Louis M. Martini Zinfandel Gnarly Vine Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley 2014 750 ML

Another fabulous wine, although there’s not much of it, is the 2014 Zinfandel Gnarly Vine Monte Rosso Vineyard from this fabulous first-growth vineyard in Sonoma. This is a blend of 97% Zinfandel and 3% Petite Sirah aged in 66% new French oak, 16% new American oak and the rest used. Only 500 cases were made of this whopper, which is full-bodied, has great intensity with a stunning nose of black fruits, pepper, Mediterranean herbs and spice.\n Producer Information\n Louis M. Martini Winery is a Napa Valley producer founded in 1933 in what is now the St Helena AVA. It mostly produces red wine, being best known for Cabernet Sauvignon which accounts for the majority of output. The current range is headed by the Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon, made from the best blocks of leading Napa Valley vineyards. It is matured for 19 months in French oak barrels, with 80 percent new wood. The recently introduced Crown Cabernet Collection is a group of mountain vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. They are single-site designated apart from the Howell Mountain bottling. Barrel aging regimes vary in terms of time and whether a component is aged in American oak as well as French. The Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is part of the above group. Other wines from the same site have their own Monte Rosso collection. Single variety wines are made from Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel and Malbec. The Monte Rosso Vineyard Mountain Red is based on Syrah backed up with other southern French varieties such as Petite Sirah (Durif) and Grenache. The Cellar 254 range of small lot releases include a Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé, varietal Petit Sirah and a Meritage (Bordeaux-style Blend) with around 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 20 percent Malbec. The core "Signature Cabernets" are Sonoma County, Alexander Valley and Napa Valley bottlings. The sole white wine is a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.