Hedonistic, Delicious, and Ridiculously Drinkable: Marietta OVR Lot 74

Marietta’s Lot 74: California’s Best Red Value?

Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot No. 74 is the newest release in one of California’s most consistently delicious red wine series, and it’s as irresistible as ever. If you loved the wildly drinkable Lot 73, this new edition picks up right where it left off: juicy, full of fruit, and incredibly easy to drink.

This is a hedonist’s wine, plain and simple. A lush, layered blend led by old vine Zinfandel, with brooding Petite Sirah and savory Mourvèdre in support, Lot 74 is packed with sun-ripened blackberry, wild herbs, and soft spice. It’s medium-bodied, supple, and lifted by just the right snap of acidity. You’ll want to drink it slightly cool, preferably with the grill fired up and friends gathered around. It’s that kind of wine—the one that disappears faster than you expect, the one everyone asks about, the one that somehow tastes even better when you’re not overthinking it.

Winemaker Scot Bilbro, who took the reins from his father, crafts OVR with a kind of quiet, intuitive mastery. This is a multi-vintage blend—one of the rare ones that actually makes the most of that format. Fruit is sourced from Marietta’s sustainably farmed estate vineyards in Geyserville, McDowell, and Yorkville, aged partially in neutral barrel and partially in stainless steel to retain both texture and freshness.

The result is a bottle that punches way above its price tag. Seriously—this is one of California’s best red wine values, year in and year out. It’s generous without being overblown, fruit-driven but never simple, and impressively polished for something that costs less than twenty bucks.

Whether you're serving ribs, burgers, grilled veggies, or absolutely nothing at all, Lot 74 is your go-to red for summer and beyond. This is a wine to keep stocked—a case in the pantry kind of wine. Don’t miss it. Lot 74 is here, and it’s drinking beautifully.

 

From the Producer:

“We are still performing magic here at Marietta. This second-generation winery continues to transform hard work, a blessed climate, special pieces of land, and belief into beautiful liquid expressions of family and place.”

Most Recent Rated Bottling:
95 Points, Wine Advocate

The NV OVR Lot 73 is composed mainly of Zinfandel with smaller portions of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Barbera. Medium ruby, it offers intense red cherry, blood orange and apricot perfume with accents of rooibos tea leaves, red licorice, saline, lilac and loads of spicy nuances. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet with soft tannins, bursts of refreshing acidity and detailed amaro accents on the long finish. This is so easy to drink!