2003 Martinelli Chardonnay Charles Ranch
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Tasting notes
(15.3% alcohol) Bright yellow. Sappy, ripe nose showcases orchard fruits. More nervy and more minerally than the Woolsey Road example, with excellent acidity and very good grip. At once dense and lively.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2003 Chardonnay Charles Ranch, from a three-acre vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, is a concentrated, full-throttle Chardonnay with notes of buttered popcorn, pear, and white flowers, especially honeysuckle. A full-bodied, locked-and-loaded, exuberant Chardonnay, it is thick and rich, and seems to be one of the finest the Martinellis have yet made, possibly eclipsing the brilliant 2002. It should last for 4-5 years. Tel. (707) 525-0570; Fax (707) 525-9463
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.