Grapelive Wine of Week
By Kerry Winslow
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2009 Martinelli Pinot Noir “Bella Vigna” Russian River Valley.
Another great vintage for Martinelli, 2009 might be the best Pinot year of the decade for this fantastic producer. Helen Turley, of Marcassin, consulted until 2010 harvest, so this is one of the last under her reign at Martinelli and she made she she went out with a bang! The “Bella Vigna” is a cuvee of select barrels from Martinelli’s top single vineyard sites, though mostly Bondi Home Ranch, making for a complex and lush Pinot. This vintage shows rich dark fruit, black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum with sweet smoky oak notes, truffle, cola bean and a touch of mineral. Good balance and a long finish that lingers a good 30 seconds, make this Pinot just that little bit most interesting and one not to be missed at this price.
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
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