Every great wine region has a producer that feels inseparable from the place itself. In the Santa Lucia Highlands, that producer is ROAR. Built by the Franscioni family, whose vineyards have helped define the region for generations, the winery has become one of its most respected voices. The 2023 Pinot Noir carries that legacy effortlessly, earning 96 points from Wine Enthusiast while capturing everything that makes the Santa Lucia Highlands so compelling. Gary Franscioni has spent decades proving that great Pinot Noir begins long before harvest. For the 2023, he assembled fruit from several of the family's celebrated vineyards, each contributing its own dimension of fruit, structure, and freshness. Careful sorting, gentle handling, and a restrained approach to French oak preserve the character of each site while allowing the region to take center stage. Great vineyards deserve great vintages, and 2023 delivered. A long, even growing season allowed the fruit to develop exceptional depth without sacrificing the vibrant energy that defines the Santa Lucia Highlands. The result is a 96-pointPinot Noir that showcases one of California's benchmark producers for $49.99, below the winery's own $55 release price.