Louis Martini, Zinfandel Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine, Sonoma Valley
Louis Martini · California › Sonoma Valley › United States of America
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90
/100
Reviews
23
professional
Vintages
No vintages
NV
Community Reviews
2323
Reviews
90.4
Avg Score
95
Highest
Taster #1865
· Sep 30, 2025
95/100
Tasted blind, did not identify it as Zin, but was an absolutely amazing wine, deep blackberry, cherry, chocolate, graphite, amazing mouth feel, great structure, very long lingering finish, a real crowd pleaser, a little exotic, but very enjoyable
2018 vintage
Taster #1865
· Feb 15, 2025
94/100
Loved this wine, one of the best Zins I have ever had, my introduction to wine in 1975 wasZins, deep dark blackberry, plum, spice, smoke, firm structure, long lingering finish, vines planted in 1893, can not believe this was 15.9%, completely hidden in the enormous fruit, I need to find more.
2018 vintage
Taster #4130
· Jul 7, 2024
92/100
Nothing austere about this one. Really a classic Zin, big flavors but still elegant and well balanced between fruit, alcohol and tannins. Sumptuous extract of dark berry flavors with a long lasting finish. No heat, hides its 15.9% alcohol behind a wall of fruit. Really lives up to the reputation of the Monte Rosso hillside vineyard. Drinking beautifully right now with use of an aerator when pouring right from the bottle.
2018 vintage
Taster #4925
· Nov 7, 2021
90/100
Strawberry jam
2018 vintage
Taster #7911
· Sep 13, 2015
91/100
very fruit forward with raspberries and other dark red fruit
2006 vintage
Taster #6783
· Nov 10, 2014
89/100
Rich, fruit driven and big. Tannins have integrated nicely, medium acid. Chocolate covered raisins and cedar. This is a nice example of a bigger zin style, but a touch too extracted for me. I don't see this going down hill anytime soon, but not sure if further aging will improve.
2006 vintage
Taster #2078
· Jan 25, 2014
90/100
Nose - blackberries, chassis, raspberry Taste - dark berries, coffee, dark chocolate, French oak
2006 vintage
Taster #5276
· Jan 10, 2014
91/100
As a big fan of Monte Rosso vineyard, I always get excited when a bottle of any varietal shows up to taste. To my palate, this wine is incredible. Those 100 plus year old vines at 1000' on the east side of Sonoma Valley have an earthy rustic flavor that is unique and easy to distinguish. This 2009 is almost perfectly ripe, not jammy or hot considering the 15% alcohol. The color is inky dark. The nose has an herbal, …
2009 vintage
Taster #2037
· Apr 28, 2013
86/100
Sweet red and dark fruit.
2009 vintage
Taster #8034
· Mar 25, 2012
86/100
There is much better out there
2006 vintage
Taster #8034
· Mar 3, 2012
89/100
Drink up on its way out
2006 vintage
Taster #4710
· Nov 20, 2011
89/100
Way different then the big fruit zins tasted with this offering. Integrated and balanced throughout with a little oak in the finish. This wine might be at peak and drinking great now.
2006 vintage
Taster #2800
· Nov 20, 2011
89/100
Wine pairing dinner (Brian and Julie Z's) : Tasted by mmoss on 11/20/2011 & rated 89 points: Way different then the big fruit zins tasted with this offering. Integrated and balanced throughout with a little oak in the finish. This wine might be at peak and drinking great now.
2006 vintage
Taster #6322
· Jun 23, 2011
92/100
A fragrant and oaky nose. After 1hour of of decanting, this very complex high-elevation Zin exhibits rich blackberries, currants and soft oak overtones. The almost perfect integration of blackberries and currant with oak makes this wine drink like a Cab. A long lingering finish closes this beautifully integrated wine. Definitely not your ordinary Zinfandel.
2006 vintage
Taster #4683
· Jan 7, 2011
89/100
A wild, structured zinfandel. This starts off as very rough, reticent with its fruit, showing a lot of stemminess and woody tannins that dry out on the finish. With a couple hours of airtime, it really smooths out, gains body and fruit; and makes for a contemplatative, albeit burly, wine. Plum, sweet tobacco, and underbrush on the nose. Wild berry flavors are spicy, peppery, and generous; but those woody tannins definitely linger. Hold for further resolution.
2006 vintage
Taster #9887
· Dec 11, 2010
91/100
Still an awesome bottle of zin from a producer who is oftern overlooked these days by "serious" wine people.
2006 vintage
Taster #1922
· Dec 4, 2010
92/100
15% alcohol. Expressive red fruit aromas. Cherries, strawberry, bramble and spice on the palate. Very well balanced, a loooong finish. Very, very nice. From one of the world's greatest and most distinctive vineyards, planted in the 1880s. This vineyard is distinguished not just by its age, but by its elevation (1000') and charactistic red soil. The vines were originally planted in 1886. An special year - Charles Hall files a patent for his process of turning aluminium oxide into molten …
2006 vintage
Taster #7539
· Oct 3, 2010
91/100
This was chosen best among three blind zins... great balance and structure, with layered fruit and generous spice.
2006 vintage
Taster #8811
· May 15, 2010
91/100
It had that dusty berry character I find in Napa Zin and sometimes Cabs with some very nice fruit as well. Strangely enough this wine was from the original Monte Rosso plantings back in the 1880's so it wasn't even from Napa.
2006 vintage
Taster #9887
· May 15, 2010
91/100
drinking wonderfully right now, not a subtle zin, but then zin's shouldn't be subtle. Wish I had a few more in the cellar still.
2006 vintage
Taster #9887
· Jan 31, 2010
91/100
loads of spice and dark fruit, a little rough around the edges, but still a great zin.
2006 vintage
Taster #0695
· Nov 10, 2009
91/100
Fabulous bottle of zin - one of the best I've ever had. Drinks well solo and tonight drank well with short ribs.
2006 vintage
Taster #1256
· Sep 26, 2009
90/100
A nice restrained zin. A lot of nose and a lot of fruit initially on the palate. Layers of tobacco and spice come with some open time. This zin has a very long satisfying finish.
2006 vintage