Winemaker Notes
A graceful wine with aromas of raspberry and rose petals lead to fresh acidity andwelcoming flavors of red currant and rhubarb with a finish of savory dried spices.
Hand-selected from the Soberanes Vineyard, Santa Lucia HighlandsGrower - Gary Franscioni, ROAR Wines
SIP Certified
Vineyard management for this Santa Lucia Highlands fruit practices sustainability.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of muddled black plum, turned earth and mahogany show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is framed by sandy tannins that will hold their structure for quite a while, framing roasted boysenberry, vanilla, clove and nutmeg flavors. Drink through 2033.
Cellar Selection
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Perhaps the most highly regarded appellation within Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands AVA benefits from a combination of warm morning sunshine and brisk afternoon breezes, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and fully. The result is concentrated, flavorful wines that retain their natural acidity. Wineries here do not shy away from innovation, and place a high priority on sustainable viticultural practices.
The climatic conditions here are perfectly suited to the production of ripe, rich Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These Burgundian varieties dominate an overwhelming percentage of plantings, though growers have also found success with Syrah, Riesling and Pinot Gris.