2021 Littorai Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard
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Tasting notes
From vines planted in 1999, the 2021 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard has blossomed dramatically since I tasted it in early 2023, and at this stage, it's highly expressive. It's bursting with kaleidoscopic perfume: wild berries and tangerine peel are accented by notes of saline, conifer forest and licorice. The medium-bodied palate features incredibly detailed, layered fruit. It has a powerful frame of velvety tannins, a firm spine of acidity and a tremendously long finish. 210 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard is a potent, savory wine, just as it was last year. Strong earthy and whole-cluster inflections are front and center, while the fruit is more in the background. In this tasting, the wine feels pretty marked by its 35% whole clusters.
2.8-acre vineyard planted by Ted Lemon. Pale ruby in colour, with just a touch of garnet. Dusty, sandy, warm cherry-fruit nose. Herbal and sappy on the palate. Building tannin – velvety but drying. High acidity but not as driving. The tannin is very firm. (SCJ)
The 2021 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard is another rich, heady wine in this range. Dark red cherry, game, licorice, dried flowers, incense, tobacco and cedar are all amplified. The Roman offers an intriguing combination of fruit intensity married to super-expressive earthy and savory notes that add layers of complexity. The stems are evident, but also nicely integrated.
About the producer
Littorai stands as one of California’s most quietly influential estates, defined by organic and biodynamic farming, site transparency, and a restrained, Burgundian sensibility.