Tasting Notes
2018 vintage — spring release
A note on our winemaking:
All of our vineyards are either certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers or somewhere in the process, and we use all natural yeasts in the fermentations. The below single vineyard designate wines are aged in 80% used oak barriques, of which 80% are French (the rest American) and bottled after 15-18 months in barrel.
2019 Turley “Estate” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
Though a recent addition to the Turley family, Sauvignon Blanc was one of the first wines ever made from the Turley Estate in 1993. Those vines have since been replaced by Zinfandel, but we have replanted a small section of the estate to dry-farmed, head-trained Sauvignon Blanc from heritage Napa Valley budwood once again. Get while the getting’s good though—Larry is hoarding as much as possible for himself, and sharpening his oyster shucker as we speak!
Bright, honeyed stone fruits such as white nectarines and apricots, as well as a bit of sun-warmed citrus on the nose. The palate of the ’19 Sauvignon Blanc shows a hair more heft & chutzpah than in years past, with a satiating multi-dimensional texture. As this is a young wine, we advise allowing the bottles a moment to catch their breath (at least a few weeks?) before you open them up!
2018 Turley “Bedrock Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
Hailing from 1888 and owned by Joel Peterson (founder of Ravenswood) and his son Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock Wine Co., the Bedrock Vineyard is truly an iconic site. Right in the heart of Sonoma Valley, these ancient vines are planted amidst volcanic rocks and Los Robles cobbly loam soil that has sloughed down from Monte Rosso. This is a layered,complex wine, owing perhaps to the small amounts of Petite Syrah and Alicante Bouschet that are also found in our organically-farmed block of Bedrock.
One of the best years ever for our iteration of Bedrock, with dark red fruits, earthy loam, plum, and spice; a brooding, old-world wine, almost Claret-like in breadth. Perfectly ripe, well-structured with lively, fresh tannins on the palate. Lay it down in the cellar or decant to let the wine truly thrive.
2018 Turley “Buck Cobb Vineyard” Zinfandel, Amador County
Planted at 1500 feet on the volcanic, granitic hillside near our property in Amador, the Cobb Vineyard Zinfandel is an homage to “Buck” Cobb from whom we purchased the vineyard and the Karly property in Amador. We even added a little bi-plane symbol to the label to commemorate Buck’s time as an aerobatic pilot! The rocky conditions and more extreme weather (including snow) in this dry-farmed vineyard make for a hearty, robust Zinfandel.
Bright, pretty, red fruits and alpine garrigue/underbrush perfume on the nose. On the palate, the ‘18 Cobb is nimble, ready to drink, with excellent grippy granitic tannins. The copious spice and naturally rustic texture is reminiscent of Piemonte reds like Barbaresco, and make this wine a natural pairing with your favorite Italian foods. Like the many Italian immigrant prospectors who helped lay the groundwork for these vines in the Sierra Foothills, decant alongside your pasta al diavolo and prosper!
2018 Turley “Casa Nuestra” Red Wine, Napa Valley
Connoisseurs of Napa Valley field blends will likely recognize the vineyard, made primarily under the eponymous label and farmed organically since 1979. For the formerly uninitiated, Casa Nuestra is nearly adjacent to the Turley Estate property in Napa Valley, just across the nearby Napa River. The vineyard is planted to a Mediterranean mix of Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Alicante, Carignane, Napa Gamay, Négrette, Mourvèdre, Refosco, and even Chenin Blanc.
A quintessential Napa Valley field blend red: dark, rich fruits on the nose with earth, cinnamon, blue fruits and graphite. A truly inviting wine that begs to be revisited as it opens up through the course of a meal. Dynamic and layered on the palate, with a plethora of fresh fruits, spices,and tons of personality; this is an exceptional food pairing wine. We’re dreaming of burgers, but cassoulet or really any hearty dish will do! Great straight out of the gate and likely even better with time; a complete package of a wine.
2018 Turley “Duarte” Zinfandel, Contra Costa County
This wine is an homage to Joe Duarte, a prominent grape grower in Contra Costa who first introduced Turley to the incredible vineyards of the area. The wine is comprised of fruit from the turn-of-the-century Evangehlo, Mori, and Salvador vineyards, planted between 1890 and 1930.Thanks to the sandy soils and impressive age of the vines, the wine has some of the softest, silkiest tannins we’ve ever seen in a Zinfandel.
An engaging nose of sun-ripened peach skin with tones of dark blue fruits & flowers as well. The palate is teeming with ripe berries and stone fruits, with the Duarte’s signature suave, mouth-watering texture. Excessively easy to drink immediately, the wine showed stellar from the very first pour!
2018 Turley “Dusi Vineyard” Zinfandel, Paso Robles
The Dusi vineyard was planted by Dante Dusi in 1945 and it is farmed by his family to this day. The vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, planted in soil that is mostly alluvial with some very large rocks. Like our other vineyards in the area, Dusi is on the west side of Paso Robles.
The darker, more plush cousin to the Pesenti Zinfandel. Wild black cherries and lavender alongside crème de mure, blueberries and gravel. Exceptionally expressive on the palate, with blue-black fruits, higher density and more structure than years previous.Feel free to crack it & attack it, as it’s good to go!
2018 Turley “Juvenile” Zinfandel, California
Though the vast majority of our wines are single vineyard designates, Juvenile is actually composed of a variety of young vines that have been replanted in several of our old vine sites.We tag the younger vines then pick them separately and make a distinct wine. Juvenile vines range in age from about 6-25 years, and we pull from a selection of our best vineyards across California, including Hayne, Pesenti, Salvador, Vineyard 101, Fredericks, and Kirschenmann.
Hailing from 29 vineyards in 11 different counties across our beautiful Golden State, Turley Juvenile sets the standard for classic California Zinfandel. Bright, vibrant pepper and spice,lovely lifted red fruits, satiating acidity,and a hint of blue fruits as well. Lithely textured with pure precision and tons of energy on the palate. The wine is perfectly ready and a-rarin’ to go right on release!
2018 Turley “Kirschenmann Vineyard” Zinfandel, Lodi
The Kirschenmann is close to our hearts as our winemaker, Tegan Passalacqua, owns and farms this vineyard. The ungrafted vines were planted in 1915 in the silica-rich sandy soils of the east side of the Mokelumne River AVA. Thanks to the river’s cool waters and delta breezes, these head-trained, dry-farmed vines are constantly protected from the heat. In the grand tradition of old-vine field blends, the vineyard has small amounts of Mondeuse, Cinsault, and Carignane.
Savory red fruits, wafts of dark perfume and spicy mint leaves. Wafts of appealing herbs and black tea with a hint of tangerine leaf. The core of the wine is very dark, and the palate has excellent depth with pleasantly textured tannins balanced by vivacious acidity. Larry took one sip, sighed and said “This makes me want to cook lamb!” Drinking well now (especially with the aforementioned lamb) and will stay fresh in the cellar thanks to the bracing acidity.
2018 Turley “Mead Ranch” Zinfandel, Atlas Peak
Mead Ranch is planted at about 1600 feet on Atlas Peak, on the southeastern side of Napa Valley. The vineyard was originally planted in the 1880s, though our block is primarily from the 1970s. This vineyard is head-trained, planted in red volcanic soil.On a clear day you can see San Francisco; though those are few and far between, and thus this vineyard sees plenty of fog from the bay.
2018 is the 19th and final vintage of the Mead Ranch Zinfandel for Turley. Extremely expressive on the nose, Mead Ranch has always stood out in the spring tasting and is the easiest one to guess blind. Brambly blackberry bushes, perfume, resin, meat marinade, chaparral and herbs de Provence on the nose. The palate is energetic, wild and exotic with plenty of nimble texture...the Mead really went all-out for its finale! Can benefit from a quick decant but it’s not required to revel in the myriad pleasures of this wine; just pop & pour!
2018 Turley “Pesenti Vineyard” Zinfandel, Paso Robles
This certified organic estate-owned vineyard was planted in the 1920s on primarily limestone soil. Though the vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, the soil plays the most important role in distinguishing this vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles. The wines have a brightness, with chalk and floral characteristic aromas unique to the site, and to Zinfandel in general.
Vibrant and always distinctive, the Pesenti Zinfandel makes its spring lineup debut! Fragrant red fruits, black raspberry, chalk dust, piquant spices and wildflowers all flourish on the nose. Lush yet linear on the palate, with fresh, lively acidity and profound depth. Intensely pleasurable now, and will age well.
2018 Turley “Sadie Upton Vineyard” Zinfandel, Amador County
We are honored to be working with this jewel of a vineyard in Amador County, whose story is almost as compelling as the wine!In 1922, smack-dab in the middle of Prohibition and while her husband was away working for the railroad, a then 21-year-old Sadie Upton decided she was going to plant a vineyard near their home at 1500 feet near Plymouth, CA. Now, 98 years later, the vines are still kicking in the gumption-riddled tradition of their creator. The wine was made exclusively by Karly for the past 30 years and we are beyond excited to be able to share Sadie’s moxie with you today.
Beautiful, alluring, pungent, and pure, Sadie is the Barolo to the Cobb’s Barbaresco. Dark red rose petals, berries, spice, and warm gravel. We believe Sadie is the crown jewel of Amador; sumptuous, dense and compact with excellent structure. We recommend decanting or laying down for a spell to enhance the enchantment this queen of a wine offers.
2018 Turley “Estate” Zinfandel, Napa Valley
This vineyard is special to all of us here at the winery; right in our backyard, it’s what we see every day at work (and from the family home!). In 2006, we planted 6 acres of head-trained dry-farmed Zinfandel that compliments the original planting from ten years prior, all of which are certified organic.
2018 is the 20th vintage of Turley’s Estate Zinfandel! Vibrantly colored and deeply aromatic, the ‘18 Estate Zin is true Napa Valley elegant opulence. Loads of fruit and earth on the nose, along with dried flowers, cedar, and tobacco, reminiscent of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and other wines of the southern Rhône. The multi-dimensional palate has more structure and grip than years past, as well as a bit of gravel dust on the finish. Fans of our Aida wines of yore will find them resurrected here. Ready to drink now.
2018 Turley “Vineyard 101” Zinfandel, Alexander Valley
Located in Sonoma, this pre-Prohibition vineyard is estate-owned and certified organic. At only 2½ acres, it is the smallest site we make into a vineyard designate, which is a shame, since the wines are consistently a staff favorite.The wines are aromatic and light, with lots of fruit and great acidity. Vineyard 101 was the first old-vine vineyard Larry purchased, and it is the longest-running estate bottling we’ve ever made.
Cranberry, pomegranate, pie crust and baking spices abound on the deeply fragrant nose. The palate is pure, lissome, and long, with copious snappy fruits and excellent acidity. Give it some time in the cellar or decant for maximum enjoyment.
2018 Turley “Estate” Petite Syrah, Napa Valley
Planted adjacent to the Estate Zinfandel, this Petite is also certified organic.The Wappo Indians used to roam throughout the region, and obsidian arrowheads are commonplace in the rocky volcanic soils. The wine is a classic Napa Valley Petite Syrah: dark and brooding on the nose, bright and vibrant on the palate.
The sole Petite on the spring release, this wine is truly set apart from its Zinfandel brethren. As dark in color as the many nights we were without power during harvest (thank you PG&E!), ruby at the rim but nearly black at the core. Purple fruits, crème de cassis, cocoa powder and clove on the nose, coupled with India ink, game and dusty gravel on the palate. Dense yet elegantly textured with polished tannins and a long, savory finish. Lay this wine down for as long as you can stand it—or,at the very least—decant for several hours beforehand!