95pts Jeb Dunnuck
From vines planted in 1989, the 2020 Chardonnay Martinelli Road pours a youthful straw/silver color. Smoky incense lifts from the glass, with notes of wet stone, lemon curd, fresh chive, and pear. Medium to full-bodied, with a rounded mouthfeel and good focus and depth, its core of fresh acidity, includes notes of ripe, tropical peach, quince, and tangerine. It’s long on the palate, with toasted spice on the finish. Drink 2023-2030.
93pts Wine Spectator
Complex and seamless, with a core of honeyed pineapple, mango and lemon meringue flavors that mingle with notes of toasted coconut, toffee and spices. Plump and smooth, ending with accents of toasted brioche and roasted, salted hazelnut. Drink now. 295 cases made.
92pts Vinous Media
The 2020 Chardonnay Martinelli Road is gorgeous. Rich, creamy and super-expressive, the Martinelli Road is a terrific wine in this vintage. White orchard fruit, jasmine, dried flowers, mint and a touch of sweet spice build in the glass. This is nicely done.
Winemaker Notes
Fresh mango, pineapple and guava aromas are found in the expressive nose. Juicy upon entry the tropical flavor of pineapple is complimented with powder sugar in the mouth. Subdued barrel toast notes are in the long fresh finish.
About the Winery
The Martinelli Road Chardonnay Vineyard is one of our coolest vineyard sites in the Russian River Valley and is consistently one of the last vineyards to be picked. Lee Martinelli Sr. planted this vineyard in 1989 using clone 95. The vineyard is located directly below the steep Jackass Hill Zinfandel vineyard on the original Martinelli family homestead ranch.