Keplinger, Zio Tony Vineyard, Chardonnay, California, 2023

 Overview of the Winery
"In 2004, I moved to the Priorat region in Spain to start the winery for a group of partners who had purchased a vineyard there. Over the next three years of living there full-time and then traveling back and forth from Napa Valley, I became steeped in the culture, lifestyle, food and wines.

My husband, DJ, visited me often and we traveled throughout southern France, the Languedoc, and the Rhone. We became even bigger fans of the regional wines, as well as the complete Mediterranean way of life – the kitchen gardens, local fresh food, anything slathered in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt – all of which are enhanced by the delicious, food-friendly wines. These wines and ideals are a big part of our lives in Napa, so it was only natural to begin our wine project with California Grenache and Syrah, and vineyards that would allow them to touch their full potential.

Great wine is only possible from great vineyards – we select vineyards, farm grapes, and make wine by this mantra.

At our core, we are wine lovers, and we thoroughly enjoy the process of seeking out exceptional vineyards ideal for a specific varietal, and farming for the highest quality. We sweat the details with pleasure – focusing on small quantities made from small wine lots, respecting and responding to the uniqueness of each site and year. Working hard but with finesse, we believe in gentle winemaking to create wines of balance and complexity that are true to their varietal and speak of their terroir and provenance."

• Helen Keplinger and DJ Warner

Winemaker
Helen Keplinger

Grape / Blend
Chardonnay

Origin
Amador County, California

Winemaker Tasting Notes
Owned by the Martinelli family since 1959, the family, the vineyard's goldridge soil and the Wente clone of Chardonnay represent the holy grail in California. Tony (Uncle Tony), was Lee Martinelli Sr.'s uncle, Tony Bondi, who was the first in the Bondi family to be born on American soil. Zio Tony was the son of Paolo Antoni Bondi and Adele Gemma Cardellini, who emigrated from Italy in the early 1900’s and immediately set up farming potatoes. Tony was the entrepreneur of the family and began buying individual properties in the 1950’s and planting apple trees, eventually establishing the largest apple orchard in the county. The late 1960’s brought changes in tourists and a population growth that would drastically affect the production of agricultural products in the region. It became apparent to Uncle Tony that farming apples in this part of the world would have its eventual decline. So, he planted rootstock on which he planned to graft Pinot Noir cuttings, and thus the Martinelli family wine legacy began. We've had a long friendship with fifth generation George Martinelli, who in 2022, offered us a historic part of his ranch - 34 year-old Wente Clone Chardonnay vines on prized goldridge soil. The 2023 Chardonnay from Zio Tony Vineyard has an enticing tightly-wound nose of oyster shell, pastry flour, Warren pear, fresh lemon curd, thyme blossom, and honeysuckle. The palate possesses an ideal balance of weight and drive, with flavors of green pear, chamomile, blanched almond, Buddha’s hand overlaying a pastry flour mineral texture, bright acidity, and a mile long finish. This delicious wine has great tension and precision – a wine to have or to hold. 

95 Points - James Suckling
Aromas of lemon confit, salted nuts, lime leaves and fresh pineapple. The palate is mid-weighted with bright and focused acidity and a rounded yet refined mouthfeel. Aged in 20% new French oak for 17 months. Delicious. Drink or hold.

Product size: 750ml