2021 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard comes from the oldest vineyard owned by the Martinellis—head-pruned vines were already planted there when the family originally purchased the property in 1889. It's detailed and expressive, with continually unfurling scents of wild berries, tobacco, mushrooms and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate offers tremendously concentrated, spicy fruit balanced by mouthwatering acidity and approachable, grainy tannins, and the long, layered finish has a sense of latency that suggests this will mature gracefully over the next 10 to 15+ years. 331 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard is laced with dark red/black fruit, leather, licorice, dried herbs and spice. It is an especially savory Zinfandel with plenty of complexity, but perhaps a bit less overt fruit than most of the other Zinfandel bottlings. This is such a distinctive wine.
A medium opaque ruby, the 2021 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard is more complex, with aromas of red cherry liqueur, leather, and layers of spices and wild herbs. Medium-bodied, it has good concentration and a lifted feel, with good focus and energy, outstanding length, and persistent notes of mocha, ripe red berries, and flowers coursing through the finish. Drink 2024-2040. One of the most historic names in Sonoma, the Martinellis are sixth-generation winegrowers based in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Prolific farmers, all of their wines come from estate-grown fruit, with 90% of the grapes sold off to other wineries. In addition to focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they also produce Zinfandel, Syrah, and Muscat of Alexandria. Courtney Robinett Wagoner joined the team in 2015 as the assistant winemaker before being promoted to winemaker in 2017.
About the producer
Martinelli is a Sonoma benchmark for vineyard-designate bottlings—wines built to highlight how strongly a single site can shape Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Across the range, the focus stays consistent: small-production bottlings that feel distinctly tied to where they’re grown.