TN: 2006 Martinelli Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel

WINE TALK
1

Alright, so I normally don’t post a TN on wine unless I think there is something special about it, and I hardly ever post TNs on wines I hate. I know, it’s all data and I should post every time I drink anything. But I don’t.

In any case, I hate this wine. This belongs on pancakes, not in a wine glass. It is sweet, syrupy, gloppy, and cloying. I cannot detect anything that suggests Zinfandel in this wine. There is no spice, no pepper, no structure – only sweet, over-ripe and over-extracted fruit. And there is an unavoidably annoying alcoholic presence in the nose and mouth. The label says 16.4% abv. Keep the kitchen torch away until you are ready to flambe! Side-by-side, this wine would make Mollydooker seem restrained and elegant. I would dump it, but I am worried that it would hurt my pipes.

Oh, and I don’t think it will improve with age either. If you got 'em, “enjoy” 'em now!

I also don’t normally do points. I will make an exception for this one: 75.

2

+1

3

Learned my lesson with the 03. They keep making it so there must be people who like it enough to shell out $50 - $80.

RT

4

also have never found this bottling to my taste.

5

+`1

JD

6

Yeah, this wine sucks … and very well said about belonging on pancakes. It’s pretty terrible. Not sure if it is as bad as the 2003 … which I think still is the worst wine I’ve ever drunk. Vodka juice.

7

I had Martinelli G&L Zin at Bernardus Lodge a couple of years ago. This is an expensive, highly rated (RMP) wine. Made by Helen Turley???

I love Zin, but I didn’t like it either. If I don’t like a Zin, I don’t have high hopes that it will find favor with many others.

8

I remember liking the 2002 but starting in 2003 it switched to tasting like 200 proof piss.

9

Yes – 95 points from RMP himself. I’m not sure how much influence Helen Turley exerted over the 2006, but her title at Martinelli these days is “Consulting Winemaker”. Brian Kvamme is the Winemaker.

10

Geez, I’ve never found a Martinelli that WASN’T over-extracted/overtly sweet. My tastebuds still recoil from a Blue Slide Ridge Pinot several years back.

11

Tom,

Why waste a nice stack of Flapjacks on this swill? [wink.gif]

ttt

12

Yeah, what have you got against pancakes?

13

It’s been quite a while, but I seem to recall there were some ‘lesser’ pinot bottlings that were somewhat drinkable. But I felt the same way re: the BSRs, and other Parker heavy hitters.

Now the 03 G&L - that is truely a foul beverage - 17+% that year. I still have a bottle if anyone is interested. Actually based on the CT notes, this wine seems to be loved. I especially liked this one:

rated 100 points: What more could one ask for in a Sonoma zin? The cork tip was light pinkish red with 1/8" of crystallized sugar… [shock.gif]

I’ve been thinking leftover Martinelli’s would go down the sink, but it seems they have their fans and might actually sell on the CT Marketplace??

14

almost certainly tartaric acid crystals described above. i do like Martinelli Bondi Home Ranch PN a lot. just don’t buy it after a bad experience in that tasting room.

15

Dude. Seriously. I’ve actually had one vintage of it that was pretty tasty. Maybe 2004? I can’t remember. But, man, Martinelli should change it names to Vineyards and Distillery. I haven’t like any wine but the 2005 Bella Vigne PN from the 05-07 period. I used to be hit-or-miss. I’m open to the style. I think the wines just haven’t been very good.