2020 Martinelli Syrah Vellutini Ranch
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch has a dense core of blackcurrant fruit, which relaxes after a few minutes in the glass to notes of allspice, chargrill, menthol, blueberry and chocolate. The full-bodied palate is chalky and surprisingly fresh, with youthfully coiled fruit and a long, floral finish. Give it some time in a decanter, and drink it over the next 3-5 years. 115 cases were made.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch is the most complete of the Martinelli Syrahs in this year's lineup. Plum, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, cloves and licorice are all amplified. The 2020 has plenty to offer. I would open it in advance to allow the chocolatey tannins a bit of time to soften. This is impressive.
A deep and pure purple/black, the 2020 Syrah Vellutini Ranch takes on more purity and peppery spice, with boysenberry and fresh earth. Full bodied, with ripe tannins that build but are well-managed, it offers fresh acidity in its notes of mocha, black plum, and tea leaf. This is a lovely Syrah with a lot of freshness to balance its richness and broad shoulders. Drink 2023-2033. 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.
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.