A brilliant Chardonnay, displaying both the terroir of this fine upland part of Monterey County, and the cool vintage that let the grapes hang on the vines until they were perfectly ripe. Dazzles with pineapple and mango fruit, with a perfect jacket of sweet, vanilla-scented oak. Best of all is the acidity, which is brisk, bright and clean.
— S.H.
(6/1/2012)
This Pinot is so good, it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s dry and full-bodied and bold, with some finely ground tannins. Yet it’s perfectly ripe, showing luminous flavors of raspberries, cherries, pomegranates and sweet red plums, enriched with sweet, smoky oak. Fabulous now, and should glide easily through the next six years.
— S.H.
(12/31/2009)
Here’s a big, powerful, juicy young Pinot Noir that precisely shows the terroir of Santa Lucia Highlands and Garys’ Vineyard, as well as the qualities of the vintage. The wine is massive in ripe black cherry, black raspberry, currant, cola, licorice and mocha flavors. As big as it is, it retains an elegant silkiness. Should slowly develop over many years.
— S.H.
(6/1/2009)
Robust and full-bodied, as you’d expect from this vineyard, a dry, somewhat tannic wine that shows a stubbornly fruity immaturity. That doesn’t mean you can’t drink it now, because the flood of cherries, black raspberries, sweet cola and vanilla-infused smoky oak is delicious. However, this big, powerful wine actually needs a few years in the cellar to calm down.
— S.H.
(12/31/2009)
Just exquisite, combining power with elegance to produce a truly great Pinot Noir. The vineyard is in the heart of the appellation. The cool climate has made it dry, crisp and silky, but it shows powerfully concentrated cherry, pomegranate, mocha and bacon flavors, with overlays of smoky sandalwood. Compellingly good, this Pinot will develop over the next 6–8 years.
— S.H.
(12/31/2010)
Fantastically sized. Floods the palate with massive flavors of berries, fruits and spices, massive in length and depth. For all this sweet ripeness the wine is dry, while acids and tannins are silky and fine. A stunning Pinot Noir that breaks out into whole new dimensions for the varietal.
— S.H.
(7/1/2003)
Immense—one of those big, ripe Pinots that wows you with the volume of its fruit. Total blackberry, cherry and cassis, scads of tingly spices, and a dusting of rich but soft tannins. Also, it has that Central Coast acidity, so balancing for fruit like this. Drink now in its fleshy youth, but should improve through 2007.
— S.H.
(5/1/2005)
You don’t look to Pinots from this vineyard for delicacy. You look for power, sheer butt-kicking audacity. And that’s what you’ll find in this ’08 from Roar. It’s almost Rhône-like in the dark color and full-bodied richness, with its chocolate and black cherry fruit. But that’s Pisoni for you. Will age for the better part of a decade.
— S.H.
(12/31/2010)