Marietta 2021 'Angeli' Estate Alexander Valley Zinfandel Chris Bilbro, a visionary in the California wine industry, founded Marietta in the late 1970s, initially crafting high-quality Zinfandel alongside his sons, Scot and Jake. The brothers assumed leadership of the winery in 2012, embracing their father’s ethos of crafting balanced and varietally expressive Zinfandels. Under their stewardship, Marietta has continued to flourish, upholding its reputation for producing some of the finest Zinfandels in the region. Over the years, the Bilbro family has built enduring relationships with local grape growers, a strategy that has enriched their wine production significantly. These partnerships eventually evolved into co-ownerships of several key vineyards. One standout, the Angeli Zinfandel, is sourced from vineyards uniquely positioned at the mouth of a narrow canyon. Here, the terrain is marked by a complex network of gravel channels and terraced hillsides, which significantly influence the vines' growth and the nuanced character of the grapes, ultimately defining the wine's distinctive terroir. The 2021 Angeli Zinfandel is a proud member of Marietta’s Estate Series, which celebrates the winery's strong ties to its vineyards. This exceptional vintage was matured for 15 months in neutral oak barrels, a method that enhances the wine’s natural flavors without imparting additional oak character. The inclusion of small amounts of Petite Sirah and Syrah enriches the blend, introducing layers of spice and deepening the complexity of the wine, making it a standout representation of the winery’s craftsmanship and the rich legacy of the land.