2023 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Hill Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The Zinfandel produced from Martinelli’s more than 130-year-old Jackass Hill Vineyard is always one of my favorites, and 2023 produced a particularly elegant, expressive example. The 2023 Zinfandel Jackass Hill unfurls from the glass dramatically, segueing from strawberry, raspberry and blueberry aromas to nuances of hibiscus, tea leaves, botanicals and bitters. The palate is bursting with waves of perfumed fruit, while its silky texture and mouthwatering acidity offer a sense of weightlessness. It has a long, detailed finish and should be very long lived in the cellar. 140 cases were made.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
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The 2023 Zinfandel Jackass Hill has notes of ripe apricots, fresh flowers, and sweet cedar. Full-bodied, the palate is ripe and silky with a rounded feel. It’s long on the palate and has a supple ripeness. Drink: 2025-2040. There’s a lot of history behind this vineyard; planted in the 1880s, Jackass Hill is the only vineyard that Giuseppe Martinelli planted that is still in use, with vines over 130 years old. One of the most historic names in Sonoma, the Martinellis are sixth-generation winegrowers based in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Prolific farmers, all of their wines come from estate-grown fruit, with 90% of the grapes sold off to other wineries. In addition to focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they also produce Zinfandel, Syrah, and Muscat of Alexandria. Courtney Robinett Wagoner joined the team in 2015 as the assistant winemaker before being promoted to winemaker in 2017.
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.