Tasting Notes
2020 Turley “Estate” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
We may be red-blooded red-wine-lovers at Turley, but we still have lots of love for the pleasures of a clean, crisp white, especially this Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, Sauvignon Blanc was one of the first wines ever made from the Turley Estate in 1993! We’ve since replanted a small section of the estate to dry-farmed, head-trained Sauvignon Blanc from heritage Napa Valley budwood. Best advised to get while the getting’s good though—Larry is hoarding as much SB as possible for himself, and sharpening his oyster shucker as we speak for the summer ahead!
From certified organic vines hailing from heritage budwood at our beloved Estate in Napa Valley, the Sauv Blanc is Larry’s go-to wine all summer long. Fermented and aged in a combination of large and small used French oak barrels, stainless steel, and concrete, the result is a dynamic, utterly well-balanced and satiating wine. Crisp, fresh aromas of lemon verbena and yellow pear with a hint of white pepper. Excellently textured (thank you, concrete egg et al.!) with crystalline yet ripe yellow fruits on the palate, light salinity, and a long, clean finish. Ready to drink now well-chilled at 40-50°F.
2020 Turley Zinfandel Rosé, California
We select a few of our Zinfandel vines to pick early to make this vivid, dry, delightful rosé. Now in its second-ever release to our members, last year this wine sold out in just 24 hours! The wine is fermented completely dry using only natural yeasts, and finishes fermentation in 100% used French oak barrels. This Provençal-style reimagining of California’s infamous rosé wine was conceived of by Larry’s eldest daughter, Christina, while she was still working as a sommelière in New York City; she credits that wine’s success as the impetus behind her landing on both Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list as well as Wine Enthusiast’s “40 under 40.” But this bright, crisp rosé can be enjoyed by anyone at any age—as long as they’re over 21, of course!
Though akin to Provençal rosés in the way it’s made, this wine is distinctly Californian, and pure joy. Delicate aromas of wild strawberries topped with crème fraîche, juicy watermelon, golden & red delicious apples, red berries…like a really, really, good fruit bowl with none of the “filler” fruits (looking at you, honedew). Fresh lively acidity and dangerously easy to drink, with a refreshing mouthwatering finish. Bottled in the unique Turley bottle you know & love, with a striking white label and capsule. Ready to drink now well-chilled at 40-50°F.
2020 Turley “Bechthold Vineyard” Cinsault, Lodi
Planted in 1885, this Cinsault vineyard is certainly the oldest of its kind in the United States, and perhaps even the oldest Cinsault in the world! A light-bodied red grape, Cinsault (pronounced SAHN-so) is usually found in the south of France as a component of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône Valley, or consumed as rosé in Provence. The Bechthold Vineyard vines are gnarly, head-trained, and dry-farmed in deep, sandy soils. They’re also ungrafted, meaning they remain on their original vitis vinifera roots that were first planted 136 years ago, a phenomenon nearly impossible to replicate today. The wine is light-bodied with fresh, high acidity, almost akin to a Gamay or a very light Pinot Noir. It’s fermented using only natural yeasts and aged in 100% used French oak.
An engaging nose of both red and dark fruits, including ripe red plum, crisp red apple, and pomegranate, with a touch of palo santo. On the palate, the wine shows the kind of depth and complexity that can only come from truly ancient vines, coupled with a pleasurable bright zip, owing to the primarily whole-cluster fermentation. Excellent as an aperitif alongside charcuterie, or for that person who insists on drinking red wine with their fish! We recommend serving this wine lightly chilled, around 50-60°F, slightly colder than cellar temperature. If you prefer more body, this wine will take on weight with time in the bottle.
2019 Turley “Steacy Ranch” Zinfandel, Lodi
Planted in 1907, and located in the Tokay fine sandy loam soils on the east side of Lodi, these head-trained, dry-farmed Zinfandel vines are interspersed with Grenache, Carignane, and Mission varieties as well, all common bedfellows in these classic old California vineyards.
Deeply satiating aromatics of dark red and blue fruits, orange zest, roast meats, and a hint of flintiness. Imagine you’re eating your leg of lamb at the dinner table, but you can smell the freshly-baked berry pie cooling on the windowsill. Like an everlasting gobstopper, it’s a full meal in and of itself, and hits the spot every time. If you’re a fan of either the Dusi or Estate Zinfandels, we think you’ll find this wine as satisfying as we do! Ready to drink now, and best served at cellar temperature, about 55-65°F. The wine will also age well if you prefer to lay it down.
2019 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 27 vineyards across our beautiful Golden State, the Turley Juvenile is more of a clear bellwether for the 2019 vintage than any other wine we make. The wine is truly lovely from the very first pour, showing ripe red fruits, florals, warmed spices, and excellent freshness. Smooth, lithe, and satisfying on the palate, with a hint of texture and supremely well-integrated tannins. Juvenile always sets the standard for classic California Zinfandel, and the 2019 is no exception. What an absolutely gorgeous knockout of a wine for $20.
2019 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!). We have slowly and steadily planted additional head-trained dry-farmed Zinfandel vines to complement the original planting from the mid-1990s, and the entire property is certified organic. Taking a page from our beloved old vine vineyards, we’ve also planted several of the varieties most commonly interplanted in old Zinfandel vineyards, including Carignane, Trousseau, and Cinsault.
Prima facie, one of the most open and expressive wines in the lineup. Red fruits, dark fruits, and chocolate-coated fruits flourish alongside bouquet garni, black pepper, chaparral and plentiful spices. The palate shows subtle gravelly tannins, lending backbone and structure to the wine. This year we’ve co-fermented the Estate Zinfandel fruit with a small amount (<5%) of the Carignane and heritage blend Petite Syrah interplanted on the Estate, affording additional depth and complexity to this beloved Estate wine. Ready to drink without delay!