2021 Martellotto 'Senz' Altro' Red Wine Santa Barbara County 12x750ml

About the Wine

All five noble Bordeaux grapes, grown in Santa Barbara and aged in French oak.

Most winemakers pick a grape and stick with it. Greg Martellotto looked at the five noble Bordeaux varieties and refused to choose. Senz Altro means "without a doubt" — and that's exactly the attitude behind it. Cabernet Sauvignon for backbone. Merlot for flesh. Cabernet Franc for lift. Petit Verdot for color and spice. Malbec for the finishing touch.

Leaving even one out felt irresponsible, so Greg didn't. The result isn't a blend that's trying to please everyone. It's a blend that does everything at once — structure, richness, savor, and polish — grown in Santa Barbara County and aged in French oak until the five grapes stop arguing and start singing in unison.

Since 2005, Greg has been crafting wines in his family's tradition, using techniques passed down through generations of Italian vintners. But this isn't your typical family story. Greg took those ancestral secrets and spent decades refining them, perfecting them, pushing them beyond what even his forefathers imagined possible. His mastery recently earned him recognition as a certified Italian Wine Ambassador—one of only 450 people worldwide to receive this prestigious honor.

The result? Wines so exceptional that they've been flying completely under the radar, known only to a select few who stumble upon Martellotto's tiny production runs of fewer than 8,000 cases per year. For years, Greg's wines consistently earned 90+ ratings and collected double gold medals in blind competitions.

Open it on  a Tuesday. Open it by candlelight. Open it for no reason at all. You'll LOVE it regardless. 

Tasting Notes

A blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a mix of 20% Malbec, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Hailing primarily from the Star Lane vineyard in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, here is a masterful Bordeaux blend that highlights the unheralded beauty of these grapes in the far eastern part of the Santa Ynez Valley. 

Hot summer days are cooled by the Pacific Ocean in the evening, making this an ideal part of the Central Coast of California for growing world-class wines. In the nose, cedar, vanilla, and blackberry entice. In the mouth, the layers unfold.

Black cherry and raspberry harmonize with dried thyme and bay leaf. The finish is smooth with a well-integrated oak profile. Structured like a wine three times the price.