Old Vines, Young Love
Tasting Notes
2021 vintage — fall 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.
2021 Turley “Brandlin Ranch” Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Located atop Mount Veeder, on the eastern and Napa side of the Mayacamas Mountains, this historic site was first settled in the 1870s by the Brandlin family, who ran the local stagecoach. They first planted grapevines in 1926, and we are honored to be working with the Zinfandel from that original planting. Sitting between 900-1250 feet in decomposed granite soils, slate, and schist, these dry-farmed vines see a long growing season, low yields, and high concentration. One sip and it’s easy to see why this is the most legendary vineyard on Mount Veeder.
Historic 1926 Zinfandel vineyard atop Mt Veeder, along the steep southern edge of the Mayacamas in Napa. Ardent aromas of wildflowers, berries, and savory, umami-rich meats. Reminiscent of an alpine strawberry meadow. Deeply pleasurable on the palate, with a burst of ripe red fruits deftly delivered by fresh acidity. Well-structured and downright delicious. Drinking great now at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “Hayne Vineyard” Zinfandel, Napa Valley
The Hayne Vineyard is one of our most exceptional sites. Located in an idyllic warm yet breezy spot on the west side of St. Helena, we are honored to have worked with this vineyard and the Hayne family for over twenty-six years. The property has been in the same family since 1876, and the head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines, planted in 1902 and 1903, produce wines of power and elegance. Year after year, this wine serves as the archetype for Zinfandel and Napa Valley.
A Napa Valley “grand cru,” planted 1902-03. Refined rose petal, red and black fruits, and braised meats on the nose; like a beautifully set table complete with boeuf bourguignon and a bouquet of roses. Tegan likes to call this wine a “thoroughbred,” and it’s easy to see why; strong, beautiful, elegant, and downright lovely. Will age well, decant or drink now at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “Judge Bell” Zinfandel, Amador County
As our Amador winery is located on Bell Road, we named this wine for the eponymous (and notorious) Judge Bell, who presided over the nearby town of Plymouth during its Gold Rush heyday. Harking from own-rooted vines planted in 1907, the wine shows quintessential Amador granitic tannins and briary fruits.
Ungrafted vines planted 1907 in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The nose is deeply appealing, leading with spiced red fruits and wild rosebushes. The texture is equally enticing, well balanced between ripe fruit and fine-grained granitic tannin. Ready to drink now or lay it down for a spell at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “Fredericks Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
Hailing from 1937, these certified organic vines are some of the most unique we’ve ever seen. Just a mile and a half from the Napa border on the Sonoma side of the Mayacamas, the vines are planted along steep, contoured terraces. Finding old vineyards is rare enough, but ancient hillside head-trained vines located 900 feet up? Downright extraordinary.
Certified organic, planted 1937 at about 1000 ft up Moon Mountain. Fragrant nose of plum, lavender, black cherry, graphite, anise, herbs, and roasted coffee. A liberal dose of mountain tannins adds additional gravitas. The overall effect is wondrous, and the powerful finish left us awestruck. Don’t miss this wine in 2021. Lay it down or decant and serve at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “Ueberroth Vineyard” Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Planted in 1885, Ueberroth is the oldest of our Zinfandel vineyards. Located closer to the sea than any other site we work with, you can smell the salt air from the top of the vineyard hill. These ungrafted, head-trained vines are planted on very steep limestone slopes. The high pH of the soil makes for a very high-acid wine, elevating the powerful ripe fruit flavors from this historic certified organic vineyard.
Certified organic, ungrafted vines over 130 years old; the “grand cru” site of Paso Robles. Dark brambly fruits abound in this classically elegant yet powerful Paso Zin, along with a hint of holiday spices and dried orange peel. A generous surge of acidity on the palate offers the characteristic lift we love in this wine, and pairs perfectly with the dense fruit flavors. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F or will age.
2021 Turley “RATTLESNAKE RIDGE Vineyard” Zinfandel, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Rattlesnake Ridge is a certified organic, estate-owned vineyard. Located at the top of Howell Mountain at about 2600 feet, the vines see more sun here than they would on the valley floor; however, it is much colder due to the elevation, and can even snow in the winter. All combined, these factors make for a truly unique wine: bold flavors, and a tannin and acid backbone that can only come from Howell Mountain.
Certified organic estate vines planted at 2400 ft on a windswept ridge overlooking Napa Valley. Classic Rattlesnake aromas of blackberry, chaparral, violets, sage, bacon, and savory pie crust fresh from the oven; reminiscent of Côte Rôtie. Traditional Howell Mountain tannins are well tamed by the copious flavors and luscious texture. Utterly delicious now at 55°-60°F, but could also be decanted or laid down.
2021 Turley “Dogtown Vineyard” Zinfandel, Lodi
Planted in 1944, the Dogtown Vineyard is organically farmed by Turley Wine Cellars. This head-trained, own-rooted vineyard is within the Clements Hills AVA, which has more varied topography than the rest of Lodi; thus, while most vineyards in the region were furrow irrigated, the rolling hills of iron-rich clay and volcanic soil in Dogtown have been dry-farmed from the start. The vineyard has some of the most consistently low yields and best natural acidity of any other we’ve farmed.
The pride of Lodi, these organically farmed ungrafted vines were planted in 1944. Vibrant aromas soar from the glass, including red fruits, matcha, autumnal spices, and gingerbread. We could smell this wine all day! Palate is equally pleasurable, with a bit of bitter chocolate, stone fruits, and smooth, black tea-like tannin. Drinking well now at 55°-60°F and will age nicely.
2021 Turley “Library Vineyard” Petite Syrah, Napa Valley
The Library Vineyard is one of the most unique vineyards in California. Planted between 1880 and 1920 directly behind the St. Helena Public Library, the vineyard is very varietally diverse. Primarily Petite Syrah vines mix with a myriad of others, including; Peloursin, Cinsault, Syrah, Mission, Alicante Bouschet, Grand Noir, Carignan, Grenache and Zinfandel. There are also several white grapes such as Muscat Alexandria, Muscadelle, Burger, and Green Hungarian. We pick them all together to make a wine truly expressive of the vineyard.
A true gem, this incredibly varietally diverse vineyard was planted 1880-1920. Aromas range from purple fruits, white muscat, lychee, and orange blossom to iron-rich savory roast rib eye. Signature Napa Valley on the palate, mouthwatering with polished, velvety tannin. Give it a generous decant and serve at 60°-65°F or lay it down.
2021 Turley “Zampatti Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma County
Located in Sonoma County, Zampatti is nearly hidden in downtown Santa Rosa. Planted in 1915 on 2.5 acres, the vineyard is farmed organically by Alida Morzenti, granddaughter of the Zampattis. The Zinfandel vines are interspersed with little-known white grapes Palomino and Golden Chasselas, and planted on a cool sloping site with large rocks scattered throughout the warm Franciscan soils. The wines are balanced, aromatic, bright and beautiful.
A miniscule jewel of an organic vineyard, planted 1915. Ripe cranberry, blood orange zest, chalk, and fennel on the nose. Bright and vivid on the palate, with plum and further red and citrus fruits. Utterly ethereal in texture, you can’t help but salivate throughout and well after you’ve savored this wine. Drinks very well now at 55°-60°F or can age.
2021 Turley “DUSI Vineyard” Zinfandel, PASO ROBLES
The Dusi vineyard was planted by Dante Dusi in 1945, and is farmed by his family to this day. The vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, planted in soil that is primarily alluvial with some rather large rocks. Like our other Paso vineyards, Dusi is located in the Templeton Gap AVA, the cooler climate area on the west side of the region.
Planted 1945 and still farmed by the Dusi family to this day, this wine is one of the most plush and hedonistic we make at Turley. Particularly pretty in ‘21, with black plum, crème de cassis, and blackberry. Luscious, sappy, mouthwatering and absurdly easy to drink. Velvety in texture with a nice piquant white spice on the long finish. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “Hayne Vineyard” Petite Syrah, Napa Valley
Otty Hayne planted the Hayne Petite Syrah in 1953 while he was home from college visiting his grandfather. All head-trained, dry-farmed and organic, this Petite Syrah vineyard is one of the most exceptional sites in California. The wine is powerful and inky in its youth, and becomes more elegant and refined with age. Likely to outlive us all.
One of the finest wines we make, this organic, old-vine Petite Syrah has serious pedigree. Profound on the nose, with pungent plum, dark brambly fruits, India ink, and pan grillé, reminiscent of young Pauillac. The palate has luscious blackberry, white pepper, and a hint of orange zest alongside a savory layer of herbs, gravel, and anise. Decanting will coax further pleasure if you drink the wine now, or it can age indefinitely. Serve at 60°-65°F.
2021 Turley “RATTLESNAKE RIDGE Vineyard” PETITE SYRAH, HOWELL MOUNTAIN
Above St. Helena on the north-eastern ridge of Napa Valley, the Petite Syrah from the certified organic Rattlesnake Ridge Vineyard is another fantastic expression of Howell Mountain. Dark, powerful, inky, funky; this high-elevation, sun-drenched yet cool and windy site brings out the best characteristics of Petite Syrah.
Certified organic vines planted at 2400 ft above Napa Valley. A full meal of a wine, with purple fruits, bacon fat, savory herbs, grilled bread, lavender oil, graphite, and crème de cassis. Grippy tannins and a mouth-coating texture balanced by the plentiful fruits and a long finish. Decant and drink now at 60°-65°F or will benefit further from laying down.
2021 Turley “Old Vines” Zinfandel, California
Old Vines is composed of a variety of venerable sites from California that are either too small to be made into a vineyard designate wine or are “new” to the Turley family (and way of farming). Vines are anywhere from 50 to 130 years old, and a true representation of California old vine Zinfandel, hailing from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi, Contra Costa, Amador and Paso Robles. There is no better way to gauge the classic character of old vine Zinfandel in California than through this wine.
Hailing from over 20 ancient vineyards across California, this wine has inherent depth, complexity, and grace thanks to the old vine sources. The ’21 is extremely well composed; dark fruits like plum and blueberry alongside black tea and savory herbs. A serious and brooding wine that is satisfyingly nimble on the palate. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F.
2021 Turley “The White Coat” White Wine, California
The White Coat (named for Larry’s past career as an Emergency Room physician) is composed of white Rhône grapes from three of our Estate vineyards across California. The rich, textured Roussanne from Rattlesnake Ridge on Howell Mountain in Napa is moderated by acidity and structure provided by the Grenache Blanc grown in the calcareous soils of the Pesenti Vineyard in Paso Robles. Finally, the blend is rounded out with a touch of refreshing, mineral Vermentino (also known as Rolle) from the granitic and quartz-laden Cobb Vineyard in Amador. The result is an exceptional, dynamic white wine that is truly California.
Our signature white blend of Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, and Roussanne, all white grapes hailing from the Rhône Valley. Fantastic nose of fragrant white flowers, chamomile, ripe apricot, beeswax, and sun-warmed white stone. Medium-bodied with further honeyed stone fruits and a tinge of butterscotch. Great with rich shellfish or lemon-y pasta, and drinking well now at 40°-50°F.