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NEW 2023 Roar SLH Pinot
Last Call on 2021 Roar Rosella's Syrah & Three 2022 Single Vineyards
Cult Santa Lucia Highlands Legend's Finest Vintages
Perfect Memorial Day Wines
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Franscioni family is among a handful of names that have come to define the Santa Lucia Highlands, and it's intrinsically tied to another of the region's pioneering households, the Pisonis. Through a lifelong friendship with Gary Pisoni, Gary Franscioni planted Rosella's Vineyard in 1996, founded the Roar label in 2001 and added Sierra Mar to the estate portfolio in 2007. Along the way, the two established a pair of joint ventures: the fittingly named Garys' Vineyard in 1997 and Soberanes in 2008."
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Dear Artisans,
This is a special note for previous buyers of our excellent Pinot Noir offerings. We just secured an extremely small allocation of cult Pinot powerhouse ROAR's new 2023 SLH Pinot, as well as 6 bottles of their 2021 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah that begs to be served with your BBQ this weekend.
These wines are nearly impossible to get; each year we're lucky to get anywhere from 6 to 12 bottles of each...and that's IT!
More Background on ROAR:
Gary and Rosella Franscioni produce hallmark, stellar wines - which are some of the most highly sought after wines in California. Small production, exquisite farming and a keen sense of power, balance and structure have been hallmarks of these wines and continue their remarkable track record since inception. In 2013 they were joined by Monterey County native, Scott Shapley, previously with Roessler Cellars and Siduri, as ROAR's full-time winemaker. There is never enough to satisfy demand, but rest assured that those who do get the opportunity to indulge themselves are never left disappointed.
The Franscioni family has been living and farming in the Salinas Valley for over a century and focused on the traditional vegetable crops of the region until Gary Franscioni, motivated by his childhood friend Gary Pisoni, made the move into grape-growing by planting a vineyard around his home on the hills above the valley. He named it Rosella's, after his wife, and it now encompasses 50 acres, 40 of them Pinot Noir, mostly Pisoni clone, and 10 more of Chardonnay and a bit of Syrah. The Franscionis are partners with the Pisonis in the 50-acre Garys' and 35-acre Soberanes Vineyards, which were planted in 1996 and 2008, respectively.
These are exceptional wines that would grace any cellar - but quantities are extremely limited, so please order promptly.
Cheers,
—James Tran
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2023 ROAR "SLH" Pinot Noir
Mainly a blend of Rosella's, Garys', and Sierra Mar vineyards with a bit of Pisoni and Sobranes!
93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Bright red fruits, sassafras, minty herbs, and flowers define the 2023 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands. Pretty and pure, this medium-bodied effort shows considerable elegance, soft tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a forward, charming, and delicious personality. Drink over the coming 4-6 years, if not longer." (Apr 2025)
Only 12 bottles left
Elsewhere: $60.00
OURS $53.97
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2021 ROAR "Rosella's Vineyard" Syrah
Only 155 Cases Made. Ready to Drink Now-2036
95 Points - The Wine Independent:
The single-varietal 2021 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah is deep garnet-purple in color. It waltzes out with gorgeous notes of red roses, cracked black pepper, and licorice leading to a core of juicy plums and ripe blackberries. The full-bodied palate is bursting with peppery black fruits supported by rounded tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and fragrant.
94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Rich and polished, yet agilely structured, with blueberry and raspberry flavors that gather tapenade, smoked meat and spice accents. Ends with medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032. 155 cases made." (10/15/23)
94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Leading off the two Syrahs, the 2021 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard reminds me of a terrific Saint Joseph with its perfumed red and blue fruits as well as notes of bay leaf, bouquet garni, and subtle meaty, bacony nuances. It's medium to full-bodied, has a supple, layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, building tannins, and outstanding length. Give it a year or two and enjoy it over the following decade."
94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2021 Syrah Rosella's Vineyard is another superb wine in this range from Roar. It shows a more floral, earthy and red-toned profile than the Sierra Mar, but with just as much energy and overall drive. Chalk, white pepper, mint, dried flowers and anise linger on the potent finish. (Drink between 2024-2036)
Only 6 bottles left
Lowest Elsewhere: $90.00
OURS $79.97
| | And Last Call on Three Single-Vineyard 2022 Pinots | | |
2022 ROAR
"Soberanes Vineyard"
Pinot Noir
95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
“Lush and intense aromas of dark strawberry are decorated in rose petal and violet on he lovely nose of this bottling. The palate is grippy in texture, giving a structure for the rich flavors of boysenberry pie, red flower and chocolate bitters.”
95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
“The 2022 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard comes from a site planted in the early 2000s, and it's slightly warmer than Rosella's. Its semi-opaque ruby hue gives way to concentrated, medium-bodied Pinot Noir that has beautiful richness in its ripe black cherry, iron, baking spice, and savory herb-like aromas and flavors. With terrific mid-palate depth, ripe, soft tannins, and outstanding length, it benefits from a short decant and will drink brilliantly through 2032+"
95 Points - The Wine Independent:
"Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir bursts from the glass with notes of tar, anise, and damp soil giving way to a core of fresh blackberries and raspberries with a waft of garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy accents framed by fine-grained tannins and a refreshing line, finishing long and savory." - LPB (Feb 2024)
Additional Scores: VM 94, TWI 92
Only 12 bottles available
$74.97
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2022 ROAR
"Rosella's Vineyard"
Pinot Noir
96 Points, #19 Top 100 - Jeb Dunnuck:
“From a cooler site in the middle of the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation, the 2022 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard offers more mulberry and wild strawberry fruit as well as a beautiful core of sappy flowers, violets, and underbrush. I love its overall purity and precision, and it's medium-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's up with the creme de la creme of the appellation, and it's going to have at least 10-12 years of prime drinking. It benefits from air if drinking any time soon.” (Aug 2024)
95 Points - The Wine Independent:
"Medium pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir sashays out with flamboyant notes of Morello cherries, cranberry sauce, and lilacs followed by hints of cardamom, cinnamon toast, and underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with silt-like tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed." - LPB (Feb 2024)
Additional Scores: WS 94, WE 94, VM 93
Only 12 bottles available
$79.97
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2022 ROAR
"Sierra Mar Vineyard"
Pinot Noir
95 Points - The Wine Independent:
"The 2022 Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir is medium ruby-purple in color. Perfumed notes of lavender, fertile loam, and kirsch jump from the glass, plus nuances of iris bulb and graphite with a touch of wild sage. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately played with lovely tension and fine-grained tannins supporting the crunchy red berry layers, finishing with a real skip in its step."
94 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard is the most bracing and tensile of the Roar Pinot Noirs, opening with focused aromas of ripe red fruits, crushed stones, dried herbs and orange peels. The palate is opulent and saturated yet lined with a refreshing live-wire acidity, releasing into an inward, stony finish that will take some time to unwind. This does a beautiful job of instilling the region's natural ripeness with enough tension to support it."
94 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Lovely layers of black cherry-laced cream, exuberant rose petal and hibiscus jelly draw the nose through hints of mace and star anise on the nose of this bottling. The palate is coated in silky textures and lush flavors of baked fruit, baking spice and toasty pastries."
Additional Scores: VM 93, WS 93, JD 93
Only 12 bottles left
$74.97
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