2020 Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay
The 2020 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 focused and vibrant with 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.
The year began with a very dry winter, leaving some vineyards with reduced water for the growing season. This translated into smaller berries, adding extra intensity to the aromas and flavors of the 2020 wines. The harvest at Patz & Hall wrapped up in late September, making it the earliest end of picking in my 30+ years of winemaking. Though 2020 produced record small yields, the quality was remarkable, with most vineyards producing wines of depth, intensity, and dramatic concentration. The Chardonnays are showing intricate aromatics and deep flavors while the Pinot Noirs show very dark and concentrated flavors with developed tannins. Overall, I’m very pleased with the strength and vitality of the 2020 wines and believe they have a long life in the cellar ahead of them.
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 2020 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 (30% new; 70% 1-2-year old- all three-year seasoned staves)
Bottled without filtration to preserve the wine’s aromas and flavors and enhance aging potential
This wine is Vegan
- Type:
- White
- Varietal:
- Chardonnay
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Russian River Valley
- Vintage:
- 2020
- Blend:
- 100% Chardonnay
- Aging:
- Sur lie aged with regular stirring
- Alcohol:
- 14.5%
- Fermentation:
- 100% indigenous yeast fermentations (wild); 100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel