Monte Rosso Estate The Essence 2023 (750ML)

94 Points, Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.com: "This aromatic, brilliantly balanced wine comes from very old vines on the mountaintop property of Monte Rosso. Full-bodied and robust in tannins yet equally balanced by acidity. Deep wild-berry, blackberry and raspberry flavors on a lively texture. Impressive depth and length. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold." 05/26

96 Points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter: "This is a field blend of varieties, with Zinfandel making up the majority. ‘This is what makes storied wines from old vines,’ says winemaker Zach Watkins. The Rattlesnake Block is the heart of the blend, incorporating multiple varieties alongside fruit from higher-elevation parcels. Fermentation takes place in open-top stainless steel tanks with 21 days on skins, before the wine is barrelled down into a mix of barrel sizes and aged for 15 months in 16% new French oak. This release marks a major step forward, showcasing this Gallo-owned vineyard in a truly compelling way. The wine is intricately structured, layered with savoury, slate-driven notes alongside super-rich black and red fruit, floral lift, and a striking graphite and ironstone minerality. There’s something entirely new here—so unrecognisable as straightforward Zinfandel—thanks to the precision and purity of the fruit, its mineral-laced profile, and the beautifully articulated mixed berry character. It’s hard to pin to any single variety, yet utterly site-driven, defined by the mineral tension and red volcanic imprint that are so intrinsic to Monte Rosso, alongside a remarkable freshness factor. Just a wow wine. This new Monte Rosso brand, debuting with the 2023 vintage, is produced by Bernardino Sani, CEO and winemaker of the historic Argiano estate in Montalcino, Italy. Sani had long been eager to undertake a project in the United States. Diego Del Pino, the estate director, was brought in to build out luxury sales with Gallo and brings a strong background in high-end luxury products. Through Gallo’s import portfolio, Del Pino came to know Sani, and when given the opportunity to develop something distinctive and new within the Gallo universe, he chose to focus on Monte Rosso. The vineyard was originally developed by the Goldstein family before being purchased by the Martini family in 1938, who renamed it Monte Rosso. This 2023 release marks the first vintage of Monte Rosso wines produced as a standalone brand from this iconic site, with total production currently around 800 cases. Perched high above Sonoma Valley, Monte Rosso Vineyard is defined by iron-rich red volcanic soils and fractured rhyolite at elevation, delivering some of California’s most powerful yet distinctly mineral-driven mountain fruit." 12/25

94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2023 Zinfandel The Essence (actually a Zinfandel-based field blend) is outrageously good. Rich, explosive and layered, the 2023 captures the essence of this great site. Dark red cherry, spice, dried herbs and leather soar out of the glass. A wine of substance and complexity, the 2023 is flat-out gorgeous. It spent 15 months in French oak barrels, about 15% new." 02/25