Marietta Cellars
Angeli Zinfandel 2023
Alexander Valley
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.
The estate series from Marietta is made with terroir in mind above all else. For many years these sites were included in blends, though they routinely stood out as extraordinary. These wines are true expressions of unique sites, crafted with freshness, tension and longevity in mind.
VINEYARD
The Angeli Ranch was sold to Chris Bilbro in 1990 by Viola Angeli, whose family had originally settled the land in 1886. When Viola was ready to sell the property, she offered it to Chris Bibro because he had purchased the grapes from the ranch for many years and always visited with Viola regularly. 35 acres of vineyards connect gravel swales from the Russian River to terraced knolls invisible from the valley floor. The Angeli Zinfandel takes its name from the homesteading family and exemplifies the cool effect of these unique vineyards in a bright, tense, and stony expression of Zinfandel.
WINEMAKING
A unique approach of cool fermentations and 15 months of neutral barrel aging emphasize freshness in the Angeli Zinfandel.
VINTAGE
A cool, rainy spring and delayed budbreak allowed for extended hang-time, resulting in vibrant aromatics and lush, concentrated flavors with moderate alcohol levels.
TASTING NOTE
Bursting with scents of graham cracker, briar berries, violet, wild thyme and slowly emerging foresty undertones. The full-bodied palate is packed to the brim with ripe, juicy berry fruit. It has a pleasant touch of chew to its tannins.
FOOD PAIRING
Lamb with rosemary potatoes and charred scallions
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Zinfandel
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Farming
Sustainable
Alcohol
14.9%
Suggested Retail Price
$50
Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck - September 16, 2025 "From a site near the Marietta winery once owned by Viola Angeli, who sold grapes to the family for years, the 2023 Zinfandel Angeli is made from 100% Zinfandel and is a velvety textured wine bursting in ripe raspberry and black pepper. Generously layered and full-bodied, it holds enough freshness to remain pleasurable and long-lasting, finishing in toasted oak notes. This is drinking well now and should continue to evolve over the next 10 years."
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Nadi Riesling
Cienega Valley, California
This Dry Riesling comes from a special vineyard in the Cienega Valley appellation inland of Monterey, California. These old, dry farmed, head pruned vines produce a small but concentrated crop. The second oldest Riesling in California, this block was planted in 1964.
Gibson Block Syrah
McDowell Valley, California
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, this wine is built to enjoy with food.
Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon
Yorkville Highlands, California
From a high elevation site in the Yorkville Highlands 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 significance.
Christo Red Blend
North Coast, California
Named and styled after Chris Bilbro, affectionately called "Christo" by his great-aunt Marietta, this Rhone varietal blend is gentle but powerful, pleasurable but deep, and refined while raw. An ode to Scot's father and founder of Marietta Cellars, this blend is largely Syrah from the McDowell estate, blended with Petite Sirah from the Angeli Estate and Grenache from the Yorkville Highlands Estate. The pig snout on the label is a reminder of how Chris Bilbro made wild boar sausage and carted his creations around the country to share with chefs and wine lovers alike as he sold Marietta wines.
Armé Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast, California
Named after Armé, the husband of Marietta and great-great uncle of Owner/Winemaker Scot Bilbro, this Cabernet Sauvignon conveys a taut freshness and aromatic purity. Stylistically balanced between modern California and Old World, this wine is dense with fresh, dark fruit and tempered with a savory, earthy character. The dry fly on the label is a reference to Chris Bilbro's long family history of fishing with his great uncle Armé along the waterways that now adjoin the three estate vineyards.
Román Zinfandel
North Coast, California
Named after cellarmaster Román Cisneros who has worked at Marietta for over 32 years, this Estate Zinfandel is from the Angeli estate vineyard in Alexander Valley and the McDowell Valley estate vineyard. 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.
