Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa 2018 (75cl, 16.3%)

Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa 2018 is a 100% Zinfandel from Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 16.3% ABV in a 750ml bottle. In 1994, Lee Martinelli grafted budwood from the century-old Jackass Hill vines onto low-vigor rootstocks and planted them on a rocky knoll at roughly 2,000 vines per acre. The wine is fermented in 100% neutral French oak with full malolactic conversion and daily bâtonnage, then aged for 11 months in a mix of 40% new and 60% neutral French oak. The nose opens with candied cherry and boysenberry preserves, then Earl Grey tea, pipe tobacco and sweet leather. The palate is dense and juicy, with concentrated raspberry, black plum and bright red cherry framed by black pepper and subtle brown-sugar sweetness; the finish is long, with lingering boysenberry, baking spice and dark cocoa.