Terroar!!!!!

2003 Roar Pinot Noir
Gary’s Vineyard
Santa Lucia Highlands
$49.99
Shane’s and Jen’s Notes

This Pinot roars with the strength of a lion. The massive aromas of pinot fruit and cola made our nasal passages tingle.

The palate is massive, intense and concentrated. You would never mistake this for a Burgundy. After tasting it, Jen scribbled down “Knocks you on your ass.” The palate displays floral notes, roasted notes, cola, earth, smoke, toast and is slightly tart. Interestingly, the fruit flavors are a bit restrained. There is a nice flavor expansion into the long finish.

As Matt Kramer points out, a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot is an excellent example of terroir*. We can’t imagine any other region, Old World or New, producing a Pinot in this style. We have never had a pinot with such ripe fruit yet still enough acidity to provide a solid backbone. We don’t believe this would one would age well – we recommend drinking it very young. While we both prefer the fruit to be a bit less ripe (like the Santa Rita Hills AVA Pinots), we highly recommend this one.

*Matt Kramer’s New California Wine, Running Press Book Publishers, 2004, page 256