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  • Chico’s Hill Syrah 2022

    2021 Vintage
    92+ Points
    Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

    2020 Vintage
    95 Points
    Erin Brooks, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

    VINEYARD

    Chico's Hill

    VINTAGE2021
    ABOUT THIS WINE

    Chico’s Hill is a one acre vineyard on an easterly facing slope. It has a great soil profile which is predominantly fractured rock. Fractured rock makes for great growing conditions because the rock warms the earth by the early morning sun, stimulating vine growth, and in addition, rain water penetrates the soil depth easily and drains off. The landscape is long and narrow with a 45 degree slope, and was where Julianna Martinelli’s horse, Chico, was stabled when she was a child. The rows are oriented in a north-south direction to equalize sunlight exposure on both sides of the canopy morning and afternoon. For vine training we installed a vertical trellis system with fruit wire sitting 22 inches above ground level, encouraging consistent ripening of the grape clusters.  The vineyard consists solely of clone 877.

    GROWING YEAR INFO

    The 2022 season started out with ideal conditions with early rains helping to push bud break into Spring. While we encountered instances of shatter (a grape berry fails to develop because of incomplete pollination) due to frost, this was limited to specific vineyards. Meticulous attention was given to addressing this issue, as we diligently assessed each block and thinned any clusters affected by shatter. Thankfully, the summer months offered the optimal combination of warm days and perfectly cool nights. However, Labor Day weekend launched what has been marked as one of the most heat-intensive 7-day periods on record for Sonoma County, resulting in a significant number of vineyards reaching their ripening stage simultaneously.

    VINEYARD DETAILS

    SPECIFICATIONS

    APPELLATIONRussian River Valley
    VARIETALS PLANTEDSyrah
    SOIL INFORMATIONFranciscan
    SOIL CHARACTERISTICSClay loam
    ROOTSTOCK420
    BUDWOOD877
    YEAR PLANTED2001
    Tasting Notes

    The nose fills you with bursts of rhubarb, fresh ground coffee, and hints of sweet cream. Upon entry, the distinct palate has polished tannins with flavors of red plum and pomegranate, with black currants present in the impeccable finish.

    WinemakerCourtney Robinett Wagoner
    Consulting WinemakerErin Green
    Cases Produced 30

    Winemaker’s Notes

    Lark Coryell

    November 19, 2023

Martinelli
Winery
3360 RIVER ROAD
WINDSOR, CA
(800) 346-1627
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