Roma's Vineyard was planted high above Anderson Valley by Dean and Suzi Carrell in 1993, using Pommard cuttings from Ted Bennet and Deborah Cahn’s Navarro Vineyards. Roma’s Vineyard is organically farmed and located at 1850 feet above sea level on Lone Tree Ridge, over looking the town of Boonville, and the soil is comprised of Gold Ridge Loam over sandstone.
Winemaker's and Vintners' tasting notes: The intense nose of the 2020 Roma’s is disguised by its pale appearance. Crafted from 100% Pommard clone, the nose reveals aromas of freeze-dried strawberries, pomegranate, and freshly milled cedar. Mouth-filling with generous acidity, flavors of cherry hard candy, hojicha tea leaves, and a touch of creme brûlée reward the drinker.
Try pairing this with a grilled salmon on cedar plank, with a miso glaze to bring out the woodsy and umami notes, respectively. The richness of the oil in the salmon will connect nicely with the fine tannins and complement the pomegranate fruit notes of this mountaintop wine. Drinkable now, but will improve with cellaring over the next 7+ years.
Reviews:
James Suckling, 93 pts: This smoky, peppery-tasting wine has a singular style, wrapping earthy and savory flavors in rather soft tannins. It's broad, earthy and generous in grilled plum, forest floor and beef jus notes that are delicious and different.
Jeb Dunnuck, 90 pts: Only the second vintage of this vineyard-designate, the 2020 Pinot Noir Roma's Vineyard comes from a site 1,850 feet above the valley floor, exposed to the elements. Forest meets mineral-driven red fruit and citrus notes within a medium-bodied density that shows hints of tea and forest. Drink through 2030.
Decanter, 89 pts: A lot is happening with this single-vineyard Pinot Noir, one of the more muscular wines from Waits-Mast in the lineup I tasted. Very grippy tannins form the foundation of this dark, brooding wine, with black cherry, smoky clove, and pithy grapefruit and tangerine peel. The finish is intensely mineral with loads of smoky clove and white pepper. Absolutely the Pinot Noir you want with a peppercorn-encrusted New York Strip.
Vinography: Light to medium ruby in the glass, this wine smells of earth, forest floor, and cherry fruit. In the mouth, that earthy, savory quality continues as dark cherry and forest floor flavors mix with herbs and a hint of licorice root. There’s also an umami saltiness to the wine that lingers in the finish with a hint of bitterness. Faintest of tannins. (12/3/23)
