The 2010 Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard wraps around the palate with juicy red berries, flowers, hard candy and fresh mint. A silky, voluptuous wine, the 2010 perfectly captures the essence of the Martinelli house style. Hints of star anise, spice and subtle earthiness give the 2010 an attractive exoticism, while sweet floral notes add lift on the finish. The most fragrant and light-bodied of the Martinelli Pinots (in relative terms), the 2010 Three Sisters is full of the energy and verve typical of the Sonoma Coast. In 2010, this was one of the last picks. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Ask the locals in Sonoma who the most meticulous farmers are in the region, and one answer comes back with astonishing frequency -- Martinelli. Originally from Lucca, Italy, Giuseppe Martinelli and his family were attracted to hillside sites that reminded them of their native Tuscany. Ironically, many of the locals thought those places were too steep and hard to work, but time has proven Martinelli had a keen understanding of sites. Today, these are recognized as some of the finest vineyards in California. The Martinelli family still sells most of their grape to other wineries, but they also vinify and bottle a small amount of their production. As always, these are big, rich wines built on opulence. The Martinelli approach seems to work best with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I find the Syrahs less interesting, as Martinelli’s philosophical approach to harvest very late seems to blur some of the differences among vineyards, which is a shame. That is especially evident in a vintage like 2009, which yielded plenty of richness on its own. The 2010 Zinfandels are also inconsistent, but here it is the huge heat spikes late in the season that compromised the crop and the overall quality of the vintage. Martinelli lost 50% of their Zinfandel crop that year. The resulting wines, while excellent when taken on their own, aren’t quite at the level long-time Martinelli fans expect. The Martinelli wines remain unique within the broad landscape that is Sonoma. At their best, these wines are stunning. Tel. (707) 525-0570