2016 Martinelli Chardonnay Charles Ranch
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Chardonnay Charles Ranch is creamy and racy in the glass, with a real sense of oiliness that is incredibly distinctive. Apricot, lightly honeyed notes, marzipan, orchard fruit and dried flowers all add shades of nuance to this super-expressive Wente clone Chardonnay.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Charles Ranch Chardonnay has a youthfully subdued nose of citrus peel, stone and white pit fruits with yeasty hints. Medium-bodied and creamy in the mouth, it gives pure apple and peach fruit with good freshness and a long, textured finish. 130 cases were made.
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.