Highlights: Louis M Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2018 Sonoma, California
Website: https://www.louismartini.com/
Louis Martini established the winery named after him in 1933, just after the repeal of prohibition. He’d established L.M. Martini Grape Products Company in 1922 – then, with making and selling wine banned, Martini produced sacramental wine and grape juice concentrate for home winemakers. With the repeal on the cards, he went ahead and built a winery in Napa to be ready to go when prohibition was over. Louis later bought vineyards in Sonoma, including the Monte Rosso vineyard in 1938. Winemaking passed to his son Louis P, and then on to Louis P’s son Mike Martino. In 2002 the winery was sold to Gallo.
Louis M Martini Monte Rosso Vineyard Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2018 Sonoma, California
16% alcohol. This comes from a vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains planted in 1893. Bold, seamless, ripe and smooth with soft tannins under the lush cherry and berry fruits. There are hints of cured meat and iodine. Exotic and sweetly fruited, this is aromatic, smooth and finely textured. And quite alcoholic. 92/100 (£70 Majestic, £60 mix six price)
