2013 Pinot Noir

Scott Shapley is now the winemaker here, taking the reins from Ed Kurtzman, who was in charge during the 2007 through 2012 vintages. Adam Lee also consults closely with Gary Franscioni's son, who's named Adam as well, who is now working full-time in the family business. The Franscionis' famed 50-acre Garys' Vineyard comprises 42 acres of Pinot Noir, all of it the fabled Pisoni clone, plus an additional 8 acres of Syrah. It produces some of the most sought-after fruit in California and has been responsible for a number of the state's most successful Pinots and Syrahs. The Franscionis' Rosella's vineyard must also be counted among California's elite sites, as is their Sierra Mar vineyard. The family's most recent venture, the Sobaranes vineyard that, like the Garys', is a partnership with the Pisoni family, is showing outstanding promise already for Chardonnay as well as Pinot Noir, and the vines are still very young.

The ROAR wines tend to be fruit-driven and extroverted, with plenty of sex appeal on release, but they also have proven to be ageworthy. In my experience, they never truly shut down, thus providing drinking pleasure for those with patience as well as those with itchy corkscrews.