The 2014 M by Martellotto Syrah is from Paso Robles. The 25-year-old Syrah vines were hand-harvested and the grapes fermented in a stainless steel tank. The wine rested in mostly neutral French oak for 24 months. The wine has benefited from extended barrel aging and bottle aging and now exhibits dried fruit flavors of fig, black currant, and black cherry. Notes of dried leather, tobacco leaf, black pepper, and Mediterranean spices carry through to the finish.
This Syrah is food-friendly. Dress this wine up with a lamb roast or grilled carne or pair it with burgers or burritos.
Best served after chilling for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before service. Enjoy this wine now.
Award-Winning California Wine from Santa Barbara County
Truly art in a bottle, Martellotto wines are exciting, bold, elegant, and approachable. Expertly crafted and carefully blended from personally sourced grapes from all across the central coast of California. Winemaker Greg Martellotto hand selects grapes grown in designated American Viticultural Areas (AVA) such as Happy Canyon AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, and Santa Maria Valley AVA. An active member of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association, Martellotto Winery understands the importance of being a responsible winemaker in this ever-growing wine region and institutes sustainable winemaking practices and processes whenever possible. Greg Martellotto’s passion is about selling you wines that are not mass-produced, but hand-crafted, each bottle at a time. One taste and you’ll be hooked.
Expertly Crafted. Distinctly Original.
The old world informs Greg’s motivation to make wines that speak of a unique vineyard in California. Greg loves wines that have a vibrant acidity combined with bright fruit and that intangible, hard to pinpoint X factor. Mass-produced wines that are squeaky clean and uniform are less interesting. Starting with healthful and sustainably farmed grapes, Greg combines creative fermentation techniques with an artistic blending prior to bottling to produce wines that are distinctive and delicious. Greg’s intention is to make remarkable wines of consequence, consistency, value, and varietal expression. Several of the wines are sourced from organic vineyards and produced with native yeast fermentations. Martellotto wines are allocated, bottle numbered, vineyard designate wines, and a pleasure to share. We invite you to explore each of our wines and find the ones that “speak” to you.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
I waited impatiently all Wednesday afternoon, but the UPS man didn’t show up at our door until 6:53, just minutes from the end of his delivery window. I was quite excited to open the box and find a 2014 Paso Robles Syrah rather than a porch sipping rosé or white varietal my wife might reject. Sadly the poor Martellotto was warm to the touch and we had dinner plans at 7:30 so it was left behind to relax and cool off.
Early Thursday evening I opened up the Syrah. I don’t care for chilled reds but it was resting in a cool spot on a cool floor; about 72F. Pulling the cork was a struggle! I typically use a straight T-handled corkscrew and it was really wedged in tight. But finally with some manly flexing and a boisterous pop it came loose. The cork was a fancy looking synthetic with tasteful faux wood grain (and curiously: labeled Jordan Parker Winery).
After the rough treatment from Brown I planned to let the bottle breathe but poured a small splash to evaluate. It was inky midnight black in the glass. My first sniff was fruit and heat. Blackberries and a little bit of alcohol blowing off. A deeper sniff brought a lovely wine-y scent… rich and complex. My wife thought it might be a little floral? I still smelled blackberry, but also… maybe blueberry? It was faint though; not like a fruit stand just a tease.
After a suitable pause we came back to taste. My first sip was ripe cherry… and though my note says “for a moment it tasted sweet” that was not repeated. My next sips evoked “tart cherry” and tobacco with a mineral finish. Meanwhile, my wife got raspberry and leather and commented that it was acidic or a little tart.
We each enjoyed a glass while unwinding, and then moved to dinner. No special plans unfortunately: cheese stuffed tortellini tossed in a pesto sauce and panko crusted chicken cutlets… ok nuggets… for the kids. The Martellotto paired nicely with the chicken and with plain tortellini. It did not go well with pesto sauce; the pairing was unpleasant and bitter and ruined both. I also pulled out a wedge of triple cream Brie; i liked this combination but my wife did not.
Final thoughts: I very much liked the Martellotto 2014 Pasó Robles Syrah. It is easy drinking but not light. The flavors are fruited but not over the top like an Australian Shiraz. It has enough body to stand up to lighter foods and remind you that you are drinking wine, but not so tannic or astringent that it lingers. My wife was more on the fence; she likes her reds bolder.
You will enjoy on the patio (in the shade). Or at dinner with meats or creamy / fatty foots. I would skip the spicy foods or high dollar cuts of beef that need a bolder grape.
@eburke Any left for a day 2 taste? Sounds like day 1 was a little iffy. Syrah from Paso can really be hit or miss and it looks like they intentionally tried to keep this restrained which may have made it a bit disjointed.
For me right now it is mostly too much wine. I’ve had the 2017 version of this and liked it. Just no place to put any more for now, and I know if I spring for a case, something I just have to have will show up tomorrow.
I also had the 2017, which I really enjoyed. Think I have one bottle left downstairs. I’m currently using floorspace to store wine, so made the decision to skip this offering, unfortunately…
@Springbank I totally get it - the deals have been ‘flowing’ this past year and folks certainly have stocked up. My advice - DRINK YOUR BOTTLES FASTER!!!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2014 M by Martellotto Syrah - $60 = 24.99%
2014 M by Martellotto Syrah, Paso Robles
Tasting Notes
This Syrah is food-friendly. Dress this wine up with a lamb roast or grilled carne or pair it with burgers or burritos.
Best served after chilling for 20 minutes in the refrigerator before service. Enjoy this wine now.
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $600/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, Jul 5 - Wednesday, Jul 6
2014 M by Martellotto Syrah
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $179.99 $15/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Hmmmmmmmm I hope there are rats
Indeed there is at least one rat.
I waited impatiently all Wednesday afternoon, but the UPS man didn’t show up at our door until 6:53, just minutes from the end of his delivery window. I was quite excited to open the box and find a 2014 Paso Robles Syrah rather than a porch sipping rosé or white varietal my wife might reject. Sadly the poor Martellotto was warm to the touch and we had dinner plans at 7:30 so it was left behind to relax and cool off.
Early Thursday evening I opened up the Syrah. I don’t care for chilled reds but it was resting in a cool spot on a cool floor; about 72F. Pulling the cork was a struggle! I typically use a straight T-handled corkscrew and it was really wedged in tight. But finally with some manly flexing and a boisterous pop it came loose. The cork was a fancy looking synthetic with tasteful faux wood grain (and curiously: labeled Jordan Parker Winery).
After the rough treatment from Brown I planned to let the bottle breathe but poured a small splash to evaluate. It was inky midnight black in the glass. My first sniff was fruit and heat. Blackberries and a little bit of alcohol blowing off. A deeper sniff brought a lovely wine-y scent… rich and complex. My wife thought it might be a little floral? I still smelled blackberry, but also… maybe blueberry? It was faint though; not like a fruit stand just a tease.
After a suitable pause we came back to taste. My first sip was ripe cherry… and though my note says “for a moment it tasted sweet” that was not repeated. My next sips evoked “tart cherry” and tobacco with a mineral finish. Meanwhile, my wife got raspberry and leather and commented that it was acidic or a little tart.
We each enjoyed a glass while unwinding, and then moved to dinner. No special plans unfortunately: cheese stuffed tortellini tossed in a pesto sauce and panko crusted chicken cutlets… ok nuggets… for the kids. The Martellotto paired nicely with the chicken and with plain tortellini. It did not go well with pesto sauce; the pairing was unpleasant and bitter and ruined both. I also pulled out a wedge of triple cream Brie; i liked this combination but my wife did not.
Final thoughts: I very much liked the Martellotto 2014 Pasó Robles Syrah. It is easy drinking but not light. The flavors are fruited but not over the top like an Australian Shiraz. It has enough body to stand up to lighter foods and remind you that you are drinking wine, but not so tannic or astringent that it lingers. My wife was more on the fence; she likes her reds bolder.
You will enjoy on the patio (in the shade). Or at dinner with meats or creamy / fatty foots. I would skip the spicy foods or high dollar cuts of beef that need a bolder grape.
@eburke Any left for a day 2 taste? Sounds like day 1 was a little iffy. Syrah from Paso can really be hit or miss and it looks like they intentionally tried to keep this restrained which may have made it a bit disjointed.
I’m surprised that there’s no more activity on this wine. It’s a reasonably priced Syrah - what gives Casemates peeps? Cheers
@tercerowines
For me right now it is mostly too much wine. I’ve had the 2017 version of this and liked it. Just no place to put any more for now, and I know if I spring for a case, something I just have to have will show up tomorrow.
@Springbank story of my life
Why do you think my basement is full
@Springbank @ttboy23
If only I had a basement, better that I do not.
@Springbank @tercerowines
I also had the 2017, which I really enjoyed. Think I have one bottle left downstairs. I’m currently using floorspace to store wine, so made the decision to skip this offering, unfortunately…
@Springbank I totally get it - the deals have been ‘flowing’ this past year and folks certainly have stocked up. My advice - DRINK YOUR BOTTLES FASTER!!!
@Springbank @tercerowines Was going to say the same. You folks obviously don’t drink enough.
@tercerowines Larry, we can’t drink faster! But you convinced me recently to get a few more bottles of rose…
@klezman thank you - and #babygeorgia does as well!!!
/giphy headstrong-clear-silk
Can’t pass up a quality syrah.
A lot of money for domestic vine. I prefer FRENCH!
@devendome555 OK, I’ll bite. You’re saying that $15/$20 is expensive for (presumably) decent American wine. Care to elaborate?
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations).
2014 M by Martellotto Syrah - $60 = 24.99%