Roar Wines Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023 Red Wine

Roar Wines Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Santa Lucia Highlands, CA

750 ml

96 pts. Wine Enthusiast:

"Quite dark in the glass, this bottling from a historic vineyard shows intensely rich luxardo cherry, gingerbread and mace-laced spice cake aromas on the lavish nose. The palate is lush in texture as feathery tannins float flavors of black cherry and toasted clove, all culminating in the buzz of a Sichuan peppercorn finish.”

96 pts. James Suckling:

"So delicious, layered and well structured, this powerful wine shows the concentration with balance for which this region is well known. Lively acidity and snug tannins support huge flavors of black cherries, raspberries, holiday spices and toasted oak. Deep on the palate and long in the finish. Drink now or hold."

95 pts. Vinous:

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard offers a fantastic juxtaposition of power and freshness. The long, cool growing season lent this wine more energy and ever-so-slightly lighter build that I find wildly attractive. Dark cherries, mountain herbs, iron and gravel signal a Pinot noir of vertical intensity, but bright acids swoop in to frame everything together. A wine built for the cellar, the 2023 Garys' could use a few more years to integrate its tannic heft."

94+  pts. Jeb Dunnuck:

"Coming from the Garys' Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2023 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard offers solid intensity, with notes of red and black fruit, sassafras, iron, crushed stone, and a smoky, dark core. Medium-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, it delivers focus and structure, with plenty of tannins that will benefit from cellaring. This beautifully made Pinot Noir will drink well for a decade. Drink 2026-2033."

FROM THE WINERY

Established on a handshake between two lifelong friends, Garys’ Vineyard was planted in 1997 and quickly rose to fame as a desirable source for quality Pinot Noir. This vineyard exemplifies the enduring friendship and farming partnership between Gary Franscioni and Gary Pisoni, now carried on by their four sons. Standing a the foot of the vineyard, the fifty acres of rows progress in a “V” shape over the rocky alluvial soil, up toward the Highlands’ summit. Planted completely to Pinot Noir, Garys’ Vineyard is known for bold, spicy aromatics and rich berry flavors that only improve over time.

WINEMAKER NOTES

Grown and meticulously farmed by the Franscioni and Pisoni families, this bottling exudes pedigree and depth. Aromas of cola, dark wood, tobacco, dark cherry, and blackberry draw you in. The medium-full body is lush and inviting, with blackberry and earthy edges on the palate's front, transitioning to tobacco leaf, cola, and dark berry at the core. A smooth, unctuous finish lingers with lifted red fruit. Balanced acidity and supple, structured tannins evoke the charm of a 19th-century library.

VINTAGE SUMMARY

The 2023 season rewarded patience and precision. Generous winter rains of 22.5 inches, well above our typical 14 inches, replenished vines and fostered healthy canopies, minimizing irrigation needs. Budbreak, bloom, and veraison arrived about two weeks later than average. A mild spring and summer gave way to a long, gentle ripening period. A brief warm spell in early October pushed the fruit to optimal ripeness, leading to a brisk harvest that was later than normal. In the cellar, fermentations were slow and steady, allowing the wines to develop beautifully.

Winemaker: Scott Shapley

Appellation: Santa Lucia Highlands

Farming: Sustainable (SIP Certified)

Harvest: Sept. 29 - October 13, 2023

Oak: 100% French oak, 65% new

Aging: 10 months in barrel

Alcohol: 14.9%

Acid: 3.6 pH

Production: 509 cases made