2016 Chardonnay Martinelli Road

I am increasingly impressed with the Martinelli wines. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel are all terrific here, which is no small feat. Moreover, the Martinellis have managed to deal with the challenges of running a family operation for five decades. At a time when so many wineries either chose to or are forced to divest assets, specifically land, the Martinellis have gone in the opposite direction by buying out two family members and securing future ownership of a large tract of land in Fort Ross-Seaview that includes the Three Sisters and Charles Ranch vineyards. That commitment to the future is just one of many things that sets Martinelli apart in Sonoma, and the United States, for that matter.