ROAR “Soberanes Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2018

(Santa Lucia Highlands, CA) $60

Starting in the early 2000s, and perhaps more than any other winery except Kosta Browne, ROAR redefined what California pinot noir could taste like and feel like, and still be pinot noir. Some wine drinkers, of course, would argue that ROAR’s uber hedonistic, super-full-bodied style pushes the envelope too far. Not me. I think the ROAR wines at their best possess the amazing ability to be complex and multifaceted in flavor (cranberries, sarsaparilla, pomegranate, damp earth, hibiscus, tea, exotic spices) while at the same time, they are big cashmere blankets of feel-good texture. Of the four top ROAR vineyard-designates (Sierra Mar, Rosella’s, Pisoni, and Soberanes), my favorite is often the Soberanes for its length and wonderful kaleidoscope of flavors. (14.9% abv)

95 points KM

Available at Gary’s Wine and Marketplace