2016 Littorai Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard is a wine of pure and total seduction. Sweet, perfumed aromatics meld into a core of silky fruit in a pliant, super-expressive Pinot that is gorgeous. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender, rose petal and spice infuse a supple, inviting Pinot loaded with character. Although the Roman has plenty of supporting structure, it will also drink well with minimal cellaring.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
There’s a floral, rose-like layer to the nose here with a wealth of spicy, earthy nuances. The palate has a powerful core, darker cherries and assertive tannins. This is muscular and needs time. Try around 2022.
The 2016 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard sports a singular style in its dried earth and red fruits, and is medium-bodied, rounded and supple on the palate. It has classic Anderson Valley savory minerality, building tannin, and a great finish. Give it a year and drink bottles over the following decade.
The 2016 Pinot Noir Roman Vineyard is remarkably harmonious today. Spherical and voluptuous in feel, with soft contours and tons of allure, the 2016 is super-impressive. There is terrific depth to the fruit and plenty of aromatic nuance, but the Roman is a bit more open and less overtly structured than the biggest Pinots in this range. As a result, the Roman should drink well with only minimal cellaring. There is plenty of tannin, but all of that is buried by the sheer richness of the fruit.
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.