Roar’s many vineyard-specific Pinots tend to emphasize rich, ripe fruit flavors and the 2011 from Sierra Mar Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands is no exception. That said, the tension between flavor and structure is well balanced, resulting in a New World-style Pinot that is scintillating if not especially elegant. The nose offers an earthy, forest-floor aroma profile and on the palate the wine exhibits notes of black raspberry and boysenberry. If you’re looking to serve a crown-pleasing Pinot with impact, this one’s a good bet.
Roar, Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
By Robert Whitley