2003 Martinelli Chardonnay Charles Ranch
International Wine Cellar | Rating: 90
($40; 15.3% alcohol) Bright yellow. Sappy, ripe nose showcases orchard fruits. More nervy and more minerally than the Woolsey Road example, with excellent acidity and very good grip. At once dense and lively.Author: Stephen TanzerIssue: May/June 2005Wine Spectator | Rating: 87
Spice and golden apple aromas lead to a firm, tightly knit core of flavors, finishing with a dash of nutmeg and a coarse texture that should mellow with time.Author: James LaubeWine Advocate | Rating: 94
The 2003 Chardonnay Charles Ranch, from a three-acre vineyard on the Sonoma Coast, is a concentrated, full-throttle Chardonnay with notes of buttered popcorn, pear, and white flowers, especially honeysuckle. A full-bodied, locked-and-loaded, exuberant Chardonnay, it is thick and rich, and seems to be one of the finest the Martinellis have yet made, possibly eclipsing the brilliant 2002.Author: Robert Parker
Self | Rating: 87
How this wine can hold its power for so long is beyond me...well, maybe not (cough, alcohol, cough). Seriously disappointing as everything but the alcohol and the 'touch' of oak has sputtered out. Drink yesterday or for a fun experiment, hold for 15 years.Drink Dates: 2006-2008Author: JMC22
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
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.
Collector Data For This Wine
- 76 bottles owned
- 25 collectors
- Average collector rating: 87
(Out of 25 collectors)