2019 Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay
93 points
Wine Spectator
The 2019 Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay is layered, complex and vibrantly expressive. Aromas of lime zest, roasted hazelnuts, summer melon, honeycomb/wax weave between spicy pear and green apple. The mouthfeel is rich and expansive while maintaining a lean, mineral tension, moving the rich, slightly oily mid-palate along to a mouthwatering, fresh finish. Zio Tony always rewards patient cellaring, where it gains smoothness, texture and additional complexity.
2019 has proven to be an excellent year. The modestly wet winter led to an unusual spring with six inches of rain falling in late May. The extra water caused particularly strong vine canopy growth necessitating extra leaf pulling to improve air flow and suppress diseases. No significant problems persisted as the vines moved into a delightful summer, with nicely warm days tempered by cool afternoon winds from the Pacific. Crop levels were average, with most sites needing very little thinning to achieve optimum balance. Harvest weather was particularly pleasant, with the fruit ripening evenly, and critically, not too quickly. The 2019 wines are showing rich, supple structures with fine grained, plush tannins supported by juicy, fresh fruit flavors and clearly defined vineyard characters.
Planted in 1990 by the Martinelli family, Zio Tony Ranch is located on Frei Road in the heart of the Russian River's cool Green Valley. Our coveted section of Zio Tony is planted on top of a gently sloping hill on well-drained, low-vigor, Goldridge sandy loam soils. These iron-rich, reddish soils consistently produce fruit with great structure and acidity. Our 2019 Chardonnay is made from 100% Dijon clone 76, which is notable for its exceptional texture and pure aromatics.
Whole-cluster pressed
100% Burgundian French oak barrels (32% new; 68% 1-2-year old- all three-year seasoned staves)
Bottled without filtration to preserve the wine’s aromas and flavors and enhance aging potential
- Type:
- White
- Varietal:
- Chardonnay
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Russian River Valley
- Vintage:
- 2019
- Blend:
- 100% Chardonnay fruit
- Aging:
- Sur lie aged with regular stirring
- Alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Fermentation:
- 100% indigenous yeast fermentations (wild); 100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel