Pulling The Cork

Grilling With Harvey and Zinfandel

Since my first video tasting note for PTC was on a Zinfandel and, as of this writing, two of the three Tasting Notes are Zin's from the same winery (Martinelli) I thought I would share this video from Wine Spectator where Harvey Steiman talks about grilling and the wonderful Zinfandel. 

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2004 Martinelli Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel - Video Tasting

I encourage you to learn more about Martinelli Wines as they are some of my favorite or you can learn about my first experience with Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel.

PTC on 2005 Martinelli Jackass Vineyard Zinfandel

Since Pulling The Cork is new I wanted to pick a wine I had recently discovered and was surprised to find out I liked so much.  A new blog, a newly discovered wine etc.  Sort of makes sense I guess.  I chose Martinelli's Jackass Vineyard 2005 Zinfandel.  It is also sort of fun saying Jackass frequently.  I am late to the party when it comes to this wine by the way.   

The Discovery

On my trip to Las Vegas (my first trip to Vegas) in February of 2008 with my wife Jodie we made dinner reservations at Todd English's Olives at Bellagio.  Since we are here to talk about wine I won't digress on the restaurant but suffice to say it was impressive.  We had an absolutely wonderful meal and whoever is responsible for hiring the host and serving talent here should win a recruiting excellence award.  Clearly they are doing things right when it comes to hiring talent.   

The Sommelier is Tammy Ruesenberg and she recommended this wine.  Tammy was exceptional!  She lacked the pretentiousness of many sommelier's I have experienced and her knowledge and expertise were clearly evident.  If you eat at Olive's (which you should) and you are looking for a great wine to pair with your meal be sure to ask for Tammy and let her know Michael Homula recommended her.  Not that she will know who I am or really care but it was fun to say and made me seem important.

Winery and Vineyard Background

Here is a link to all you need to know about the actual Jackass Vineyard at Martinelli which produces this amazing Zin and is consistently producing great Zins.  I chose the 2005 because it just happens to be one of my recent favorites.  I have had other vintages (years) of this great wine and find the consistency between the vintages to be quite extraordinary.  The vineyard was planted over 100 years ago and sits on a very steep hillside (so steep only a Jackass would tend to it...get it?).  The vines produce a nice crop for 100+ year old vines and they are farmed the same way they were a century ago.  This means no pesticides etc.  The wine maker is none other than THE Helen Turley, a real genius.  You might call her the John Sullivan of wine making. If you want to know more about her read this.  (more after the jump)