Louis Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2016
Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesA zap of red-currant flavor drives this exuberant vintage from Monte Rosso, Martini’s vineyard in the red volcanic hills of Sonoma Valley, where the zin vines date to 1893. It’s a pretty wine, showing its 16.2 percent alcohol in the sweetness of the plump red-berry fruit, a contrast to the spark of mineral umami reduction. Bright and youthful, it will bring its energy to your Fourth of July fireworks.
This immense, full-bodied and lush wine is generous in tannin and oak, allowing just enough space for black fruit to come into the light. Structured and firm on the palate, it has as much savory intensity as it does brooding fruit.
Covering the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, facing the city of Sonoma, Moon Mountain District is one of Sonoma’s newest sub-appellations. Here the well-drained, red volcanic and ash soils produce hauntingly intense red wines, mainly from Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured it’s title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the states’ diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, which sourced a journey to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.