This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous

Welcome to this week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous! Each week we compile a list of wines from the Vinous database that you need to add to your wine wish list. With all the various regions, producers, and grapes, no week will be the same! All of the wines listed in this feature are available for purchase on Banquet . This week's must-try wines are from Antonio Galloni’s article, Santa Lucia Highlands: Cool-Climate Excellence in 2021 . Enjoy his notes for this week's must-try below! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ “The 2021s from the Santa Lucia Highlands build on a theme of excellence seen throughout California in what has turned out to be a largely impressive vintage in many appellations. Readers will find numerous compelling wines to explore, but many of the best wines are not always the usual suspects.” --Antonio Galloni, Santa Lucia Highlands: Cool-Climate Excellence in 2021, November 2023 1. 2021 Hahn Estate Pinot Noir SLH 2. 2021 Lucia Vineyards Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard 3. 2021 Luli Wines Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 4. 2021 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir 5. 2021 ROAR Wines Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard 6. 2021 ROAR Wines Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard 7. 2021 ROAR Wines Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 8. 2021 ROAR Wines Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard 9. 2021 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

Siduri

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
8.8

The 2021 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is a very pretty wine. Crushed flowers, spice, mint, red cherry fruit and orange peel are nicely lifted. There's good energy here, even if the 2021 feels a bit light, especially in the mid-palate. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Roar

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.4

The 2021 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is laced with bright red-toned fruit, dried herbs, rose petals, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco. This is an especially savory Pinot in the range. The aromatics are quite alluring today, but the wine is much less expressive on the palate, where it feels very tight at this stage. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Lucia Vineyards (Pisoni)

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.5

The 2021 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is bright, aromatic and wonderfully effusive. Crushed rose petals, mint, blood orange and cinnamon give the 2021 notable aromatic lift. Vibrant acids drive through it all, adding tension and persistence. This is a superb Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot from one of the appellation's historic families. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Rob liked this

Roar

Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.2

The 2021 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard is bright and effusive. Crushed red berry fruit, flowers, dried herbs and a kiss of sweet French oak are nicely lifted. This racy, exuberant Pinot is quite the charmer. It, too, will benefit from a bit of cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Roar

Sierra Mar Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.3

The 2021 Pinot Noir Sierra Mar Vineyard is a wild wine. Strong mineral and savory notes are front and center, while the fruit is more pushed into the background. This potent, driving Pinot will need a year or two to soften, but I expect it will always be rather forbidding. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Luli

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.1

The 2021 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is a lovely appellation-level wine. Crushed flowers, sweet red cherry fruit, cedar and cinnamon are all nicely lifted. Soft, silky tannins grace the long, delineated finish, with pretty floral top notes that linger. Delicious. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Rob liked this

Roar

Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.2

The 2021 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is packed with dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, mint, tobacco and mocha. This potent appellation-level Pinot Noir will surely be a crowd-pleaser, as it offers tons of fruit density and plenty of allure. I would give it a few months in bottle to soften. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Pisoni Vineyards

Estate Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.6

The 2021 Pinot Noir is outrageously beautiful. A vivid, sweeping wine, the 2021 captures all the best qualities of this rugged site. Blue/black fruit, cloves, licorice, menthol, lavender and chocolate all build effortlessly, amplified by the wine's natural intensity and volume. The 2021 is a big, rich wine, but it is also not overdone in any way. Jeff and Mark Pisoni blend their estate Pinot using blocks from the five main soil types found across the property. This is quintessential Pisoni. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Rob liked this

Hahn Winery

SLH Santa Lucia Highlands Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2021

Delectable Wine
9.0

The 2021 Pinot Noir SLH is a very pretty appellation-level offering. Dried herbs, tobacco, cedar and crushed autumn leaves add lovely complexity and nuance to this soft, understated Pinot from Hahn. There's plenty of subtlety and overall appeal here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— a year ago

Rob liked this