2021 Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay | Russian River Valley, Sonoma County California 750ml

The Zio Tony Ranch is named after Lee Sr.'s uncle Tony who was the first in the Bondi family to be born on American soil. Zio Tony, Zio meaning 'uncle' in Italian and pronounced 'tseo', was a very charismatic man with a big booming voice whom loved a good time. When Zio Tony passed away in 1971 his nephew, Lee Martinelli, Sr., took over management of the estate. The love of his family's heritage land was too great for Lee to sell the property and in one short season he went from High School teacher to Apple Farmer. Eventually this apple orchard was converted to vineyards, as the market for apples grew unbearably soft. The vines are planted on rolling hills made up of Gold Ridge soil, with clones consisting of 95, 76, and 548. | Martinelli

Aged in 60% new oak, the 2021 Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch has a medium golden yellow hue and is rounder on the nose, with notes of baked apples, vanilla spice, buttered citrus, and honeysuckle. Rounded and full-bodied, it has a concentrated, elegant, viscous feel with a silky, supple texture and a long, elegant finish, as well as mouthwatering acidity underneath. Long on the palate, it's going to benefit from another year or two in bottle and drink well over the following 10 years. | 96 points, Audrey Frick for jebdunnuck.com