Owned by the Martinelli family since 1959, the vineyard's goldridge soil and the Wente clone of Chardonnay represent the holy grail in California. Keplinger has a long friendship with fifth generation George Martinelli, who in 2022, offered up a historic part of his ranch - 34 year-old Wente Clone Chardonnay vines on prized goldridge soil.
The 2022 Chardonnay from Zio Tony Vineyard has an enticing tightly-wound nose of oyster shell, pastry flour, Warren pear, fresh lemon curd, thyme blossom, and honeysuckle. The palate possesses an ideal balance of weight and drive, with flavors of green pear, chamomile, blanched almond, Buddha’s hand overlaying a pastry flour mineral texture, bright acidity, and a mile long finish. This delicious wine has great tension and precision – a wine to have or to hold.
ANTONIO GALLONI 94 POINTS - "The 2022 Chardonnay Zio Tony Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, aromatic and layered, the 2022 explodes from the glass. Lemon confit, marzipan chamomile and a kiss of French oak shape this creamy, wonderfully deep, expressive white."
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The vibrant gold-hued 2022 Chardonnay Zio Tony Vineyard comes from a site in the Russian River Valley and was brought up mostly in used barrels. It has a stunning nose of honeyed citrus, orange blossom, minty herbs, and chalk that carries to a medium-bodied, balanced, elegant Chardonnay offering a great mix of both richness and freshness."
The 2022 Chardonnay from Zio Tony Vineyard has an enticing tightly-wound nose of oyster shell, pastry flour, Warren pear, fresh lemon curd, thyme blossom, and honeysuckle. The palate possesses an ideal balance of weight and drive, with flavors of green pear, chamomile, blanched almond, Buddha’s hand overlaying a pastry flour mineral texture, bright acidity, and a mile long finish. This delicious wine has great tension and precision – a wine to have or to hold.
ANTONIO GALLONI 94 POINTS - "The 2022 Chardonnay Zio Tony Vineyard is fabulous. Rich, aromatic and layered, the 2022 explodes from the glass. Lemon confit, marzipan chamomile and a kiss of French oak shape this creamy, wonderfully deep, expressive white."
JEB DUNNUCK 94 POINTS - "The vibrant gold-hued 2022 Chardonnay Zio Tony Vineyard comes from a site in the Russian River Valley and was brought up mostly in used barrels. It has a stunning nose of honeyed citrus, orange blossom, minty herbs, and chalk that carries to a medium-bodied, balanced, elegant Chardonnay offering a great mix of both richness and freshness."
