2005 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
93 points - The 2005 Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard (405 cases) exhibits Allspice, clove, and cinnamon characteristics interwoven with sweet blackberry and cherry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with terrific richness, super purity, a forest floor/earthy/Cote de Nuits-like complexity, and a broad, expansive background to the long finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 7-8 years. This brilliant Pinot Noir is among the finest produced in California.


2005 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
TWO AND A HALF STARS
A huge, brawny wine with a dark, leathery nose, suggesting espresso. It moves seamlessly into the palate with notes of black fruit and orange zest. "Needs food," as one taster wrote.


2005 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
"Rosella's Vineyard ...owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni has produced more great bottlings of pinot noir in the past few years than any other location in California" - Charles Olken

In part because so many fine and dedicated producers use the grapes from Rosella's Vineyard and in part because those grapes are especially tasty, this property owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni has produced more great bottlings of pinot noir in the past few years than any other location in California. Roar is the Franscioni's own label and in this vintage it has delivered a deep, complex, full-bodied wine.


Rosella's Vineyard named Vineyard of the Year! 
"A few months ago, in our coverage of Pinot Noir, the best wines all came from Rosella’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The property belongs to Gary Franscioni (who is also a partner with Gary Pisoni in Garys’ Vineyard)."


2004 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 points - Wow! I was blown away by these Pinot Noirs from Roar. They all reveal unbelievable complexity, richness, and the extraordinary potential that exists in the Santa Lucia Highlands for this varietal. The 2004 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard reminds me of a beautifully ripe top vintage of grand cru Corton from the Cotes de Beaune. Sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with notions of pomegranate, raspberry, and strawberry cascade from the glass of this medium ruby-colored Pinot. A superb texture, a broad, expansive mouthfeel, silky tannin, and abundant fruit and glycerin result in a gorgeous wine. Its deceptively light color belies the riches that follow for both the olfactory senses and the palate. Drink this sumptuous offering over the next 4-6 years. Drink 2006-2012


2004 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
94 points - Medium ruby color; deep, black cherry, spice, stewed plum aromas; rich, ripe, silky black cherry flavors, some stewed plums, some bacon notes; sweet oak; good structure and balance, long finish. Deep and delicious, this Rosella's has so much mouthfilling richness and sweet oak notes that you just want to sit and sip it.


2004 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
90 points - Distinctive for its mix of herb, dried cherry and raspberry fruit, along with its supple texture and rich, loamy earthiness. It also wins points for its elegance and understated flavors, which soothe the palate. Drink now through 2010. 425 cases - JL

- 90 Points


THE CHRONICLE'S WINE SELECTIONS:
Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
2003 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Body: Full | Dryness: Dry | Comments: Excellent. Black cherry, mushroom, licorice, toast and light menthol aromas balanced with flavors of black plum, blueberry, spice and black pepper; almost creamy tannins; sexy.

Rosellella Franscioni called
'An Icon in California Winemaking' : full article...

From Top 100 Wines of 2005:
2003 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Sexy and luscious, with black cherry, black plum and blueberry fruit, hints of mushroom, licorice and toast, creamy tannins and a spicy kick on the finish.

TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR, 2004  : 2002 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir


2003 Rosella's' Vineyard Pinot Noir
92 points - More earthy, with cinnamon, spice box, herb, plum, and cherry characteristics, the 2003 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is made in a completely different style than the regular bottling. Less fruit and more spice-driven with an austere finish, it is a very good to excellent Pinot Noir to drink over the next 3-5 years.


Make Room in the Cellar!
2003 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
95 Points - Medium-deep ruby purple color; deep, rich aromas of plum and black cherry with spice and smoky notes on nose; rich and ripe with intense plum and black cherry fruit, spicy, sweet oak with some smoky notes; great structure and balance; long finish. Very deep and rich and while it tastes great when you first open it, come back to it after an hour or so and it will have blossomed tremendously. This Pinot is from Roar owner Gary Franscioni's own Rosella's Vineyard.

Top 8 Vineyards You Can Trust
Rosella's Vineyard - This Vineyard is the source of more and more great Pinots every year.

Top 12 Pinot Noirs of the Year
2002 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
93 Points - Deep ruby purple color; deep plum and black cherry, spicy, sweet oak notes; rich, ripe, juicy black cherry and plum fruit, silky texture, spicy, sweet toasty oak, good structure and balance, long finish. The Rosella's Vineyard bottling has incredibly lush fruit and is just about perfectly balanced—a beautifully elegant style. 160 cases made $44

2001 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
90 Points - Deep ruby color; concentrated and complex black cherry aromas; very deep black cherry and toasty oak flavors, great structure and a finish that goes on and on.


2002 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
91 points -"Dark, rich, plush and concentrated, focused on the spicy wild berry, blackberry and stewed plum flavors, it picks up a pretty, spicy edge, with touches of herb and fresh earth, and the finish sails on with layers of fruit. Drink now through 2008." — J.L.

2002 "Best California Pinot Vintage Ever"
"Adding thrill to the Pinot hunt is that many of the hottest wines come from newcomers - Loring, Melville, Kosta Browne, ROAR, McPhail and Sea Smoke." - James Laube, The Wine Spectator "The debut releases from Roar in particular offered uncommon richness and depth of flavor, but you'll have to move fast on these"

2001 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
92 Points - Beautifully crafted, rich, intense and concentrated, with a complex array of ripe cherry, wild berry, exotic spices and oak seasonings, and finishing with a rich, focused aftertaste that keeps pumping out the flavors. Drink now through 2008.


2001 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
93 Points - A stunning Pinot Noir that breaks out into whole new dimensions for the varietal.

< Back to recent-vintage reviews