Grapelive Wine of the Day
By Kerry Winslow
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2010 August West Pinot Noir “Rosella’s Vineyard” Santa Lucia Highlands.
This new release from Ed Kurtzman & Gary Franscioni is round, lush and dark with pretty cherry, cassis, truffle and mocha. It looks like Rosella’s is knockout for the vintage, and this wine changes in glass becoming more complex by the minute and it opens to a more classic cherry and mineral laced Pinot with air, though many will enjoy it as it is with the bold black fruits and creamy texture. August West is the sister label to Roar and while Ed makes both wines, the August West wines see less oak and this vintage seems a bit more subtle then past efforts. I love all the wines in the lineup, the Graham Vineyard from the Russian River Valley and the new Franscioni Vineyard Sierra Mar, but maybe the Rosella’s just has that little extra and I find it a touch more complete and sexy. The rich and plummy fruit shows the youth at this early stage, but I think it should age well with the balanced acidity and structured tannins. The normal earthy tones are way in the background and the light smoky sweet French oak shadings give only a light kiss of vanilla spice. The Sierra Mar is also a very impressive wine, but it needs more time to evolve, maybe because the vines are so young? I hope to revisit these again and see what happens, though I am sure the Rosella’s is a star.
($45 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
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