Martinelli, 'Vigneto di Evo' Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, 2022

Overview of the Wine
The Martinelli Family has been growing grapes and making wine in the Russian River Valley since the late 1880s. As 5th generation stewards of some of the finest vineyards in the region, they’re proud to continue this legacy of hands-on farming, bringing decades of experience to everything they do.

Their primary goal has always been hand-crafting quality wines that are born in their estate vineyards. All of their grapes are Estate grown, allowing us to use only their favorite blocks for each vineyard designated wine. They have a commitment to quality and have never offered for sale a wine that they felt did not live up to the reputation and expectations of its label. They also try to maintain a sense of consistency with each vintage, while still allowing the true nature of the vineyard to shine through. These wines are limited production and each vineyard is hand farmed very carefully, producing only the finest quality fruit.

Winemaker
Courtney Robinett Wagoner

Grape / Blend
Zinfandel

Origin
Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California

Winemaker's Tasting Note
The 2022 growing season was full of ups and downs, keeping our winemaking team on their toes. The season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

This wine is wonderfully complex in the nose with aromas of red plum compote, raspberries, and dried mission figs. An energetic entry with juicy black plum flavors seamlessly transitions from mid palate to finish coated with dark chocolate shavings.

92 Points - CT

Product size: 750ml