The 2019 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard opens to kaleidoscopic wild berry preserves, apricots, licorice and potpourri-like spices that gain nuance and intensity with time in the glass. The palate offers surprising depth of flavor in a lifted, silken, ultra juicy frame, and it finishes with a flourish of spicy nuances. What a beauty! It's immediately approachable but has what it takes for a long life in the cellar. 242 cases produced.

The 2018 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard has loads of personality and perfume. It offers singular notions of juniper and floral potpourri with accents of cinnamon, citrus peel, apricots and berry preserves. The medium to full-bodied palate is super spicy and fresh, silkily framed and finishing long and layered with just a touch of warmth.

Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard has a warm yellow peach, blackberry, blueberry and black cherry-scented nose. It has concentrated, ripe, jammy fruit in the mouth, with fine, grainy tannins, good juicy acidity and a long, peachy finish. 246 cases produced.

Pale to medium garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard gives up wonderfully fragrant kirsch, raspberry preserves, potpourri, dried roses and oolong tea notes with hints of incense, dusty soil and bay leaves. Full-bodied and full-on sultry with tons of perfumed fruit and a plush texture, it finishes with lovely harmony and plenty of depth. 191 cases produced.

At the higher end of the alcohol spectrum, these Martinelli Zinfandels are powerful wines for sure, but I hasten to add that they are beautifully balanced and in terms of flavor, tannin and complexity, they represent the pinnacles of ripeness in every sense. Medium garnet colored, the 2015 Zinfandel Jackass Vineyard shows lifted cherry preserves, mulberries and blueberry characters with suggestions of Chinese five spice, dates and baker’s chocolate. It’s a full-throttle, glorious behemoth in the mouth with layers of berry preserves, exotic spice and fruit cake flavors framed by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with extraordinary length.