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Marietta Cellars

Román Zinfandel 2021

North Coast, California

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Named after cellarmaster Román Cisneros who has worked at Marietta for over 32 years, this Estate Zinfandel is from the Angeli estate vineyard in Alexander Valley and the McDowell Valley estate vineyard. One of the grape varieties that Marietta is famous for, this wine captures the bright, juicy character of Zinfandel, and hearkens to an era before dark, thick and oaky styles of Zinfandel took hold. The Virgin of Guadalupe on the label is a nod to Román’s dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice, both for the Bilbro family and his own. It is also a nod to the Mexican-American heritage of Román and many of Marietta’s crew members.

Vineyard

The fruit for this wine comes from the Angeli Estate vineyard in Alexander Valley and the McDowell Valley estate. The Angeli Ranch, first planted to vines in the late 1880s, is a 35 acre vineyard connecting Zinfandel planted on gravel swales from the Russian River to terraced knolls planted with Cabernet. Foggy mornings along the Russian River burn off to hot afternoons followed by chilly nights, striking the perfect balance between warm days and cool nights. The McDowell Valley estate, situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, benefits from the cold sink that ensure cools nights and preserves acidity and freshness.

Winemaking

A unique approach of cool fermentations and 12 months of neutral barrel aging emphasize freshness in Marietta’s Zinfandel. This varietally labelled Zinfandel (92%) is supported by a small amount of structure from blending in 4% Petite Sirah and a savory wildness from 4% of Barbera.

Vintage

2021’s extremely cold and dry winter coupled with a windy spring made for a lighter yielding crop and small berries. These tiny clusters and berries went through the mild growing season with accelerated ripeness and made for a darker more intense wine. Harvest happened a week early across all varietals. Flavors were riper, denser, and showcased more red fruit then other vintages. This was a stellar growing season and the resultant wines are fresh and bright now but are built to age gracefully.

Tasting Note

“Named after our Cellarmaster, Román Cisneros, this Estate Zinfandel is from our vineyards in Alexander Valley and the McDowell Valley. Notes of white pepper and sage, enliven the core of pomegranate, cranberry and orange zest in this bright, lively Zinfandel. Breadth and darkness come through as briar patch and tobacco leaf, with flint and wet stone adding complexity. Grippy and clean on the palate, with chalk and almond underpinning the ripe strawberry, this is not your typical Zinfandel from California. Dark chocolate and crushed mint lead into drying/textured tannins for a long finish.” – Scot Bilbro, Winemaker

Food Pairing

The Román Zinfandel pairs well with pizzas, pastas, grilled foods, and tangy, smoky barbecue sauces.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Barbera, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel

Appellation

North Coast, California

Farming

The Román Zinfandel is made from 100% estate fruit, all of which is organically farmed

Alcohol

14.8%

Suggested Retail Price

$27

Reviews

95

"Kaleidoscopic yellow peaches, strawberries and raspberries."

Wine Advocate - October 23, 2023 “The 2021 Román Zinfandel is juicy, alluring and easy to drink without sacrificing complexity, offering tremendous quality for its modest price. Blended with 4% Petite Sirah and 4% Barbera, the nose is bursting with kaleidoscopic yellow peaches, strawberries and raspberries plus nuances of sage, aniseed and Angostura bitters. The medium-bodied palate has a finely chalky frame, fireworks of fresh acidity and generous layers of spicy fruit that call you back for another sip..”- E.B. 10/23 

Trade Materials

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Marietta Cellars Román Zinfandel Bottle Shot

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