Marietta "Angeli" Alexander Valley Zinfandel 2021

Wine Advocate : 96 Points

(10/19/2023) Grapes for the 2021 Angeli Zinfandel are picked in three passes. Proprietor Scot Bilbro notes that Zinfandel's naturally varying levels of ripeness can lead to raisiny flavors if all the grapes are picked at a higher brix. 'If you bring Zinfandel in over 25 brix, that means the juice inside is at 25, but the skins have a lot more sugar, and the level will go up to 28 or more,' he explains. 'So, we pick at 23, 24 and just shy of 25. You can enable the wine to show off layers with those different picks.' This strategy led to a gorgeous Angeli in 2021 that is incredibly expressive and perfumed. Blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry give way to wafts of graphite, gobs of violet and even touches of tangerine. The medium to full-bodied palate explodes with concentrated fruit and expansive layers of floral perfume and spice. It has a powdery frame, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a very long, nuanced finish. Drink Date: 2024 - 2035.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni : 94 Points

(1/2024) The 2021 Angeli, primarily Zinfandel from a site in Alexander Valley, offers up heady dark-red-toned fruit, chocolate, sweet spice, leather, tobacco and lavender. Sumptuous and racy to the core, the Angeli has so much to offer. This is an especially extroverted edition of this cuvée, with varietal notes beautifully dialed up. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034.