2021 Martellotto Senz' Altro Red Wine Santa Barbara County

• Crafted from All Five Noble Bordeaux Grapes in One Bottle
• "Outstanding" 96pt Vintage~ Jeb Dunnuck
• Made by ONE of ONLY 420 Italian Wine Ambassador's
  

About the Wine

Most winemakers pick a grape and stick with it. Greg Martellotto looked at the five noble Bordeaux varieties and refused to choose.

Senz Altro means “without a doubt” — and that's exactly the attitude behind it. Cabernet Sauvignon for backbone. Merlot for flesh. Cabernet Franc for lift. Petit Verdot for color and spice. Malbec for the finishing touch. Leaving even one out felt irresponsible, so Greg didn't.

The result isn't a blend that's trying to please everyone. It's a blend that does everything at once — structure, richness, savor, and polish — grown in Santa Barbara County and aged in French oak until the five grapes stop arguing and start singing in unison.

Greg Martellotto has been making wine under it since 2005, drawing on family roots that trace back to Alberobello, Puglia, where his grandfather left for America in 1918.

He's a Certified Italian Wine Ambassador and a Bordeaux-variety specialist working out of Santa Barbara, and the winery stays deliberately small — fewer than 8,000 cases a year across the whole range.

Open it on a Tuesday. Open it by candlelight. Open it for no reason at all. You'll LOVE it regardless.

Tasting Notes

A blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and a mix of 20% of Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Hailing primarily from the Star Lane vineyard in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, here is a masterful Bordeaux blend that highlights the unheralded and beauty of these grapes in the far eastern part of the Santa Ynez Valley. Hot summer days are cooled by the Pacific Ocean in the evening, making this an ideal part of Central Coast in California to grow world class wines.

In the nose, cedar, vanilla, and blackberry entice. In the mouth, the layers unfold. Black cherry and raspberry harmonize with dried thyme and bay leaf. The finish is smooth with a well integrated oak profile.

Reviews

NYR