2005 Martinelli Syrah Hop Barn Hill
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Tasting notes
Saturated ruby. Explosively aromatic bouquet encompasses dark berries, black olive, cracked pepper, cured meat and musky floral scents; this is utterly captivating. Lush and seemingly sweet, with intensely concentrated blackberry and cassis flavors given depth by tapenade and bitter chocolate, all wrapped in velvety tannins. Finishes on a youthfully tannic note, with a hint of black tea. This carries its 16.3% alcohol effortlessly and is a superb example of syrah, from anywhere.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Syrah Hop Barn Hill (16.5% alcohol) is a very limited cuvee, only 49 cases, hence the limited notes. Bacon fat notes intermixed with blackberry jam and cassis jump from the glass of this smoky, full-throttle, pedal-to-the-metal, inky/purple-colored wine. Drink it over the next 7-10 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.