Pale to medium ruby, the 2017 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar has aromas of baked rhubarb, crushed black cherries, redcurrants, clove, licorice and dried leaves with touches of citrus peel, tree bark, pipe tobacco and a very pretty floral undercurrent. The light to medium-bodied palate is über spicy and features well-tempered fruits, a grainy, fresh frame and long, floral finish. 672 cases produced.

Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar has a gorgeous perfume of violet and rose hip tea with suggestions of cinnamon toast over a core of kirsch and wild strawberries. Medium-bodied, silky and with a great intensity of fresh red berries, it finishes long with some earthy nuances coming though. 516 cases were made.

Gary commented that after Rosella's, the Sierra Mar vineyard is the most difficult blend to agree on. The 2014 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar shows the more savory, spice-driven style of all of these 2014s and has lots of red fruits, currants and underbrush to go with a medium-bodied, elegant and nicely balanced style on the palate. Despite its charming profile, it has solid depth and I suspect it will evolve nicely through 2024.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard is located on the southern end of the valley and shares a lot of similarities to the Pisoni Vineyard, which is just to the south. The soils here are decomposed granite and the 2013 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar shows a vibrancy and tension that's distinctly granite influenced. Deep, rich, and concentrated with fabulous notes of Bing cherries, black raspberries, potpourri, violets and spice, it opens up slowly in the glass and wasn't at its best until the next day after opening. Like all of Roar's 2013s, it's full-bodied, impeccably balanced, and has both freshness and richness. Give it a year or so and enjoy bottles through 2026.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar is a medium-bodied, beautifully rich effort that has an open, rounded and sweetly fruited profile, especially when compared to the firm and focused Rosella's. Sweet cherries, raspberries, flowers and hints of minerality all show nicely here, and it has superb overall balance, as well as ripe tannin. Showing the vintage's forward, supple nature, enjoy this beauty over the coming 3-5 years.