In the hills of California's Monterey County lies an area that grows some of the very best Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. This area is known as the Santa Lucia Highlands. Like many other famed grape growing regions of the state, what once was known for orchards and vegetables farms has become heralded for their grapes, and Roar's Franscioni family is regarded as having one of the top vineyards in the area. In fact, the Franscioni's Rosella's and Sierra Mar Vineyards are in such demand, due to the stellar quality of fruit pulled off the vines, that the finished wines command prices similar to what is found in the Russian River Valley, and even parts of Burgundy!
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands) is another big, rounded, soft-textured white from ROAR, but there’s so much tension and vibrancy within. Open-knit and expressive, it’s a very confident wine, blossoming in the glass with sweet red pear, orange oil, marzipan and exotic spices. A long, supple finish is the icing on the cake. This punches at the same level—if not above—the single-vineyard Chardonnays in 2023."
ANTONIO GALLONI'S VINOUS MEDIA 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Lucia Highlands) is another big, rounded, soft-textured white from ROAR, but there’s so much tension and vibrancy within. Open-knit and expressive, it’s a very confident wine, blossoming in the glass with sweet red pear, orange oil, marzipan and exotic spices. A long, supple finish is the icing on the cake. This punches at the same level—if not above—the single-vineyard Chardonnays in 2023."
