ROAR Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2022

As proprietors of ROAR Wines, Gary and Rosella Franscioni are at the forefront of the Santa Lucia Highlands wine community, with multiple vineyards under their stewardship. Beginning with the home’s estate vineyard, Rosella’s, in 1996 and the addition of Garys’ Vineyard in 1997 in partnership with the Pisoni family, they have quietly established themselves as premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay growers and producers in this quaint AVA.  Gary used his agricultural prowess as a third-generation Santa Lucia Highlands farmer and poured this knowledge into transitioning his family business to viticulture.  2001 marked the launch of ROAR wines with a Pinot Noir blended from the two vineyards.  The years since have seen the addition of two more vineyards, spanning the 18-mile-long Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.   It is a family affair at ROAR, with Rosella and Gary’s two sons, Adam and Nick, having joined the winery and Gary at the helm, “growing premium grapes and wines, from soil to bottle.”

Their Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir comes from the family’s four vineyards:  Rosella’s, Gary’s, Soberanes, and Sierra Mar, along with a small portion from the Pisoni Vineyard.  Despite being all the same AVA, the terroirs and microclimates of each vineyard are distinctly different.  Each brings its personality and influence on the overall wine.  From the interspersed fog in the hillside vines of Rosella’s with their stimulating aromatics to the ripe, succulent fruit palate of Garys’ Vineyard warmer valley floor vines.  Approachable with supple red fruits and silky, delicate tannins, why look any further for your everyday bottle of Pinot Noir?  This wine is a perfect snapshot of Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir and showcases why this region’s grapes are highly sought after.