The high alcohol level just overwhelms this wine. Martinelli has gone way too far on ripeness for all their wines. As a long time customer I no longer have interest in this style of wine. Too bad, as a bit of restraint would really help balance their wines.
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Upside: velvet, classic aromas, still plenty of life, certainly out of the ordinary. Downside: what’s with the high alcohol? Medium weight, long finish.
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Similar to previous notes. Nice ruby color. Raspberries and floral in the nose with menthol, earthiness and hints of tobacco. Blueberries, black raspberries and spicy notes in the flavor. Rich, complex, medium to full bodied, nice complexity and a medium to long very smooth finish.
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PnP: Bright red fruited nose with some earthy elements and a strange undertone of paint varnish. More red fruited palate, grapey, somewhat hot (alcoholy) but with a solid long finish. Good balance, though overall on the heavier side. I like all the good elements of this wine (maybe 91) but the off-notes detract significantly. Perhaps will improve after a few hours?
Couple of hours later ... not improving. Bummer.
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Aromas and flavors of dark cherries with a slight earthy tone. Martinelli produces some of the best wines in CA. This pinot ranks up there for a CA pinot. This wine is slightly lighter in body than my preference (for a CA heavy pinot, try Famous Gate by Domaine Carneros), but this wine serves as a mild pinot so works well with baked chicken, salmon, and pork dishes. Good for PNP and consuming on the patio.
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Lovely bottle served PnP at room temp, basically to myself as all had other drinks. Easy to devour 3/4th of the bottle shamefully quickly. Delicious, smooth, upfront and lasting flavor/complexities, somewhat bold yet nothing overpowering at this stage, time may be doing this justice.
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Lovely and supple red fruit. Opened quickly with some air in the glass. Elegant and silky with red berries predominating. Gorgeous mouthfeel and medium in weight. Great texture and penetrating flavors. Pretty flawless overall.
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Drinks like a light Zin due to the alcohol content. If you want a rich, over the top style Pinot, this is your puppy. 15.4% and you can taste it. Medium acidity. Drink now-2020. Full of ripe cranberry and cherry.
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Green Valley, 30% nfo, whole cluster. This is the 2014 vintage. 15.6 monster but really doesn't show incredibly hot. big boy pinot with lush rich fruit and body to it.
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11/11/2023 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar notes as previous tastings. Still performing well and should easily go several more years
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10/23/2023 - Dine&Vine wrote:
The high alcohol level just overwhelms this wine. Martinelli has gone way too far on ripeness for all their wines. As a long time customer I no longer have interest in this style of wine. Too bad, as a bit of restraint would really help balance their wines.
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8/14/2023 - shaferguy91 wrote: 90 Points
Didn't like this as much as previous times. Alcohol level was too high for a pinot.
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5/10/2023 - 1512tnw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Upside: velvet, classic aromas, still plenty of life, certainly out of the ordinary. Downside: what’s with the high alcohol? Medium weight, long finish.
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2/5/2023 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to previous notes. Nice ruby color. Raspberries and floral in the nose with menthol, earthiness and hints of tobacco. Blueberries, black raspberries and spicy notes in the flavor. Rich, complex, medium to full bodied, nice complexity and a medium to long very smooth finish.
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12/27/2022 - Richard P Howden wrote:
PnP: Bright red fruited nose with some earthy elements and a strange undertone of paint varnish. More red fruited palate, grapey, somewhat hot (alcoholy) but with a solid long finish. Good balance, though overall on the heavier side. I like all the good elements of this wine (maybe 91) but the off-notes detract significantly. Perhaps will improve after a few hours?
Couple of hours later ... not improving. Bummer.
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10/3/2022 - JSolo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Silky smooth
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8/7/2022 - Mortgage92 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aromas and flavors of dark cherries with a slight earthy tone. Martinelli produces some of the best wines in CA. This pinot ranks up there for a CA pinot. This wine is slightly lighter in body than my preference (for a CA heavy pinot, try Famous Gate by Domaine Carneros), but this wine serves as a mild pinot so works well with baked chicken, salmon, and pork dishes. Good for PNP and consuming on the patio.
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5/16/2022 - Vinomazing Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely bottle served PnP at room temp, basically to myself as all had other drinks. Easy to devour 3/4th of the bottle shamefully quickly. Delicious, smooth, upfront and lasting flavor/complexities, somewhat bold yet nothing overpowering at this stage, time may be doing this justice.
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3/18/2021 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar notes as previous tastings
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8/23/2020 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
A lovely Pinot with a nice polished texture. Little bit of heat though...
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7/1/2020 - JS199 wrote: 93 Points
Hedonistic and very polished. Everyone loved this, lots of alcohol though.
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4/19/2020 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar notes as previous tastings
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4/10/2020 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
No tasting note.
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1/10/2019 - air guitar & pinot noir Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely and supple red fruit. Opened quickly with some air in the glass. Elegant and silky with red berries predominating. Gorgeous mouthfeel and medium in weight. Great texture and penetrating flavors. Pretty flawless overall.
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9/8/2018 - WineCPA wrote: 91 Points
Drinks like a light Zin due to the alcohol content. If you want a rich, over the top style Pinot, this is your puppy. 15.4% and you can taste it. Medium acidity. Drink now-2020. Full of ripe cranberry and cherry.
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4/10/2018 - Joe Kane wrote:
Green Valley, 30% nfo, whole cluster. This is the 2014 vintage. 15.6 monster but really doesn't show incredibly hot. big boy pinot with lush rich fruit and body to it.
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