Tonight’s occasion: 2008 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) by Roessler of Roger Roessler Wines.
I have been following this vintner’s work for more than a decade. His style of Pinot lend themselves to long graceful aging. They are absolutely gorgeous wines after about a decade. This is a bittersweet moment to match the bittersweet day I just had. It is my last bottle. I will never indulge in this vintage again.
It has a very rich, aromatic nose full of sweet cherry, caramel/marshmallow, hint of licorice and leather undertone. Each swirl unlocks a burst of aromas. It’s a neat little trick. I’m grinning with every sip. Body is very balanced, opening with a hint of acidity which quickly gives way to a chewy, creamy structure. Transition to a brief finish is seamless. The whole experience quickly fades away from the palate before you have a chance to catch up, leaving you wondering if the wine is trying to tell you something. Very gentle spicy tannic grip lingers long after its over.
Wines like this are the reason I have a cellar. I want to catch it when it is peaking. When a wine is at its fullest expression. This wine is perfect right now. I certainly feel blessed and fortunate right now.
Thank you for always pursuing your passion Roger 😌🙏🏽🍷🍷🍷
In case you’re wondering, I already ordered mine, so I don’t mind if they sell out. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with another sweet deal from one of my all-time favorite vintners Roger Roessler (rogerroesslerwines.com).
One of the things I like most about this winemaker is he puts together these monthly case deals aimed squarely at folks like myself who love building verticals and following their craft over time. These case deals present a unique opportunity to pick up enough of his signature wines at an attractive price.
While these wines are very drinkable right now believe me when I say, they will only get even better over time. I like to pick up a case, enjoy one or two bottles now with friends and fellow wine snobs, make notes on when to open the next bottle, and lay the rest of the bottles down for a long nap.
Black Pine
A Black Pine 3 vintage vertical.
This is Roger’s flagship Pinot Noir. It is an exemplary Pinot. Well built with good complexity. I have not tasted the 2017 vintage yet, but I have at least half a case of each vintage of this wine in my cellar dating back to the 2010 vintage. As a matter of fact I opened a 2010 a couple weeks ago and it was – to put it simply – Perfect! It’s even more fascinating when I taste verticals across 3-4 vintages at a time. It’s quite enlightening to taste the subtle nuances from one vintage to another and see how the winemaker managed the various challenges each harvest presented.
Red Birds
A Red Birds 4 vintage vertical. WineSnob heaven!
Now that Black Pine has got your attention, you can then begin exploring Roger’s wide selection of Signature Pinot Noirs. These are much smaller batches. They are fine-art in a bottle. Passion projects. Red Birds is one of the older lines of his signature wines. When you visit, be sure to ask Roger or the amazing staff to explain their inspiration. I have one 2008 Red Birds left in my cellar. It breaks my heart every time I look at it. I once did a side-by-side with the 2008 and the 2015 vintages and they were astonishingly similar despite the 7 year age gap. This is a big and bold Pinot – a recurring theme with Roessler wines. They lend themselves really well to the aging process. The oldest I’ve opened was a 14 year old vintage which was still coming out of the bottle swinging. A testament to the vintner, his vision and craft.
Disclosure
This post is my independent opinion and in not way sponsored by Roessler Wines. Over time I will post unique opportunities that I feel are worth your consideration. If you do decide to try these wines, please share your thoughts with me or better yet, let’s meet-up at the tasting room.
Tonight’s occasion: 2008 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) by Roessler of Roger Roessler Wines. 
It has a very rich, aromatic nose full of sweet cherry, caramel/marshmallow, hint of licorice and leather undertone. Each swirl unlocks a burst of aromas. It’s a neat little trick. I’m grinning with every sip. Body is very balanced, opening with a hint of acidity which quickly gives way to a chewy, creamy structure. Transition to a brief finish is seamless. The whole experience quickly fades away from the palate before you have a chance to catch up, leaving you wondering if the wine is trying to tell you something. Very gentle spicy tannic grip lingers long after its over.
Wine Snob 