux Barrels
20% in New Bordeaux Barrels
Alcohol: 14.8%
Total Acidity: 0.63 g/100ml
pH: 3.64
Glucolse/Fructose: 0.04 g/100ml
Malolactic: Positive
WINE DESCRIPTION
Stunning aromatics; flint, blueberry, blackberry and even pomegranate. All together - very vibrant and exciting! Flavors couldn't be better. They are so integrated and delicious. We love the extract which lends a powerful richness to the complexity of aromas and flavors.
Harvested September 9, - October 15, 2019
REVIEWS
93 PTS.
OUR INSPIRATION: OUR MOTHERS
ANNIE ROSSI
Annie Rossi has a fondness for growing things. Every summer and into autumn, her garden blooms with tomatoes, zucchini, rocket onions, basil, and melons. And because she delights in the beauty the bouquets offer right there in their natural place, there are always zinnias, whose colors seem to dance between the rows. Annie is happiest in her garden. It is her refuge and sanctuary.
A mother's influence is undeniable. When it came time to name their new label, it made sense that it should honor their spirited (and red-headed) mothers. After all, the couple inherited their deep love and respect for the land from these passionate women.
This nature-inspired joy formed a common bond between the Rossi-Wallace women. Although they never had the chance to meet, the land would have connected these proud, passionate - or Feisty, as Ric and Cheryl like to say - moms. It is a tribute to them both that their children share this organic connection.
ROZ WALLACE
Ric's mother grew up among the orange groves of Pomona. The daughter of a fairly well-known surgeon who settled his family in agriculture-centric California, she inspired her children to value good, growing things. While many knew her as a nursery school teacher, Ric remembers her not at the blackboard but on her knees in her garden. One of Roz Wallace's purest joys was found in working the soils and in providing rich, natural foods for her family.
CONTACT INFORMATION
CHERYL EMMOLO
CHERYL@ROSSI-WALLACE.COM
WINE AVAILABLE THROUGH DISTRIBUTION ONLY.
WE DO NOT SHIP DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS.
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