2014 Martinelli Syrah Hop Barn Hill
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Tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Syrah Hop Barn Hill opens with meaty/gamey notes with nuances of tar, black pepper, licorice and roses over a core of blackberry and plum preserves. Packed with opulent, gregarious black fruit compote and spicy layers on the full-bodied palate, it has a solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and peppery. Only 88 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Syrah Hop Barn Hill is the most varietally expressive of the Syrahs I tasted. Black pepper, spice, licorice, tobacco and lavender wrap around a core of inky dark-fleshed fruit. The flavors and textures are beautifully woven together, but it is the wine's persistence and poise that are most remarkable. This site, just behind the Martinelli winery, is the source of the estate's first Syrah. This is superb juice.
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.