I finished my other remaining Roar, the 2007 Garys', the night before last. I saved this 2008 Rosella's for last, as I figured this wine would show better, given the higher acidity comment in my note from 2 years ago, and in general, my overall favoring of Rosella's as the best plot of the two. Open about an hour, it has notes of burning embers/campfire, smoke, stem and purple flower. To the fruit, has the kick of grapefruit that is Rosella's, some chocolate and blue fruit. The ruby grapefruit is the star here, anchoring the wine, and then closing with it and a blueberry syrup note. Like the Garys', this is a big wine and it has a shading of heat on the nose, much less than the Garys', however. In contrast to that wine, the acid here is fantastic and the wine works. This can age further but the combination of acid and fruit makes this wine fun to drink now.....ps--for a day 2 note, this smoothed out like the 2007 Garys', but where these differ is that the Rosella's maintains the acid, the alc is a non-factor and the wine just really pure pleasure. This is not old world syrah but it's got a decadence that is well within the lines and a smile maker.
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Just a beautiful cool weather Syrah that is drinking really well but should even improve over a couple of years and then hold for another five years. I loved it
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Exactly one year since the last bottle, although I opened this last night so it's had sufficient time to slow ox. Aromatically shows a note of potpourri, dark flowers, both of which I have frequently used as a descriptor in my CA syrah notes. This wine has added weight in the past many months, with the requisite black pepper, dark fruit and a good size amount of tangy grapefruit in the core of the wine, signifying this is surely Rosella's. That acid, along with a funky syrah note jammed into the center of the wine, could fool those guessing CA. There is enough fruit density here to clue in this is more in the new world side of things, the complexity notes brought in through the wines old world side add much more uniqueness to the overall expression. Finishes with some dark chocolate and anise and the citrus filling in. Given the latter quality, this wine will last a while so I'd say cool to suggest a drink window of 2012-2015.
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First into the pool again. I've been a regular buyer of Roar syrahs since the 2003 vintage and while they changed winemaker hands from Adam to Ed, I still like the fruit, texture and style of these wines so I am staying right with them. Opened this bottle last night, had a glass, put the cork back into the bottle to sit overnight. Returned to the bottle tonight for this note. Pretty dark, not opaque but it's close. Aromatically, the wine is still pretty wrapped up but under some of the shyness is some sweet leather, lavender and purple flowers. The palate has expanded since last night, as 24 hours ago it was a little flat and well, boring. It needed air to help pull forward the red and black fruits, the juicy core that has come forward. The finish is textbook Rosella's, with a good dose of grapefuit, along with anise seed, tobacco leaf, soil and some dark, bitter chocolate. The finish is where the wine continues to excel as the acidity really carries it for a long close. My strong recomendation for this wine is not to open and consume it quickly but instead decant it well or simply give it another 1-2 years of age. While I like the wine at this stage, there is more expected room for the wine to meld together and I won't open my next one for at least another year. Very good and with the raw elements to really be excellent with more age.
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7/3/2022 - jlgnml wrote: 88 Points
Dark color, just not enough umph. Drink
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2/15/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar tasting notes to previous bottle with a hint more earth on the nose and tannic structure on the finish.
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10/24/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
A lovely syrah! Wonderful dark berry aromas with plum, black pepper and grapefruit notes on the palate and finish.
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9/28/2014 - zoeldar Likes this wine: 92 Points
Marvelous SLH syrah, big and yet very polished. Dramatically different on day 2, with totally smoothed edges and balance. Lovely!
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12/9/2013 - Frank Murray III Likes this wine:
I finished my other remaining Roar, the 2007 Garys', the night before last. I saved this 2008 Rosella's for last, as I figured this wine would show better, given the higher acidity comment in my note from 2 years ago, and in general, my overall favoring of Rosella's as the best plot of the two. Open about an hour, it has notes of burning embers/campfire, smoke, stem and purple flower. To the fruit, has the kick of grapefruit that is Rosella's, some chocolate and blue fruit. The ruby grapefruit is the star here, anchoring the wine, and then closing with it and a blueberry syrup note. Like the Garys', this is a big wine and it has a shading of heat on the nose, much less than the Garys', however. In contrast to that wine, the acid here is fantastic and the wine works. This can age further but the combination of acid and fruit makes this wine fun to drink now.....ps--for a day 2 note, this smoothed out like the 2007 Garys', but where these differ is that the Rosella's maintains the acid, the alc is a non-factor and the wine just really pure pleasure. This is not old world syrah but it's got a decadence that is well within the lines and a smile maker.
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11/16/2013 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a beautiful cool weather Syrah that is drinking really well but should even improve over a couple of years and then hold for another five years. I loved it
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4/2/2013 - norsktorsk wrote: 92 Points
Rich and ready.
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12/17/2011 - kennyg wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful full bodied, peppery syrah. great now and will last. Glad I have several more.
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12/13/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Exactly one year since the last bottle, although I opened this last night so it's had sufficient time to slow ox. Aromatically shows a note of potpourri, dark flowers, both of which I have frequently used as a descriptor in my CA syrah notes. This wine has added weight in the past many months, with the requisite black pepper, dark fruit and a good size amount of tangy grapefruit in the core of the wine, signifying this is surely Rosella's. That acid, along with a funky syrah note jammed into the center of the wine, could fool those guessing CA. There is enough fruit density here to clue in this is more in the new world side of things, the complexity notes brought in through the wines old world side add much more uniqueness to the overall expression. Finishes with some dark chocolate and anise and the citrus filling in. Given the latter quality, this wine will last a while so I'd say cool to suggest a drink window of 2012-2015.
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2/4/2011 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit and forest floor, roasted and peppered meat, yet almost floral.
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12/13/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
First into the pool again. I've been a regular buyer of Roar syrahs since the 2003 vintage and while they changed winemaker hands from Adam to Ed, I still like the fruit, texture and style of these wines so I am staying right with them. Opened this bottle last night, had a glass, put the cork back into the bottle to sit overnight. Returned to the bottle tonight for this note. Pretty dark, not opaque but it's close. Aromatically, the wine is still pretty wrapped up but under some of the shyness is some sweet leather, lavender and purple flowers. The palate has expanded since last night, as 24 hours ago it was a little flat and well, boring. It needed air to help pull forward the red and black fruits, the juicy core that has come forward. The finish is textbook Rosella's, with a good dose of grapefuit, along with anise seed, tobacco leaf, soil and some dark, bitter chocolate. The finish is where the wine continues to excel as the acidity really carries it for a long close. My strong recomendation for this wine is not to open and consume it quickly but instead decant it well or simply give it another 1-2 years of age. While I like the wine at this stage, there is more expected room for the wine to meld together and I won't open my next one for at least another year. Very good and with the raw elements to really be excellent with more age.
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