2013 Roar Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard, USA, California, Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands, Wine Review

This is a pretty big Pinot. It is also delicious. Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose seems to have some volatile acidity. Not an issue but might be worrisome with some age. Other than that it has a very pretty cherry liqueur nose. On the palate, lots of black cherries. A bit of root beer. Full bodied. A bit of sweet alcohol but not hot or warm. That sweetness is especially evident on the finish. This is the kind of Pinot that is delicious on its own. Would be perfect on the deck next to a summer fire. It will work with big foods or BBQ.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2013

Current Price:

$54.00USD

50 California Central Coast Wines You Should Be Drinking Right Now

The California Central Coast, identified as Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo (and its main wine region Paso Robles) and Monterey is California the way it used to be, or at the very least, California the way people want it to be: small towns, charming architecture, varied history of Missions and Indians, and coastlines for miles; a slow pace, clean air and a belief that no one real really works very hard. But the area has been home to grape growing since the Spanish brought vine cuttings from Spain via Mexico in the late 1700s and winemakers and vineyard managers have been working hard ever since. To celebrate this beautiful region IntoWine.com offers these 50 wines that represent the diversity of the California Central Coast.

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Top 75 California Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will!)

In my last article, I listed the Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking . In this article I look at the “non-dump bucket” list for wines from California. This proved to be a different task. First, very few wineries have a long track record of making great wine. Secondly, while California is diverse, it does not have the diversity of climates and terroir and grape varietals of France. Still, it does produce some of the best wines in the world and any wine lover should make it a point to try as many of them as they can. Here is my list: 1. Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon – It’s hard to pick the first wine. This one is a great wine in every vintage and has been for a long time. Expensive but still possible to afford and made in large enough quantities to be found in grocery stores. Every lover of Cabernet should try this once.

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2017 Landmark Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, USA, California, Monterey, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$45.00USD

This is a surprisingly big and bold Pinot Noir. The surprise is more that it is from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The vines were planted in 2008. Although 2017 wasa bit lighter of a vintage in Sonoma/Napa, it would appear that down in Monterey, there was no issue in getting fruit ripe. Certainly not for this wine. It has a very pretty ruby/garnet color. Clear and bright. The nose shows coffee, black cherries, and a slight rhubarb. With air a bit of brown sugar emerges. On the palate, this is full bodied with light tannins. It has juicy red berries. There is some oak coming thru as

Smackdown Pinot Noir: Santa Maria Valley -v- Santa Lucia Highlands

California unequivocally makes great Pinot Noir. But who makes it better? Santa Barbara’s Santa Maria Valley AVA, or their northern brothers in Monterey’s Santa Lucia Highlands AVA? Well, it’s really a tale of two regions, vastly different yet surprisingly similar, but each with their own...

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2014 Roar Syrah Garys' Vineyard, USA, California, Santa Lucia, Wine Review

Vintage:

2014

Score:

Grade:

Inky purple in color, bright. On the nose there is nice black raspberry fruit with black pepper. On the palate, this is a big, fruity wine. Lots of black raspberry fruit. Slight mineral backbone. Deep but tight. I think a few more years of cellaring will bring out even more of its potential. Although it drinks cooler climate, it is a big wine. Nice texture. Long finish.

2013 Roar Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard, USA, California, Monterey, Santa Lucia Highlands, Wine Review

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