Cuvée Romanissa

Romanissa '12 had been on my wish list for a very long time. Until now, I had only tasted the '21, which quickly became one of my favorite bottles from Matassa. After savoring Rouge '14, I thought it couldn't get any better, but tasting Romanissa '12 proved me wrong---it's unquestionably among the best wines I've enjoyed this year.

This wine is nothing short of amazing. It features a gorgeous, nuanced, and sophisticated nose with notes of tapenade, cherry, spices, red flowers, and earth. On the palate, it is vibrant and tannic, yet perfectly balanced with great juiciness and a strong mineral backbone. The texture is velvety, round, and beautifully developed.

Before this experience, I wondered if it made sense to age Matassa wines. After this tasting, I am convinced that it does. I'm certain--Matassa is brilliant. All you need is a bit of patience.