August 16, 2023 - Great fruit and not really noticeable high alcohol content. Soft and fully mature. Time to drink up as IMO this will not get better than it is today.
February 14, 2020 - Gave this two hours of air (last time I did a 24-hour slow ox in the bottle) and served it with Baby back ribs. A magic combination - no heat, and all fruit. I have a couple of bottles left and will consume these soon, as this was delightful and won't improve.
June 30, 2019 - Needed 24 hours of slow ox in the bottle after which this was delightful
June 10, 2018 - This proves that Zinfandel can age. Mouth coating feel, and a kind of fake sweetness. Big but restrained. Definitely zin but without the heat or overt fruitiness.
August 1, 2016 - Appearance: Bright and clear, it has medium ruby color, with wide fading garnet rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, with medium intensity aromas of black fruit of plum, blackberry and bramble, red fruit of strawberry and raspberry, maturity notes of sweet tobacco, animal notes of meaty, oak notes of vanilla and butterscotch, dried fruit of raisin, sweet spice of star anise, pungent spice of white pepper. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium (-) acidity, the wine has medium tannin of ripe and velvety texture, with high alcohol and medium body, medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit of plum and blackberry, dried fruit of raisin, oak notes of vanilla, sweet spice of cinnamon, animal notes of meaty. The wine has a medium (+) finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality Zinfandel from Russian River Valley, the wine has a highly complex nose of good intensity, and despite the extremely high alcohol level, there is no any burning or even warming sensation upon drinking, with such a great balance in the fruit and flavors with the alcohol and body that is phenomenal. The good concentration in flavors and fairly long finish makes it even more exceptional. Certainly the best Zinfandel I have ever tasted. It is ready to drink now but can maintain for another 3-5 years.
April 30, 2016 - Purple color with a bouquet and flavor that was "essence of raisin." The wine was big-bodied and chewy with an alcohol content that was hard to hide (over 16%). This wine was probably off the edge, even for someone like me who favors clearly etched flavors and wines with real body. It was nevertheless memorable.
April 19, 2015 - Dinner Party Blind Tasting - This wine surprised me. My previous bottle was somewhat disjunct and showed some heat. Not this one. Although it wasn't mine, it was the WOTN for about half of the group. Very enjoyable.
October 13, 2014 - The wow factor claimed by others to be missing is there; just needs time in the cellar to subdue the high alcohol/acid content. Drinking beautifully with even more aging potential. Do not be alarmed by the unusual color when pouring. Think of a giant pinot on steroids. This wine as soft, sweet red berries oozing from every pore with a hoisin-like spicy, black pepper finish. One hell of a flavor combination. Served two bottles to guests paired with smoked chicken. Very well received! All in all, a very unique wine experience.
August 16, 2014 - Medium scarlet purple. Rich red raspberry fruit with a healthy dose if alcohol, but didn't seem too hot, with a sweet ripe finish
September 3, 2012 - Surprisingly light. Looked more like a pinot in the glass. Very understated with some heat on the end. Very atypical for a zin and not similar to the other Martinelli zins I have had.