Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa 2018

Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa 2018 is a 750ml, 100% Zinfandel from Russian River Valley that earned 95 points from both Vinous and Wine Enthusiast. Sourced from a vineyard planted with budwood grafted directly from the centurion vines of Martinelli's legendary Jackass Hill, this bottling carries genetic material from some of California's oldest Zinfandel plantings.

Quick Facts: ABV: ~16.3%  |  Origin: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Vintage: 2018  |  Winery: Martinelli Winery

Production & Heritage

Martinelli Winery is a family-owned estate in the Russian River Valley with roots stretching back multiple generations in Sonoma County. In 1994, Lee Martinelli grafted budwood from the century-old Jackass Hill vines onto low-vigor rootstocks and planted them on a rocky knoll above the winery at an unusually dense spacing of roughly 2,000 vines per acre (one meter by two meters apart). The resulting Giuseppe & Luisa Vineyard yields intensely concentrated fruit that distinguishes this bottling from wider-appellation Zinfandels. Fermentation takes place in 100% neutral French oak with full malolactic conversion and daily bâtonnage on the lees. The wine then ages for 11 months in a mix of 40% new and 60% neutral French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with candied cherry and boysenberry preserves before layering in Earl Grey tea, pipe tobacco, and sweet leather. Earthy undertones and a thread of hot chocolate add depth as the wine opens in the glass.

Taste: Dense and juicy on entry, the palate delivers concentrated raspberry, black plum, and bright red cherry framed by black pepper and a subtle brown-sugar sweetness. Mid-palate, the wine reveals stone fruit and white peach notes alongside blood orange and saline minerality, reflecting the rocky vineyard soils. Supple, fine-grained tannins provide structure without heaviness.

Finish: Long and full, with lingering boysenberry, baking spice, and a dusting of dark cocoa. The finish carries impressive persistence, gradually fading through layers of sweet fruit and earth.

How to Serve Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel

Pour at 60–65°F after decanting for 30–45 minutes to let the dense fruit and oak integration unfold. A large-bowled red wine glass concentrates the aromatic complexity. This Zinfandel's bold structure and ripe tannins also make it an excellent companion for hearty food; its richness stands up well alongside grilled or braised dishes without losing definition.

Best For

• Celebrating a milestone dinner with a library-worthy California red
• Gifting a serious Zinfandel collector something tied to historic vine genetics
• Anchoring a vertical tasting of Martinelli single-vineyard wines
• Pairing with a weekend barbecue featuring oak-smoked meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel taste like? It delivers dense, concentrated flavors of raspberry, black plum, and boysenberry layered with black pepper, baking spice, and subtle brown sugar. An underlying minerality and fine tannins keep the wine balanced despite its considerable richness.

How does Giuseppe & Luisa compare to Turley Zinfandel? Both are high-octane, vineyard-driven California Zinfandels, but the Martinelli draws its character from century-old Jackass Hill genetics planted at extreme vine density on a rocky knoll. Turley sources from a wider range of old-vine sites across multiple appellations, often resulting in a more varied stylistic range from bottle to bottle.

Is Giuseppe & Luisa good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the 2018 vintage earned 95 points from both Vinous (Antonio Galloni) and Wine Enthusiast, and its layered complexity rewards slow, attentive drinking without food.

Where is Giuseppe & Luisa made? It is produced by Martinelli Winery in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. The grapes come from the estate's Giuseppe & Luisa Vineyard, a rocky knoll site planted in 1994 directly above the winery.

What foods pair well with Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel? Oak-smoked brisket highlights the wine's smoky, peppery spice. Braised short ribs with a red-wine reduction echo its dark fruit intensity. Aged cheddar or Manchego complement the baking-spice finish. Mushroom risotto mirrors its earthy undertones. Grilled lamb chops seasoned with rosemary and garlic bridge the herbal and savory notes.

What sizes does Giuseppe & Luisa come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Giuseppe & Luisa worth the price? It positions squarely as a premium single-vineyard Zinfandel, and its dual 95-point scores from major critics reinforce the quality at this tier. For collectors who value vineyard provenance and century-old vine genetics, the price aligns with or undercuts comparable ultra-premium Sonoma reds.

Why Giuseppe & Luisa?

The defining differentiator here is lineage: the vines are direct genetic descendants of the centurion Zinfandel plantings on Jackass Hill, one of California's most storied vineyard sites. Planted at roughly 2,000 vines per acre — far denser than the regional norm — the Giuseppe & Luisa Vineyard forces low yields and concentrated fruit. The 2018 vintage validated this approach with 95 points from both Antonio Galloni at Vinous and Wine Enthusiast, as well as 93 points from James Suckling. Few California Zinfandels can trace their genetic material to century-old vines while simultaneously delivering this level of critical consensus.