2005 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Hill Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby. Incredibly perfumed aromas of floral-accented blackberry and boysenberry, a hint of smoky bacon and patchouli. Sweet and lush, with deeply concentrated dark berry flavors and outstanding concentration. There's surprisingly fresh minerality here, giving energy and focus to the remarkably concentrated, jammy fruit. These vines are 107 years old and the vineyard is planted on a 60-degree slope, making re-planting here a literally illegal undertaking ("the law says you can plant on up to 50 degrees but they really stop you on anything over 40 degrees these days," Lee Martinelli told me).
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
There are 152 cases of the 2005 Zinfandel Jackass Hill Vineyard made from 106-year-old, head-pruned, dry-farmed vineyards planted on one of the steepest slopes in Sonoma. Full-bodied, it shows creme de cassis notes intermixed with incense and aromas that recall a hippie den from the late 1960s or early 1970s. Spicy, peppery, licorice notes are also present along with herbs, roasted meats, and fresh game. This is an amazing wine – dense, full-bodied, idiosyncratic, and individualistic. This wine can last for decades but, for my taste, it is best drunk in its first 6-8 years of life. Kudos to the Martinelli family, one of the great old winemaking families of Northern California. (They also produce exquisite apples as well.) Previously recommended: 2004 Chardonnay Charles Ranch (91); 2004 Chardonnay Martinelli Road (94); 2004 Chardonnay Woolsey Road (92); 2004 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch (89?); 2004 Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge (92); 2004 Pinot Noir Bondi Home Ranch Water Trough Vineyard (89); 2004 Pinot Noir Moonshine Ranch (92); 2004 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch (90); 2004 Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa (93); 2004 Jackass Vineyard (93); 2004 Jackass Hill Vineyard (95) Tel. (707) 525-0570; Fax (707) 525-9463
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.