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.
2016 Turley “Bedrock Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
Hailing from 1888 and owned by Joel and Morgan Peterson of Ravenswood and Bedrock Wine Co., respectively, 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.
The 2016 Bedrock is a shining illustration of a stylish Sonoma Zinfandel, complete with characteristic dark blue fruits, freshly-turned wet earth, and graphite. If you’re a fan of the Fredericks Zinfandel from the fall release, then you will most certainly enjoy the Bedrock. On Sonoma Volcanic soil, Bedrock was one of the first vineyards ever to be planted on rootstock. With a hefty yet refined texture and medium to medium-plus well-rounded tannins, we recommend laying down or decanting to get the most out of this wine.
2016 Turley “Buck Cobb Vineyard” Zinfandel, Amador County
Planted at 1500 feet on the volcanic, granitic hillside near our new 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.
This most recent iteration of the ‘Buck’ Cobb vineyard is a beautiful example of how well an Amador vineyard can evolve with the right farming techniques, attention, and care. The nose is richly enticing, with notes of dark fruits, cola, and a soft, savory smokiness as well. The palate shows some extra oomph, thanks to the structured fine-grained granitic tannins and a pleasant weightiness. We recommend decanting.
2016 Turley “Casa Nuestra” Red Wine, Napa Valley
We are thrilled to present the inaugural vintage of this wine under the Turley label. 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, Negrette, Mourvedre, and Refosco, with a bit of Chenin Blanc for good measure.
This wine is, quite simply, delicious. Delicate layered aromatics of myriad fruits, red to blue to black, freshly roasted coffee, and wild game. Dense yet nimble, well-structured tannins and delectably textured, with signature Napa polish. Devotees of the Library Vineyard will find great pleasure in the Casa Nuestra; after all, it’s wines like these that originally put Napa on the map and kept it there. Great straight out of the gate and likely even better with time; a complete package of a wine.
2016 Turley “Dragon Vineyard” Zinfandel, Howell Mountain
Dragon Vineyard is an estate, certified organic vineyard. Planted at 2400 feet at one of the highest points on Howell Mountain, the vineyard sits well above the fog line and faces east. These important features, along with the rocky, red volcanic soil, make for a unique, full-bodied and powerful Zinfandel that is always Larry’s favorite since it goes with what he likes to cook: bold, flavorful, spice-laden meats on an open fire.
The 2016 Dragon exhibits the very best of what we’ve come to expect from this blue-blooded vineyard on Howell Mountain: tons of spice, ripe purple fruits, violet flowers, and the bracing scent of the forest after a rain. Where the Rattlesnake vines are more exposed to the sun at the top of the slope, Dragon is shielded from this harsh afternoon heat, and the resulting wine is more perfumed and velvety in texture. Though still a typical mountain wine, it’s distinctively more refined, as the softer sunlight allows the fruit’s delicacy to remain intact. Gratifying now with a quick decant.
2016 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, as well as the Del Barba vineyard, planted in the 1960s. As a result of 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.
Perhaps the heartiest, richest Duarte to date; if you’ve never tried this stellar wine before, now’s your chance. Smoked dark fruits, purple flowers and cracked black pepper on the nose lend the wine an air of old-world elegance, reminiscent of the “roasted slopes” of Côte-Rôtie in the northern Rhône. The palate veers more towards blue & black fruits with the distinctively racy acidity and silky tannins that can only come from these ancient, sandy soils. Can drink now or hold based on your personal preference.
2016 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.
As always, the Dusi provides immensely appealing fruit right off the bat! The fruit profile is classic Paso: dark purple, blue, and black, with notes of spicy Mexican dark chocolate as well. A bit more chutzpah than years previous, with a long, gravelly finish and just a touch of salt air. Feel free to crack it & attack it, as it’s good to go!
2016 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. The vines that make up Juvenile 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 24 vineyards in 12 different counties across our beautiful Golden State, the Turley Juvenile sets the standard for classic California Zinfandel. In 2016, we see the first touch of relief from the drought, evident in the more delicate notes of white pepper, floral fruits, and nearly a Burgundy-esque lift on the nose. The palate is a great deal more powerful than the nose would have you believe; resplendent with dark fruits, black pepper and savory smoked spices, topped off by smooth, well-integrated tannins. Rip it & sip it, it’s ready to drink!
2016 Turley “Kirschenmann Vineyard” Zinfandel, Lodi
The Kirschenmann is particularly 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 as well.
Jewel-like, multi-faceted red fruits on the nose, interspersed with white flowers and dried herbs. Don’t be fooled by the delicate aromas, however; the 2016 Kirschenmann has incredible structure, with polished tannins and phenomenal acidity that fill out the palate without weighing it down. With a long, savory finish reminiscent of young Barolo, this wine will undoubtedly age well.
2016 Turley “Mead Ranch” Zinfandel, Atlas Peak
Mead Ranch is planted at about 1600 feet on Atlas Peak, on the south-eastern 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.
With wild, uplifted aromatics that bound out of the glass, simply smelling the Mead Ranch is enough to improve even the most disheartening of days. Floral red fruits, rosewater, brambly blackberries, and a healthy dose of peppers & spices flood the senses. Bolstered by the constant fog & winds found in this vineyard, the well-integrated mountain tannins are balanced by a lovely high-toned edginess that extends out on the finish. Enjoyable now with a quick decanting!
2016 Turley “Rattlesnake Ridge” Zinfandel, Howell Mountain
Rattlesnake Ridge is an estate-owned and certified organic 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, tannin and an acid backbone that can only come from Howell Mountain.
There’s a reason the word “more” popped up six separate times in our original tasting note of this wine—the Rattlesnake truly goes above & beyond. Brambly blue and black fruits take a backseat to the plentiful cracked pepper, sultry spices and wild underbrush characteristics that define this exceptional Howell Mountain vineyard. Smoked meats and purple fruits abound on the palate, and play beautifully atop the rugged, edgy tannins. We recommend decanting for at least an hour before drinking, or laying it down to enjoy in years to come!
2016 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 itself. 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 herself a vineyard near their home at 1500 feet near Plymouth, CA. Now, 92 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.
Perfumed red fruits, dried sage, and a variety of exotic woods all vie for a turn on the nose of this year’s Sadie. The palate fleshes these flavors out alongside the graceful, fine-grained granitic tannins that make our Amador wines so distinctive. Decant.
2016 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.
Pure, gleamingly fresh red and purple fruits, allspice, and the familiar underbrush and garrigue characteristic of the Estate burst forth on the nose, with just a hint of chocolate-covered citrus. The palate is well-rounded and refined, with classic Napa sophistication; fans of our Aida wines of yore will find it resurrected here. Lively and ready to relish in its youth!
2016 Turley “Vineyard 101” Zinfandel, Alexander Valley
Located in Sonoma, this pre-Prohibition vineyard is estate-owned and certified organic. At only 2 ½ 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. Vibrant, fresh red fruits, wild fennel and a touch of anise on the nose. The highest-acid wine we make from northern California, the palate’s texture is exquisite, akin to biting into a perfectly-ripened fruit. Thoroughly enjoyable now, and will be for years to come.
2016 Turley “Rattlesnake Ridge” Petite Syrah, Howell Mountain
Above St. Helena on the north-eastern ridge of Napa Valley, the Petite Syrah from Rattlesnake Ridge Vineyard is another fantastic expression of Howell Mountain. Dark, powerful, inky, funky; this high elevation, sun-drenched but cool and windy site brings out the best characteristics of Petite Syrah.
Dark violets, savory spices, perfume, and ink on a nose with seemingly endless depth. The palate is vast and satiating; concentrated purple fruits in conjunction with the healthy Howell Mountain tannin makes for an intense, multi-layered wine that will age indefinitely. We recommend laying this down for as long as you can stand it, then decanting.
2016 Turley “Estate” Petite Syrah, Napa Valley
Planted adjacent to the Estate Zinfandel, this Petite Syrah is also certified organic. The area used to be Wappo Indian grounds and obsidian arrowheads are commonplace in the rocky volcanic soils. The wines are classic Napa Valley Petite Syrah: dark and brooding on the nose, bright and vibrant on the palate.
Fragrant dark floral aromas, brambly purple fruits, wild game and violets make this a classic Napa Petite Syrah. Fresh tannins and lively acidity bring all the elements of this wine into perfect balance. Surprisingly welcoming in its youth, this is a Petite you could drink in the first year—if you had to! Whether you rip the cork now or in a few years, we recommend decanting.
2016 “The White Coat” White Wine, California
Though the blend has changed over the years, The White Coat (named for Larry’s past 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 knows as Rolle) from the granitic and quartz-laden Cobb Vineyard in Amador. The result is an exceptional, dynamic white wine that is truly California.
Exquisitely aromatic, with white flowers, ripe stone fruit, and crushed minerals on the nose. With great acidity and 13.8% abv the wine is lithe on the mid-palate, while maintaining the substantial body and finish we love so much about this unique California white wine. Since it sees all French oak barrels (of which only 10% are new) and we don’t stir the lees, all the of texture comes from the grapes themselves. This is a serious white wine, the likes of which you can’t find anywhere else!
2016 “Cedarman” Zinfandel, Howell Mountain
Cedarman is a proprietary blend of fruit from both Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon Vineyards. Although primarily Zinfandel, we use a small amount of Petite Syrah from the Rattlesnake vineyard as well. The result is a truly powerful, dense and wild wine, long on flavor.
Deeply fragrant dark purple fruits, ground Provençal herbs, and lavender abound on the nose. The significantly lower crop on Howell Mountain in 2016 (we have only 1/3 the Cedarman we had last year) make for a great deal more concentration in the fruit, evident in the strong ripe brambly berry and savory spice flavors. With its signature Howell Mountain texture, tannin, and long finish, the Cedarman is an ideal cold weather wine. Decant it to enjoy the wine’s evolution over the course of an evening.
2016 “Dogtown Vineyard” Zinfandel, Lodi
Planted in 1944, the Dogtown Vineyard is farmed by Turley Wine Cellars. This head-trained, own-rooted vineyard is within the Clements Hills AVA, which has more 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.
We’ve worked with this vineyard 21 years now, making it one of the longest-running wines in Turley’s farming history. The wine has an intricate nose of dusty herbs, exotic spices, and red jeweled fruits, along with a touch of Palo Santo. The palate is rife with bright red fruits and vibrant acidity, and distinctively suave tannins. This 2016 Dogtown has an elegant structure and texture reminiscent of our favorite wines from sandy soils like Salvador and Duarte. A true Turley classic.
2016 “DuPratt Vineyard” Zinfandel, Mendocino County
*New!* Please welcome the incredible DuPratt Vineyard to the Turley family. Planted in 1916 at 1500 feet up on Mendocino Ridge, this vineyard is surrounded by giant Redwoods and is often called the “vineyard in the sky.” Indeed, the site is so remote that the vines still survive on their own original rootstocks, as Phylloxera has never made its way up there. Located above the town of Philo and only 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, it is the coolest site from which we’ve ever made wine. Though we’ve worked with Mendocino fruit for many years, DuPratt is the 1st Mendocino County bottling from Turley.
A real stunner of a wine, we are thrilled to have bottled our first DuPratt. The combination of old vines, high elevation, and extreme isolation and acidity make it truly unique; imagine a cross of the Ueberroth and Howell Mountain wines, and you’d start to have an idea of what DuPratt tastes like. Profound aromatics of dark berries, mountain garrigue, and high-toned white spices flood the nose. These notes carry through to the palate, which is most noticeable for its bracing acidity: at only 3.22 pH, this is the highest acid wine Turley has ever bottled. Give it as much time as you can stand in the bottle, as this wine will only improve with age; either way decanting it will help speed up that process when you just can’t take it anymore!
2016 “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.
Officially in the newest cool-kid AVA of Moon Mountain, the Fredricks Vineyard is a genuine rarity: old vine concentration and complexity coupled with mountainside structure and tannin. The nose is so distinctive, so classically Fredericks, that even a novice could pick it out of the lineup: cool ripe blueberry, high tones, and tartly sweet berry pie with a dusting of spiced herbs. The palate is where the old high-elevation vines really shine, showing off excellent structure, pleasingly substantial tannin, and a long finish. We recommend giving this wine some time in bottle (if you can!) and decanting before opening.
2016 “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-five 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.
The 2016 Hayne Zinfandel is striking in its elegance. Noble red and blue fruits and fragrant purple flowers on the nose shine through onto the palate as well. The texture of this wine is truly exceptional, indicative of its blue-blooded and deeply-set roots. Lovely, lively acidity up front, refined and delicate on the mid-palate, then swiftly followed by immense structure, depth, and power through the finish. These 116-year-old-vines in the stony, well-drained soils have produced not just the best Zinfandel, but an overall ideal wine, period, year after year.
2016 “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 feminine and refined with age. Likely to outlive us all.
Dense, graceful, and impeccably well-integrated, the Hayne Petite Syrah from 2016 is a wine for the ages. This vineyard is the closest thing we have to a grand cru in California, and the wine over delivers year in and year out. Dark fruit, lovely acidity, sublime texture and gravel tannins all work in tandem with one another; the difference between an experienced orchestra and a guitar solo. With its unrivaled balance and depth, it’s easy to see why the Hayne reigns supreme. Give it a vigorous decant, or it will be all the more stellar after some time in your cellar.
2016 “Heminway Vineyard” Zinfandel, Napa Valley
Located on the top of the Vaca Mountains in northeastern Napa Valley, this vineyard sits at 1700 feet in between the southern end of Howell Mountain and just north of Pritchard Hill. Grown by Jay Heminway, the vines benefit from the moderating climate above Lake Hennessey. The wines are classic Napa Valley mountain fruit with great tannin.
This wine, like the vineyard itself, has such a unique and distinguishing aromatic profile. Tomato leaf, baked rocks, brambly fruit and brush, the 2016 Heminway is definitely more savory than saccharine. The texture speaks to the particularity of the site: on its own little mountain top, surrounded by Chiles Valley, planted in iron-rich volcanic soils. The wines are plush without being heavy, and have a deeply satisfying texture and structure found only in mountain vineyards. Definitely an age-worthy wine, that will benefit from decanting when you decide to enjoy.
2016 “Judge Bell” Zinfandel, Amador County
As our new winery is located on Bell Road, we named this wine for the eponymous (and notorious) “hanging” 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 & briary fruits.
Drinking Judge Bell is the closest we’ll ever get to time travel. These 111-year-old vines are deeply rooted in the organically farmed granite soil, and the wine they produce is distinctively Amador in its pure luminous red color and red-fruited aromatics. The texture further tells the story of the Sierra Foothills, once the epicenter of California’s Gold Rush, with its highly-polished, fine-grained mountain tannins. Drinking exceptionally well now, but will age if you have the patience.
2016 “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.
It’s always difficult to put into words just how special, multi-faceted, and charming this wine is. Citrus flowers and zest, purple fruits, and smoked peppers on the nose; imagine all the scents of an exotic dinner party under the stars, with food cooked over an open fire, and you’d get close. The palate is firmly medium-bodied with a little added density on the finish, and flavorful, long-lived tannins that carry those aromas and images through to the end. One you’ll want to come back to, again and again, and you’ll discover something new every time.
2016 “Old Vines” Zinfandel, California
Old Vines is composed of a variety of old 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.
Thanks to the fortuitous acquisition of the old-vine Steacy vineyard, the Turley Old Vines has never been better. In 2016, it has some of the best freshness and acidity we’ve ever seen in this wine, as well as a deeply satiating spice and luscious, succulent fruit. As always, these fruits run the gamut from red to blue to black, and the wine has the kind of natural depth, complexity, and grace that can only come from truly old vines.
2016 “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, and chalk and floral characteristic aromas unique to the site, and to Zinfandel in general.
Yields were down once again in Paso Robles, though luckily in 2016 we started to see the sliiiiiightest bit of relief, rain-wise. As a result, the Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel is deeply concentrated yet refreshing. The tart red fruits on the initial nose are present as always, followed by Pesenti’s signature bright acidity and smooth tannin. The wine has a refined yet approachable palate presence, complemented by plenty of lift from the calcareous Pesenti soils, carrying through to a long, invigorating finish.
2016 “Pesenti Vineyard” Petite Syrah, Paso Robles
This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the Hayne vineyard. Head-trained, dry-farmed and planted in limestone, the wines are dark, smooth, dense and classic Petite Syrah. As the vines age the wines are increasingly expressive of the Pesenti Vineyard with minerality, savory spices and high tone pepper.
The 2016 Pesenti Petite Syrah is the perfect finisher to a meal, especially if that meal includes anything well-spiced or smoked. White pepper and big dark fruits leap out of the glass, while the underlying notes of purple flowers and subtle savory smoke draw you in. The palate is dense and chewy, with more dark fruits and loads of spice; a bold, deeply flavorful, and satisfying wine. We recommend giving it some time in the bottle and decanting well ahead of mealtime to best experience this powerful Petite.
2016 “Salvador Vineyard” Zinfandel, Contra Costa County
Salvador Vineyard in Contra Costa County is a paragon of old vine Zinfandel. These organically farmed vines were planted on their own roots in 1896. The roots are free to roam deeply as the soil is solid sand for 40 feet down. The wine is stunning: suave, complex and powerfully elegant.
The Salvador feels like truly old-school California, reminiscent of what wine might’ve tasted like when it was first made from these vines well over 120 years ago! The nose pulls you in with aromas of peach fuzz, purple flowers and dark berry fruits. Salvador is instantly pleasing on the palate thanks to the lush, supple tannins that can only come from a vineyard of this age planted so deeply in these Delhi blow sandy soils. Downright delicious straight out of the gate, but all that old-vine intensity and structure along with the fruit’s bracing acidity means this wine will age excellently, if you’re so inclined.
2016 “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 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 ripe fruit flavors from this historic certified organic vineyard.
With an extra 40 years on these vines and some of the steepest slopes around, the Ueberroth is like the Pesenti Vineyard in a tux: more polish, sophistication, and power. Pretty purple and black fruits, with a deeply intriguing spice and minerality character on the nose. The palate is layered, focused, and zoomed-in on those fruits as well as the extremely high acidity. Always refined, always delicious, never enough to go around! Ready to drink now and will age nicely thanks to the immense power & structure inherent to this wine.
2016 “Whitney Tennessee” Zinfandel, Alexander Valley
Everything old is new again, and this wine is no exception. This small, estate-owned, pre-Prohibition vineyard was purchased by the winery in 2009, and we’ve been slowly but surely repairing the soils through organic methods until the wine was ready to make its debut, six years later. Planted on loam and various gravel soils, the Whitney Tennessee vineyard—named for one of Larry’s four daughters—is a mixed planting as well, with small amounts of Petite Syrah and Carignane vines sprinkled throughout. Long-time Turley followers may remember a wine with the same name from the mid-1990’s, though this is a different vineyard source, located just off Alexander Valley Road in Sonoma.
Dense dark blue and purple fruits lead off on the nose, followed swiftly by a bright, vibrant lift and a hint of wet stones. We have both the age of the vines and the cool climate of the site to thank for the wine’s vivacious acidity on the palate, as well as the fine-grained texture and juicy, almost saline and deeply flavorful fruit. Drinking great now!
2016 “Zampatti Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma County
Located in Sonoma County, this vineyard 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 & 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 part of the tiny Fountaingrove AVA in Sonoma, Zampatti is in a particularly cool location, just one of the factors that makes this wine so unique. We get the cool growing season aromatics like those seen in Russian River Valley, but the wine has a great deal more structure, owing to the rocky, uplifted seabed soils. On the nose, it smells like the most perfect blackberry pie, fresh from a wood burning oven: ripe brambly fruits, baking spices, the sun shining down through tall trees. The wine is just as multi-faceted on the palate, with all those blue and black fruits paired with pure, lively acidity and lush tannin, resulting in a deeply satisfying texture.
