2021 Martinelli Chardonnay Charles Ranch
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Tasting notes
The 2021 Chardonnay Charles Ranch Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1981. It has pure scents of yellow apple, quince, petrichor and allspice and reveals additional nuance as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and bright with concentrated, gently buttery flavors and an ethereal finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar. 191 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The Charles Ranch, Lolita Ranch, and Martinelli Road Chardonnays are all aged in 50% new oak. From a property that’s been in the Martinelli family since 1864, the 2021 Chardonnay Charles Ranch boasts a youthful straw yellow color and opens to expressive aromatics of poached apples, delicate baking spice, wet stone, and preserved lemon. Medium to full-bodied, it’s juicy and ripe on the palate and carries a custardy perfume all the way through to the finish. Well-detailed, with an elegant touch of almond on the finish, I’s approachable now but should have a slow maturation over the next 5-7 years. One of the most historic names in Sonoma, the Martinellis are sixth-generation winegrowers based in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Prolific farmers, all of their wines come from estate-grown fruit, with 90% of the grapes sold off to other wineries. In addition to focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they also produce Zinfandel, Syrah, and Muscat of Alexandria. Courtney Robinett Wagoner joined the team in 2015 as the assistant winemaker before being promoted to winemaker in 2017.
The 2021 Chardonnay Charles Ranch is a gorgeous, exotic wine. Lemon peel, tangerine peel, spice and white pepper all grace this creamy, layered Chardonnay. There's a bit more fruit sweetness in the Charles Ranch vis-à-vis the Three Sisters, which is also from Fort Ross-Seaview.
About the producer
Martinelli is a Sonoma benchmark for vineyard-designate bottlings—wines built to highlight how strongly a single site can shape Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Across the range, the focus stays consistent: small-production bottlings that feel distinctly tied to where they’re grown.