The 2009 Pinot Noir Zio Tony Ranch is one of the more exuberant, flashy 2009 Pinots. The fruit is decidedly opulent, a ripe wine that will appeal most to readers who enjoyed the full-bodied style of Pinot. Layers of fruit build towards the big, seamless finish. A touch of alcohol comes through on the finish, but otherwise this is a fine effort. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020.
Martinelli is one of the original pioneering families in Sonoma. I tasted a wide range of wines during a recent visit. The 2008 Syrahs, from a challenging vintage, are a bit up and down, but the rest of the wines are all outstanding. As always, these are fairly bold, extroverted wines, but their overall balance is typically superb.
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