92pst Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2022 Román Zinfandel is a blend of 93% Zinfandel, 4% Barbera, 3% Petite Sirah. It has pure, layered scents of apricot, graham cracker, raspberry jam, mossy bark and spice. The palate is light-bodied, soft and juicy with a core of nuanced berry fruit and a mouthwatering, perfumed finish. This is ideal for spicy food!

Tasting Notes

Lovely aromas of berry galette with a touch of crisped brown sugar with added complexity from undernotes of rose petal and orange zest. The broad and gentle palate offers ripe grilled peach and finishes clean with pepper and tangy anise.

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

Winemaker's Notes

Named after Marietta's Cellarmaster, Román Cisneros, this Estate Zinfandel is from their 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.

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

About the Wine

Named in honor of our cellarmaster, Román Cisneros, who has worked at Marietta for over three decades, this Estate Zinfandel is a blend of fruit from our Angeli estate vineyard in Alexander Valley and our McDowell Valley estate vineyard. This wine captures the bright, juicy character of Zinfandel, hearkening back 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.

Román Cisneros, Marietta’s first and oldest employee, is undeniably the backbone of wine production at Marietta Cellars. The Román Zinfandel is a salute to the man who built his legacy from the ground up through more physical work than anyone could ever match, and ultimate dedication to his family. 

About the Winery

Starting with only a handful of purchased grapes in 1978, Marietta Cellars has been a standout winery in Sonoma and Mendocino since the very start. Founded by Chris Bilbro, a Sonoma native with winemaking roots dated back three generations, Marietta rose to prominence with its revolutionary Old Vine Red, and has slowly expanded its estate holdings over the past thirty years, evolving into a beacon for high quality, balanced wines with unique character.

Blend: 93% Zinfandel, 4% Barbera, 3% Petite Sirah

Organic