Martinelli, Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa, Russian River Valley

Rich exotic fruit. Long finish. Drinking great now.

2019 vintage

This is the 2nd one of these I've had; the last one was about three years ago. Tasting notes are consistent, but I don't rate it as high as before as perhaps my tastes have changed. This is very open and attractive, though not so structured and has an an overt, playful sweetness.

2019 vintage

Very nice, especially with a bit of air. Much lighter body than I expected. A little bit boozy but then again I haven't drank much California zin in a while so that's probably par for the course these days anyway. Some tertiary, will wait a couple years for next bottle.

2019 vintage

This guy. Uge apple cin vagine a-la-mode with the vanilla, cream, babyy mushroom/musk melon, plum. Fleshy vs pointed. Alcohol rich. Open/coarked it a few nights ago. More fluid tonight. Whatever bye

2019 vintage

Drinking nicely now & ready to go.

2019 vintage

Outgoing, bright, spicy, zippy, floral. Much alcohol, but didn't bother me.

2019 vintage

A lovely mid-range Martinelli Zin, full of flavor and smooth as silk. Perfect with pizza. 10/26/25 Another bottle with pizza, same review. This is a bargain Zin for lovers of that grape (like us).

2019 vintage

+1 to what bestdamncab said, couldn't agree more. Drinking perfectly right now

2019 vintage

Nose of black berry, black cherry, and plum, same on the palate, big body, rich fruit ripe fruit, very tasty, better the second night, paired with a Burrito and French triple creme cheese, lovely together, easily last another 7 years, peaks in about 4 years, long, long finish, and lovely aftertaste.

2019 vintage

Nose of black berry, black cherry, and plum, heat and intense fruit, almost over the top tonight, on the palate, big body, rich fruit ripe fruit, very tasty, needs a night in the refrigerator to open and show its stuff for tomorrow night, easily last another 7 years, peaks in about 4 years, long, long finish, and lovely aftertaste.

2019 vintage

Plum, blackberry, with nicely integrated oak. Not as tannic as past vintages, but extracted flavors and high alcohol. Long finish.

2019 vintage

Fruit forward and powerful but a bit too sweet. Nose is blackberry with some pepper. Enjoyable in moderation.

2019 vintage

Always consistent and very good. One of my favorite zinfandels.

2019 vintage

OMG this is 16.3% Drank this xmas eve (last bottle of the night). Must've passed out before Santa came down the chimney. No wonder why my head hurt the next day. Don't recall much other than it was BIG. Will take little sips on my next bottle and make sure to taste it sober so I can properly size it up.

2019 vintage

I'm generally not a fan of this higher alcohol over extracted style of wine (and Zinfandel in particular) but we found this bottle to be surprisingly mellow, with nice depth and mouth feel. The dark fruits were more syrah/mouvedre like than brambleberry and the bottle paired well with our chile con carne. Go figure.

2019 vintage

Seriously, not my style. Big fruit, big (extreme) alcohol, to big to compliment anything that you'd want to pair it with, this will overwhelm anything. Last one, never again.

2019 vintage

Crowd pleaser at a restaurant. Virtually every bottle I have had of any vintage of this wine has delivered an elevated experience.

2019 vintage

Was a big hit with some guests over to the house before going out to dinner. They requested a red. The bottle was open for about an hour. I like almost all of the Martinelli Zinfandels, but G & L is elevated above the others.......as it should be. This wine is drinking very well right now.

2019 vintage

Billiets Zin-Tastic Zinfandels (Billiet's Bordelo) : Darker fruited nose, blackberry, faint flowers, slight orange peel and some brambly fruit. Juicy high-toned palate. A very sophisticated Zin. Very nice!

2019 vintage

This was one of the very best zins I've had. Not so spicy, no barnyard feel, this was quite open, enticing and beautiful red fruit with just the right acidity. So expressive and even light on its feet, which I normally don't find with most zins.

2019 vintage

Color hue clarity: clear garnet, not as deep red as a typical zin Aroma bouquet: cherries, berries, pepper, vanilla Taste texture finish balance: plum, chocolate, fruit forward, Jamey, velvet finish, juicy, no tannins, smooth, medium body Overall: 4.5/5, fantastic

2019 vintage

Consistent with prior bottles. This one was a crowd pleaser in a restaurant. Opened for about 45 minutes. Drinking well. Classic Martinelli Zin.

2019 vintage

Pretty good juice. A bit jammy and a bit big. Fun to drink.

2019 vintage

Quick decant. Nose of blackberry, black fruits, mint, anise, and hints of beef broth. Brambly blue fruit palate with gingerbread, Indonesian long pepper, caramelized sugar, and prickly acidity. Lush, soft, pillowy finish provides a landing pad, with blackberry, vanilla bean, and lingering oak barrel. This is a hedonistic wine to drink young.

2019 vintage

Such an amazing wine. Silky tannins, red fruit and milk chocolate. Both my wife and I loved it.

2019 vintage

Clear ruby with a garnet rim Moderate dense crust on the bottle Dense thick alcoholic style. Blind I was I was torn between overblown Amarone, vs old big zin. This continues to have a ton of blackberry fruit and almost drinks more like a port, but is still a table wine. Lovely example if you tolerate the style. Still singing at 21 years and likely lasting a long time more with all the structural elements.

2001 vintage

20 years have been kind. Still rather dark garnet purple, not quite completely clear. Blackberry mulberry and port nose No longer over the top, this has come together nicely. Yes, still a big wallop of alcohol, but integrated fairly well with a still slightly tannic and bitter finish.

2001 vintage

Big and bold! Fabulous nose of redcurrant and suave on the palate with integrated tannins. Last bottle it was, could easily last another 5 years.

1999 vintage

Nose of black berry, black cherry, forest floor, and mushrooms, more of the same on the palate, big body, showing its age, very tasty, almost sweet tasting, juicy and rich fruit on the mid palate, and a long finish.

2001 vintage

Nose of red cherry, black cherry, plum, and forest floor, more of the same on the palate, delicious, big body, elegant, showing its age but great Zinfandel as the Jackass vineyard fruit really shows here, and a long, lovely finish.

1999 vintage

Nose of black cherry, plum, fig, and earth, same on the palate, big body, paired with turkey Fajtas, worked well together, mouth filling fruit, has lost some richness with age, but still almost elegant for a Zinfandel, and a long, long finish.

2001 vintage

Nose of red and black cherry, plum, dusty earth, same on the palate, very tasty, medium/big body, smooth, a touch old but still lovely Zinfandel, long finish.

1999 vintage

Nose and palate into the the raisin spectrum. Alcohol is a bruiser at 17%. Still the fruit character and power in the finish support an outstanding 17 yr old zin. This is past its prime but still has intensity.

1999 vintage

Served at a Pizza and Muffuletta birthday party. Open and let it breath for an hour. Still drinking great. Must have been the 17% alcohol that kept it intact. Sadly my last bottle, but it tasted a bit like a Zinfandel Port combination. A thick glycerin laden finish.

1999 vintage

Still drinking well. More balance now, a little less fruit, but still plenty of "Zin" to it.

2001 vintage

Still a beauty! Pulled four bottles for Thanksgiving, and it drank like a wonder. The fruit is fading, but hey, its's a '99!

1999 vintage

Over the top ripe and alcohol. I drank this wine young and hoped it would settle down and evolve. Wrong. Drinks like a high alcohol port right now.

2001 vintage

Slight brownish tinge but nice color considering the age. Nice nose of red fruit with whiff of alcohol (15.3%). Taste of red berries that have held up pretty well. Nice.

2001 vintage

Nose of blackberry and blueberry with hints of earth, ink, and mushrooms, more of the same on the palate, very sweet tasting, at its peak, juicy and rich on the mid palate, big body, and long finish.

2001 vintage

Nose of black cherry fruit and cough drops with hints of earth, ink, and Portobello mushrooms, more of the same on the palate, very sweet tasting, at its peak, tasty and mouth filling, big body, and long finish.

2001 vintage

Nose of black cherry and red cherry fruit, more of the same on the palate, very sweet tasting, at its peak, tasty and mouth filling, big body, and long finish.

2001 vintage

Juicy dark fruits, cassis, raspberries, spiciness. Good acidity and soft integrated tannin. The alcohol shows a bit. Nevertheless a beautiful and sexy wine. Completely ready now.

2001 vintage

Black cherry skin color, high extraction as expected. Plum, baking spice, cedar and vanilla creme on the nose. Ripe, jammy, hot...burns on the finish. This wine does not wear it's 15.3% alcohol well (I would have guessed much higher. In fact I would have guessed Tennesse...when Lane Kiffin was coach). For a wine that was crafted to show well in blind tastings it is not a wine I would drink without food. Pair with something hot and spicy (or use …

2001 vintage

Lovely red cherry fruit and floral on the nose with hints of earth, cough drops and plum, more of the same on the palate, very tasty, medium/big body, mid palate and aftertaste just like George T. Stagg Bourbon, long, long finish. even better with the Montecristo 2, still kicking after all these years!!

1999 vintage

Bright beet red color in the glass, lovely red cherry fruit and floral on the nose with hints of earth and plum, more of the same on the palate, very tasty, alcohol and tannin fully resolved, long finish.

1999 vintage

Wow! Who says Zin doesn't age. This wine is wonderfully balanced and complex. Quite delicious....

2001 vintage

Showing its age, as the fruit has faded a bit, but its also developed a nice complexity. Red and black berry fruit, with notes of spice and good acidity.

1999 vintage

Deep colour - the wine shows no visual signs of age. Aroma of blackberry. Beautiful sweetness in a powerful, ripe, dense, deep wine. This is drinking beautifully right now - it is hands-down better (in my book) than its Jackass sibling. Sadly, my last bottle.

1999 vintage

My what a pleasant surprise this was. The only Zinfandel in my cellar was pop and pour and instantly delivered. Red to black fruit and lighter in color and body -and probably alcohol- than almost every highly rated/allocated California Cabernet Sauvignon on the market today. The wine was clean and quite yummy. The fruit was sweet and so was the mouthfeel with a ripe spicy followthrough.

2001 vintage

Purple/red color. Aromas of black fruits, chocolate and caramel. Ripe but balanced fruit in the mouth with very good depth and length. Twelve years of bottle age has tamed this beast. What remains is a surprisingly complex, food-friendly wine that was a perfect match with a chocolate layer cake dessert.

1999 vintage

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Martinelli, Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa, Russian River Valley

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