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  • 2002 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard

2002 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard

UNITED STATES / CALIFORNIA / SONOMA
  • 95 WA
  • 87 WS
  • 93 IWC
  • Variety
    Zinfandel
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SKU: 53649-2002-750

This item is available by the case only

Total:
$90.00

This is a final sale item

Not eligible for cancellations or refunds

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  • International Wine Cellar | Rating: 93

    ($50) Dark medium ruby. Explosive aromas of black raspberry, game, truffle, smoked meat and roasted nuts. Dense, thick and superripe, with highly concentrated black raspberry and tarry flavors. Boasts an impressive core of liqueur-like fruits without coming across as particularly vibrant. A major mouthful of zinfandel, but more gamey and roasted than berry-driven.
    Author: Stephen Tanzer
    Issue: May/June 2004

  • Wine Spectator | Rating: 87

    A big, rich, ultraripe style that packs a wallop; not for the faint of heart. Intense, rustic and deeply concentrated, the ripeness level veers to sweet, with hints of raisin. Finishes chewy, with the tannins bringing up the rear. 485 cases made.
    Author: James Laube

  • Wine Advocate | Rating: 95

    The brilliant 2002 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard (485 cases of 16.5% material) has a deep ruby/purple color, a big, full-bodied nose that smells like a Moroccan outdoor marketplace, with many exotic spices, huge amounts of sweet currant, and brandy-laced blackberry, plum-like fruit. Some figs enter the picture, and this powerful, individualistic wine is spicy, rich, unctuously textured, and just oh, so long and thrilling to drink.
    Author: Robert Parker
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  • Self | Rating: 96

    Fantastic effort...Kudos to the Martinelli team! Dark fruits, well structured and nice finish. A must try
    Author: Victor

  • Self | Rating:

    was quite good, some of the fruit has faded, liked it a lot, good with grilled beef shish kebabs.
    Author: Steve
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Martinelli Winery is steeped in tradition - the founders were Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini, originally from a village in Tuscany, who eloped as teenagers and landed in Sonoma in 1887. Though resources were scarce, Giuseppe, armed with extensive viticultural knowledge, earned and borrowed enough to purchase a bit of land - the current 60-degree slope which is now known as Jackass Hill Vineyard. The first vines planted were Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria. When Giuseppe passed away in 1918, his youngest son, Leno, just 12 years old, became responsible for tending the family's steep hillside. His family said only a jackass would be stubborn enough to farm that torturous slope and thus, it earned its name.

In 1973 Lee, Sr., Leno's son, took over management of his Uncle Tony Bondi's estate in the Russian River Valley and made his mark as a premium grape grower. He and his wife Carolyn realized the potential of their crops and started their own winery and tasting room in two converted hop barns. A chance meeting with Helen Turley in 1993 introduced a slew of progressive viticultural and cellar practices that catapulted them to the next level.

See other similar producers:Patz & Hall,Brewer-Clifton,Hanzell Vineyards
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California is the heartland of wine production in the US, and the state that brought prestige to American wine thanks to the pioneers who built early wineries like Staglin, Beringer, Ridge, Mayacamas and Chateau Montelena in the 1800s. Its large geographic area ensures a great diversity in growing sites, varieties grown, and quality levels. Generalizations about the state's wines have numerous exceptions; however, a few key facts generally hold true—ample sunshine, dry weather during the growing season, and moderate winters prevail. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to dominate the state's production—albeit in continually smaller percentages, as growers continue to diversify. More than 100 different varieties can be found throughout the state.

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Zinfandel is native to Croatia but today is regarded as California’s signature variety. It is made in a range of styles, the best of which are full-bodied wines with high alcohol and aromas of red and black fruit, dried berry, cardamom, anise, smoke, and black pepper. Look to producers Turley, Martinelli, and Ridge for some of the best examples of California Zin.

Zinfandel’s full body and high alcohol require a strong dish to pair, and curries, spiced barbeque, light meats, and hard cheeses make great choices.
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Collector Data For This Wine

  • 213 bottles owned
  • 89 collectors
  • Average collector rating: 96
    (Out of 89 collectors)