2005 Martinelli Chardonnay Charles Ranch
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Tasting notes
Light gold. Fresh, precise scents of orange, floral honey, anise and ginger, deepened by a gently smoky note. More weighty on the palate, with ripe tangerine and pear flavors and a dense, chewy texture. Ripe and fleshy on the finish, with a lingering note of candied ginger.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Chardonnay Charles Ranch has a medium straw color. A crisp, elegant wine with a tannic structure, it is powerful, rich, and long, with hints of quince, marmalade, and wet stones. This full-bodied, structured Chardonnay should be even better with another year of bottle-age and last for 5-6 years. Kudos to the Martinelli family, one of the great old winemaking families of Northern California. (They also produce exquisite apples as well.) Previously recommended: 2004 Chardonnay Charles Ranch (91); 2004 Chardonnay Martinelli Road (94); 2004 Chardonnay Woolsey Road (92); 2004 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch (89?); 2004 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge (92); 2004 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard (89); 2004 Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch (92); 2004 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch (90); 2004 Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa (93); 2004 Jackass Vineyard (93); 2004 Jackass Hill Vineyard (95) 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.