Pioneering Russian River Valley winery Martinelli is well-known for crafting superlative Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But the case could easily be made for them as California’s top Syrah producer as well. Robert Parker has rated 25 different Syrah from Martinelli with an average rating of 93 points! The rare Zio Tony Ranch Syrah is a sublime wine, and sets the bar high for other CA Syrah. A must buy for collectors and fans of huge full-throttled wines.

“The estate’s 2009 Syrah Zio Tony Ranch saturates the palate with masses of dark blue/black fruit. A huge, voluptuous wine, the 2009 is all about texture. Ultimately, the 2009 is a wine of silkiness and layers of flavor that continue to build with considerable energy and focus. Melted road and graphite are some of the notes that add complexity on the finish. Today, the 2009 is young, young, young. It will be interesting to see where this goes over the coming years. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” - 94 points Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

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