2012 Martinelli Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Savoury, with earthy even loamy elements. Red fruits with toast and char accents, and a touch of crisp apple through the finish. A more delicate structure than the other Martinelli Pinots, with a lighter finish. Shows heat from the vintage. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The largest production (620 cases) cuvée is the 2012 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch. This sees about 85% new oak and comes from Dijon clones 667, 777, 115 as well as the Calera selection, which is believed to have been taken from one of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vineyards many years ago. A dense plum/purple color is accompanied by a sweet, juicy nose of blackberries, graphite, licorice and forest floor. This complex, Côte de Nuits-styled, full-bodied, powerful, rich Pinot Noir carries its lofty alcohol beautifully without a trace of heat. Enjoy this lush, succulent, concentrated 2012 over the next decade or more.
(15.5% alcohol, the highest of this year's pinot releases here): Vivid ruby-red. Raspberry liqueur, Asian spices, vanilla and smoky minerals on the intensely perfumed, expansive nose. Juicy and deeply concentrated, offering palate-coating flavors of red berry preserves, cola, spicecake and floral pastilles. Finishes with strong mineral thrust, plush tannins and lingering spiciness. Not for those who prefer their pinots in a subdued style, that's for sure.
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.