Slightly murky dark plum. Tons of darker fruit flavor, but with time many of these big pinots get a bit disjointed with the alcohol (15.5%) coming to the fore. A big, unapologetic Pinot, full of flavor. I’d serve on the cool side with a half hour of air.
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Opened for at least 30 minutes before we poured it. At a NYC Steak dinner for 11 people with 8 wines, we had this before the food arrived, and it didn't last long. All that was left was fumes! The Moonshine Ranch is always on of my favorite Martinelli Pinot Noirs.
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Blind tasting, 15 people. All of the wine bottle labels were covered with tape, and we had 2 bottles of each of the following, in order: 2009 Martinelli Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard Sea Ridge Meadow, 2013 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch, 2010 The Table Pinot Noir, 2010 Martinelli Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard, and the 2011 Martinelli Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch. All of the wines were opened, but not decanted 30 minutes before we started trying them. The last wine was probably open for 90 minutes before we tried it. The Table Pinot was poured into empty Martinelli bottles, to make ID'ing them harder, so those wines got a little more air.
My 2nd favorite Pinot of the night. A little lighter than the Bondi, and also from a weaker vintage.
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Martinelli Tasting (North Loop, Minneapolis, MN): The best of the 3 Pinots and a bad vintage. I will be buying "bad vintages" from Cali in regards to Pinot as they won't be so hot and ripe. Earth, spice, cranberry, underbrush and floral notes. Medium finish and good acidity.
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Drinking well already. Medium dark fruit, smooth with well balanced tannins Finished in a 9 person 4 Pinot blind tasting. 1st 2011 Hirsch Reserve Sonoma, 2nd 2011 Atticus WV then 4th 2010 Ken Wright Freedom Hill
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Generally speaking I really like Martinelli wines but this was a bit disappointing. The wine had some sweet berries on the nose but the palate was a little weak for a wine of this pedigree. Some cherry and smoke on the palate but they seem to fade.
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The color is garnet with hints of violet, is dense but translucent. The smells are sassafras, sour cherry, smokiness, cinnamon, clove, and earth. The tatses are sweet cherry, cinnamon, peppery spices, earthy mushroom, and herbal tea notes. The finish is zingy and lengthy. This wine is complex and delicious.
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I've never had the guts(?) to open up a Martinelli wine until holding it for at least a year (or more mostly) after its release...but tonight I was bold and opened this bottle which wa delivered to my doorstep earlier today. What a great surprise too...this wine is a wonderful blend of fresh fruit (but not too fresh), nice (slight) minerality and a wonderful mouthfeel and finish. This is delicious and ready to enjoy now...a nice teaser for what's to come from the bounty of Martinelli Pinot, Zin, Syrah and even Chardonnay that are taking their sweet time to mature in my cellar.
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6/27/2019 - cos65 Likes this wine:
Slightly murky dark plum.
Tons of darker fruit flavor, but with time many of these big pinots get a bit disjointed with the alcohol (15.5%) coming to the fore. A big, unapologetic Pinot, full of flavor.
I’d serve on the cool side with a half hour of air.
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8/28/2018 - tfesmgk Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was a great Pinot. Darker fruit than many Martinelli’s with a bit of tannin. Loved it.
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3/12/2017 - Pquaker wrote: 93 Points
Aromatic. Drinking very nicely right now. Not thinned out yet. Jammy. Silky.
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12/23/2016 - rgkresek wrote: 92 Points
Still tasting great
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10/25/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened for at least 30 minutes before we poured it. At a NYC Steak dinner for 11 people with 8 wines, we had this before the food arrived, and it didn't last long. All that was left was fumes! The Moonshine Ranch is always on of my favorite Martinelli Pinot Noirs.
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4/3/2016 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Blind tasting, 15 people. All of the wine bottle labels were covered with tape, and we had 2 bottles of each of the following, in order: 2009 Martinelli Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard Sea Ridge Meadow, 2013 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch, 2010 The Table Pinot Noir,
2010 Martinelli Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard, and the 2011 Martinelli Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch. All of the wines were opened, but not decanted 30 minutes before we started trying them. The last wine was probably open for 90 minutes before we tried it. The Table Pinot was poured into empty Martinelli bottles, to make ID'ing them harder, so those wines got a little more air.
My 2nd favorite Pinot of the night. A little lighter than the Bondi, and also from a weaker vintage.
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9/22/2014 - galewskj wrote: 91 Points
Rich, ipe, but not acid to be balanced. There was a dry cloying finish, and significant tannin for a pinot.
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9/17/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
Martinelli Tasting (North Loop, Minneapolis, MN): The best of the 3 Pinots and a bad vintage. I will be buying "bad vintages" from Cali in regards to Pinot as they won't be so hot and ripe. Earth, spice, cranberry, underbrush and floral notes. Medium finish and good acidity.
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8/17/2014 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking well already. Medium dark fruit, smooth with well balanced tannins Finished in a 9 person 4 Pinot blind tasting. 1st 2011 Hirsch Reserve Sonoma, 2nd 2011 Atticus WV then 4th 2010 Ken Wright Freedom Hill
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3/11/2014 - bzell Likes this wine: 90 Points
Generally speaking I really like Martinelli wines but this was a bit disappointing. The wine had some sweet berries on the nose but the palate was a little weak for a wine of this pedigree. Some cherry and smoke on the palate but they seem to fade.
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1/28/2014 - grapist wrote: 90 Points
Very palatable cough syrup. Or perhaps liquified cherry pie. Those tastes finish long.
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12/29/2013 - hackey37 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The color is garnet with hints of violet, is dense but translucent. The smells are sassafras, sour cherry, smokiness, cinnamon, clove, and earth. The tatses are sweet cherry, cinnamon, peppery spices, earthy mushroom, and herbal tea notes. The finish is zingy and lengthy. This wine is complex and delicious.
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11/15/2013 - Tom Warden Likes this wine: 93 Points
I've never had the guts(?) to open up a Martinelli wine until holding it for at least a year (or more mostly) after its release...but tonight I was bold and opened this bottle which wa delivered to my doorstep earlier today. What a great surprise too...this wine is a wonderful blend of fresh fruit (but not too fresh), nice (slight) minerality and a wonderful mouthfeel and finish. This is delicious and ready to enjoy now...a nice teaser for what's to come from the bounty of Martinelli Pinot, Zin, Syrah and even Chardonnay that are taking their sweet time to mature in my cellar.
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