Martinelli Zinfandel Vigneto Di Evo 2020, Russian River Valley, California

This tiny vineyard site is on Martinelli Road in Forestville, where the original family homestead ranch was founded in 1898 and where members of the family still live today. The planting of the vines date back to sometime around the turn-of-the-century. Evo Martinelli was the grandson of Giuseppe & Luisa Martinelli, who emigrated from Italy. After picking, the whole berries undergo a long cool fermentation to generate skin contact and expose fruit character and are fermented with wild yeast. The juice is transferred to oak barrels with a touch of residual sugar remaining to complete the fermentation process in barrel until dry. It rests in 35% new French oak on its gross lees for ten months. “Our 2020 ‘Vigneto di Evo’ Zinfandel has a lively nose in the glass with aromas of blueberry, clove, and tobacco leaf. Bright upon entry with balanced acidy. The composed palate and finish both have flavors of raspberry liqueur and clean earth” – Winery