03/08 PETIT WEEK IN WINE - Marietta Cellars

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03/08 PETIT WEEK IN WINE - Marietta Cellars

PETIT WEEK IN WINE | March 8 - March 12 2023

This Week's Flight Showcase:

Marietta Cellars

Beacon for high quality, single-vineyard Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and

Rhone blends from Sonoma & Mendocino County

Marietta Cellars' Chris & Scot Bilbro
Started in 1978 by Chris Bilbro (left) with a few purchased grapes via handshake deals, Marietta is now led by Chris’s son and second generation winemaker, Scot Bilbro (right) after graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology in 2007.

Ready for an adventure out West? Join us as we journey to Sonoma and Mendocino County this week to discover the wines of Scot Bilbro at Marietta Cellars!

We got a sneak peek a few weeks ago, and let us tell you - the hype is real. These small-production, single-vineyard wines are bursting with fruit character, expression, and refined Euro-styled composure, all at a price point that won't break the bank. Trust us, we haven't been this excited about a California wine priced below $50 in ages. But here's the catch - critics have caught on to the secret, and Marietta Cellars is quickly gaining attention. As demand continues to rise, prices are bound to follow suit.

So why not join us in getting ahead of the game? Be one of the first to discover this up-and-coming producer before their wines become impossible to find and double in price.

Ready to taste for yourself? The Marietta tasting is happening this week starting on Wednesday evening, with a flight of four reds priced at a nice $22. Check below for the Myers Park & South End hours and read on for more details.

Here's to some weeknight wine price points!

Cheers,

Mark

Click Here to Browse & Purchase Wine Directly Online. We will have your order ready for pickup at either of our two local stores OR ship nationwide (with some state restrictions).

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Marietta Cellars

In 1978, Marietta Cellars began with just a few purchased grapes - but it didn't take long for the winery to become a standout in Sonoma and Mendocino. Founded by Chris Bilbro, a Sonoma native with a family history of winemaking spanning three generations, Marietta's revolutionary Old Vine Red put the winery on the map as the creator of the California red blend category.

Over the last 30 years, Marietta has expanded its estate holdings and now produces high-quality, balanced Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Rhône variety blends. With vineyards spanning 310 acres in the Alexander Valley, McDowell Valley, and Yorkville Highlands, Marietta is now fully estate-based and organically farmed. Their heritage plantings include California's oldest Syrah blocks, planted in the late 1800s - a true testament to the winery's roots and dedication to quality.

Enter Scot Bilbro - the second-generation winemaker and owner of Marietta Cellars. He learned from the best - his father, Christo, who was a master at transforming everything into something rare and special. Applying his Viticulture and Enology training from UC Davis, Scot keeps a close eye on the details of the winemaking process - but for him, the real magic happens in the quiet moments. Hiking the vineyards as the morning fog dissipates, checking on the grapes in the sweltering sun, and fine-tuning the fermentation temperature are all part of the winemaker's art. And with a team dedicated to hard work, attention to detail, and an exceptional climate and land, Marietta continues to create beautiful, modern wines that showcase the best of Sonoma and Mendocino.

Join us this week as we feature an all red flight of FOUR wines that feature Marietta's most expressive offerings:

Marietta Cellars "Román" Zinfandel Blend 2020 - $30 btl/retail

North Coast, California

Marietta Cellars "Angeli" Zinfandel 2019 - $42 btl/retail

Alexander Valley, California

Marietta Cellars "Game Trail" Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 - $44 btl/retail

Yorkville Highlands, California

Marietta Cellars "Gibson Block" Syrah 2019 - $42 btl/retail

McDowell Valley, California

Tasting Flight of 4 Wines - $22 (2.5oz pours)

>> Tasting Flight Hours:

 

MYERS PARK:

5:00 - 6:30pm Wednesday

5:00 - 7:30pm Thursday & Friday

1:00 - 7:30pm Saturday 

SOUTH END: 

5:30 - 9:00pm Wedn - Thurs - Friday

1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday

1:00 - 5:30pm Sunday

>> Tasting Flight Offerings:

Marietta Cellars "Román"

Zinfandel Blend 2020

North Coast, California

$30 btl/retail

Named after cellar master Román Cisneros who has worked at Marietta for over 32 years. One of the grape varieties that Marietta is famous for, this wine captures the bright, juicy character of Zinfandel, and hearkens to an era before dark, thick and oaky styles of Zinfandel took hold. The Virgin of Guadalupe on the label is a nod to Román’s dedication, selflessness, and sacrifice, both for the Bilbro family and his own. It is also a nod to the Mexican-American heritage of Román and many of Marietta’s crew members.

Varietal: 92% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Syrah, and 4% Barbera. Follows an unique approach of cool fermentations and 12 months of neutral barrel aging.

Taste: "Medium ruby purple color and aromatic layers of raspberry, red cherry, rhubarb, aniseed and lilac with touches of iron and orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is gently chewy, with tart, juicy fruits and a spicy finish"

92pts James Suckling

Pairing Suggestion: Versatile red that does well with a variety of options given the small incorporation of Petite Syrah & Barbera. From pizzas and burgers to dishes offering BBQ flavors, this Zin plays well with others.

Marietta Cellars "Angeli"

Zinfandel 2019

Alexander Valley, California

$42 btl/retail

Once a component of the Angeli Cuvée, this Zinfandel long stood out for its brilliance, clarity, and leanness. Now, showcased on its own, it speaks volumes about this unique little canyon off Alexander Valley known as Angeli Ranch. The halo-like image on the label pays homage to Viola Angeli, who sold the Angeli Ranch to Chris Bilbro in an angelic act that mirrors her name.

Varietal: 100% Zinfandel. Utilizes a unique approach of cool fermentations and 15 months of neutral barrel aging that emphasizes freshness in the Angeli Zinfandel.

Taste:  "Medium ruby color and elegant perfume of white peaches, white pepper, tea leaves, licorice and wild berries. The palate balances intense, ultra-perfumed fruit with loads of lift, and it finishes long and full of flavor. This is notable for its stellar price-to quality ratio"

95pts James Suckling & 95pts Wine Advocate

Pairing Suggestion: Does well with dishes that highlight rosemary- both proteins and starches. Can also stand up & elevate richer chocolate desserts.

Marietta Cellars "Game Trail" Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Yorkville Highlands, California

$44 btl/retail

The Yorkville Highlands are the mountain pass between the north end of Alexander Valley and the west end of Anderson Valley. From a high elevation site with coastal influence and large diurnal shifts, the Game Trail Cabernet offers an intense, fragrant, savory, and fresh style of Cabernet that speaks of site and demands to be paired with food. This area, with trails worn by mushroom hunters and wild game that travel through the woods, was a refuge for Chris Bilbro, who hunted here and searched for Chanterelles. The mushroom on the label is a tribute to this unique place and its purity and wildness.

Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that is fermented in stainless steel tanks. Aged for 20 months in neutral barrel.

Taste: “Lovely aromas of red and blackcurrants, black olive and fresh mint. Medium-to full-bodied with fine, tight tannins. Layered with some pretty red and black fruits. Black pepper, nutmeg, coriander, black licorice. An attuned mix of earth and fresh fruit.”

95pts James Suckling & 94pts Wine Advocate

Pairing Suggestion: This Cabernet does well with grilled/charred vegetables (think asparagus, mushrooms, turnips), and your classic rib roast.

Marietta Cellars "Gibson Block"

Syrah 2019

McDowell Valley, California

$42 btl/retail

Made from the oldest Syrah vines in California, in the heart of the McDowell Valley AVA, this wine reflects the hidden property where it is grown – quiet, obscure and profound. This ancient, dry farmed, mixed block next to the original Gibson Homestead has been producing grapes for over a hundred years. Limited in production due to the unique grape source.

Varietal: Predominantly Syrah, old vine field blend. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 18-months in neutral barrels.

Taste: “Deep ruby-purple, the 2019 Gibson Block Syrah has a core of cassis and soaring violet perfume with accents of coffee beans, dark chocolate, aniseed and mint. The full-bodied palate is powerful and concentrated with broody, iron-laced fruits, pleasantly chewy tannins and bright freshness elevating floral perfume on the finish.”

95pts James Suckling & 95pts Wine Advocate

Pairing Suggestion: This is the one to pair with your duck and pheasant dishes or other proteins that do well with sauces in the cherry/sage spectrum. Osso Buco would be another option as the wine's spicy and fruit notes help cut through the richness of the dish.

>> Did you Know?

All three of Chris Bilbro's sons ended up in the wine industry as winemakers for three different wineries!

Quite the legacy...

Jake is the owner/winemaker at Limerick Lane in the Russian River Valley, a historic property with amazing old-vine Zinfandel, Syrah and Grenache, Scot is at Marietta Cellars, and youngest brother Sam is behind Idlewild Wines, a small-production winery based in the Alexander Valley that’s devoted to Piedmontese varieties like Arneis and Cortese.

  704.332.9910 (Myers Park) | 704.332.9913 (South End)

 [email protected] | www.petitphilippe.com

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