2017 Pinot Noir

Gary Franscioni is a grape-growing pioneer and legend in the Santa Lucia Highlands. Under the watch of winemaker Scott Shapley the ROAR wines have established themselves as some of the best in the region. Adam and Nick Franscioni, Gary’s sons, arrived, or, rather, returned home in 2011 and 2017. Adam now works alongside Shapley in the cellar while Nick splits his time between the vineyards and marketing tasks. These are full-throated examples of SLH wines, across the range of varieties and, for me, the most exciting development in recent vintages has been the realization of Syrah’s potential. While they are undoubtedly bold in flavor, they also possess the sort of tension, combined with depth, that one finds from the best wines of France’s northern Rhône Valley.