2015 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge is the most reticent of the Martinelli Pinots. The flavors are bright, precise and nuanced, but the Blue Slide does not have the mid-palate depth or unctuousness of the other wines in this range. It will be interesting to see if the 2015 acquires more depth in the bottle. Today, it is a bit compact.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge has an earthy, forest floor, tree bark and black soil-laced nose with a core of black cherries, black berries and sautéed herbs. Truly a Big Bertha of a Pinot, this is one for those with hedonistic tendencies. Packed with black berry, savory earth and dried herb flavors, and framed by firm, chewy tannins, it finishes with epic length and with everything “greatly” balanced. It’s still quite primary and should really be enjoyed after it’s had another 2-3 years in bottle.
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.