2016 Martinelli Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 91.8 points

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  9/27/2020 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Nice lemon curd and apple notes in a medium weight wine

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  8/25/2020 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points

  I must admit that most of my samplings from Martinelli have been of their red wines, more specifically, their Zins; I especially have been an admirer of the Giuseppe & Luisa Zin. While roaming the aisles of a local wine shop my eyes were directed to one of those yellow stickers predominantly placed near the price of the wine. This time it was in the Chardonnay aisle, one of my favorites, and with the sale price of right around 30% off, I was intrigued.
  
  Russian River Chard, 2016 Vintage, and one reviewer scoring it a whopping 95 Points; done and done.
  
  Martinelli’s website, nor any other I could find, gave much info about how the wine was made, Oak aging, fermentation, etc. I shall try my best to give you my thinking, but what do I know, except drinking the stuff?
  
  Right off the bat, you get whiffs of lemon along with a slight nuttiness and just a hint of butter. Once drawn in to taste, it reveals itself as bright with nice acid, maybe little to no malo, that same hint of lemon along with apple and an oh-so wisp of nuttiness. Tell tail vanillin and butterscotch notes make me think either a combination of American and French, or predominantly American oak usage. That’s made more evident by the creamy finish the wine provides.
  
  Anyone have any other inclinations as to how the wine was made, I’m all ears. That’s kinda funny cause when I was a youngster, I thought I had ears like Dumbo the elephant.
  
  No matter how it was made, it was a very enjoyable wine. A little more in that New World style versus Burgundian, but a wine that I would most hardily recommend. My guess is that 2016 is long gone and a newer vintage has taken over, but with their winemaking team, I’m sure any vintage will right up there among the great wines.
  
  Cheers

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  7/5/2019 - seijaro Likes this wine: 94 Points

  A big one in the full Martinelli style... a lovely Chard for those who like the New World treatment, as we do. Full and buttery, but with a crisp varietal character and stiff backbone. Send it in!
  
  12/22/2019 Another bottle with baked brie and apple sandwiches for lunch... still 94 and a beauty. Less evident oak, so a bit more European in style. A terrific Chard, too bad it's our last one :(

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  5/3/2019 - EpochMD Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Tasted @ Martinelli: beautiful nose, bit of spice, floral, lemon, mineral, palate follows, bold given the color which is pale yellow, lemon curd, long finish, excellent acid balance.

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  4/10/2019 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 92 Points

  This is another well crafted wine from Martinelli. 92 on day one and 94 by day four. High alcohol but no heat. On the nose Myers lemon and honey suckle. A big bunch of flavor on the pallet, Rich, oaky, melons and ripe grapes. Enjoy!

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