Newsletter
2020 vintage — fall release
Old Vines, Young Love
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 2020 vintage Turley fall release! Whether you’re new to the Turley family of wines or just new to our mailing list, we’re very happy to have you.
Old Vines: The Story of Turley Wines
After two decades as an emergency room physician, Larry Turley developed a passion for restoration, rejuvenation, and yes, resuscitation. Where others might see decay, decrepitude and neglect in an old vineyard, Larry looked beyond, finding instead health, history, and potential. This passion has translated directly into his strong affinity towards old vine vineyards across California, sites that were often neglected in favor of their younger, more vigorous and less troublesome brethren. Some had been abandoned altogether, ripped out for developments or replaced with more lucrative crops. Turley, alongside longtime Vineyard Manager (and now Director of Winemaking) Tegan Passalacqua, is devoted to saving these old vineyards, reinvigorating them through organic farming practices and preserving them in the ground for generations to come.
Indeed, thanks to attentive care in the vineyards and producing wines of elegance, transparency and purity, Turley has proved these ancient vines as the cultural treasures they truly are. After starting with only three vineyards in 1993, Turley now produces wine from over 50 vineyards, 31 of which are old vine sites, and 18 over 100 years old. To our knowledge, today Turley works with more old vine vineyards than any other winery in the world. None of this would be possible without the “Old Vines” wine, home to fruit sourced from these many salvaged old-vine sites across California. If it weren’t for this cuvée, many of these vineyards would have been lost, along with over a century of our cultural heritage.
What Constitutes an “Old Vine?”
There is no technical (read: legal) definition of an “old vine” in the United States, so the common claims on wine labels vary widely. Not content with arbitrary labels—after all, very little is done arbitrarily in emergency medicine—Turley employs fifty years as the minimum vine age to be considered for “Old Vines.” This number was chosen purposefully thanks to the Historic Vineyard Society, of which Tegan is a founding board member. By adopting much of the criteria for consideration as a United States National Historic Landmark, the goal of HVS is to achieve legal protection for these vineyard sites as historic landmarks. After spending the last thirty years admiring these ancient agricultural cites, we couldn’t agree more.
Why Are Old Vines Superior?
In addition to their cultural significance, old vines produce a naturally more complex, balanced, and sustainable wine. Young vines tend to be vigorous and high yielding for a short period of time (16-20 years) before most wineries rip them up and replant, to keep yields at a maximum; think of the brief but intense career of an NFL player. Young modern vineyards are also almost always irrigated, which keeps the yields high and the root systems shallow, but can (in our opinion) dilute the quality and integrity of the final wine.
An old vine, on the other hand, naturally regulates its yields, focusing all the vine’s energy into a more finite—and ultimately more concentrated—final wine. Furthermore, these vines are dry-farmed, meaning they survive only on the natural rainfall patterns and water tables of their respective micro-climates. Finally, they are more deeply rooted in the soils, reaching down over 40 feet into the earth in some cases. For these reasons, we believe the wines produced by truly old vines are the truest representations of their respective terroirs. Plus, they just taste good.
A Note on the 2020 Vintage
On the whole, we were unbelievably lucky. As a winery that produces primarily Zinfandel, a variety that ripens much earlier than most others, harvest usually begins for us at the end of July/beginning of August. In a drought year like 2020, harvest was already well underway, and most of our Napa grapes were safely in, well before the Glass Fires began at the end of September. In the aftermath, we had to make sacrifices when it came time to decide which vineyards we harvested, and forfeit even more when it came to bottling. Unwilling to take even the most minute of chances, Tegan vetoed wines whose lab results returned clean if he felt their character had somehow been compromised. You may rest assured that the wines you are offered here embody the high quality and distinctive terroirs of the vineyards they represent.
Thank you again for being here. Though the wines, like all of us, may be fewer, they are all the more precious. They, like you, have been through unimaginable hardship; they, like you, have endured. These gnarly old vines are tough as nails, but nevertheless produces wines that are smooth, elegant, approachable, and delicious. May we all take a page from their book.
Old Vines Young Love,
Christina Turley
Tasting Notes
2020 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.
2020 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.
From over 20 ancient vineyards across California and aged in only 10% new oak. Ripe blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry, classic spice and concentration rounded out by juicy acidity and soft tannins. A seriously satisfying wine with inherent depth, complexity, and grace. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F.
2020 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 ripe fruit flavors from this historic certified organic vineyard.
Certified organic, ungrafted vines over 130 years old; the “grand cru” site of Paso Robles. Exuberant, intense dark red plum, wild strawberry, dried orange peel, white pepper and chalk on the nose. Brooding, dense, pedigreed, powerfully fresh and balanced on the palate with mouth-watering acidity. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F or could age several years.
2020 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. Primarily spice-driven, with savory notes of garrigue, red rose petals, red fruits, and crushed stone. Deeply pleasurable texture, medium-bodied and chock full of spice and well-integrated granitic tannins; a phenomenal pairing with game birds like pheasant or quail. Light decant and/or lay it down for a spell and will drink well at 55°-60°F.
2020 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. An abundantly fragrant nose, including bouquet garni, sage, bay leaf, India ink, nutmeg, meat marinade, rose petal, and lavender. Savory and satiating on the palate, potently flavored with plenty of acidity and downright delicious. Will reward patience; lay it down for as long as you can stand it, or decant for a few hours ahead of time then serve at 60°-65°F.
2020 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 Rhône grapes. Ripe yellow fruits, candied lemon peel, spiced apple, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, and sun-warmed white stone. A quintessential winter white wine; rich and luscious yet fresh and well-proportioned. Would be exquisite with scallops or spiny lobster, drinking well now at 40°-50°F.
2020 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’ up Moon Mountain. Savory, high-toned white pepper, blue and red fruits, signature mountain spice and tannins. Supremely well-structured and delicious, with noteworthy acidity and tannin. Sadly, there is precious little of this wine to go around this vintage, especially considering how high it’s punching above its weight. Lay it down or decant and serve at 55°-60°F.
2020 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. Full gamut of red to blue to dark fruits, rose petal, and the entire spice rack. Smooth, satiating texture and classic acid and tannin synergy, perfectly balanced. Will age well, decant or drink now at 55°-60°F.
2020 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. Vivid and expressive brambly fruits, black raspberry, wild cherry, fragrant chaparral, holiday spices, and red dust. Refined and elegantly textured, with a smooth long finish. Drinking well now at 55°-60°F and will age nicely.
2020 Turley “DuPratt Vineyard” Zinfandel, Mendocino County
Planted in 1919 at 1500 feet up on Mendocino Ridge, this vineyard is surrounded by giant Redwood trees 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 northernmost, coolest site from which we’ve ever made wine. Though we’ve worked with Mendocino fruit for many years, DuPratt is the only Mendocino County bottling from Turley.
Secluded, old vine Mendocino mountain fruit, planted in 1919 at 1500’. Perfumed and abundantly aromatic; dark florals, spicy red fruits, black currant, and tons of energy and verve. Powerful yet nervy on the palate, with plenty of mountain texture and nimble acidity. Will reward patience; lay it down or decant and serve now at 55°-60°F.
2020 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.
Incredibly varietally diverse vineyard planted 1880-1920. Immensely satisfying and layered; dense, dark red fruits, mixed berries, plums, white flowers and savory herbs. Deep yet lush and smooth on the palate, novel acidity and utterly satisfying. Can be decanted or laid down but drinking deceptively well right now at 60°-65°F.
2020 Turley “Pesenti Vineyard” Petite Syrah, Paso Robles
This estate-owned and certified organic vineyard was planted by the Turley team using cuttings from the legendary 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.
Certified organic, dry-farmed estate vines descended from Hayne budwood. Lively purple fruits, petrichor, graphite, black peppercorn, and white stone. Beautifully composed on the palate, with plenty of fruit, savory smoked meats, and elegant chalky tannin. Drinking well now at 60°-65°F with a light decant and can age for years to come.
2020 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. Cranberries, red fruit cobbler, fragrant holiday spices—like grandmother’s kitchen on a winter’s day. Tannins are present but smoothed, and ripe spiced red fruit flavors abound. Drinks very well now at 55°-60°F or can age.
2020 Turley “Amadeo’s Vineyard” Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Initially only available in our Paso tasting room, we are thrilled to be introducing this small-production wine to the mailing list for the first time this year! This historic site was planted in the 1920s as the only vineyard supplying the family-owned Amadeo Martinelli winery, located adjacent to the dry-farmed vines. In true Italian tradition, the vineyard is interplanted with cherry trees, as well as a handful of Grenache vines. The slope faces north and as such Amadeo’s is the coolest climate site we work with in Paso Robles, making it the last one to come in at harvest. As a result, the wine has a sleek texture, phenomenal acidity, and impressive depth.
A cooler climate 1920s dry-farmed estate vineyard in Paso. Black currant, black pepper, garrigue, meat marinade, crème de mûre, and lavender. Lush yet savory, would be excellent with lamb. Drink now at 55°-60°F.
2020 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. Plums, blackberries, black currants, all ripened to perfection. Fine-grained tannins are present and wonderfully integrated with the plentiful, well-balanced fruit. Structured, pedigreed, this is a seriously enjoyable wine. Drinking great now at 55°-60°F.
2020 Turley “Monte Rosso Vineyard” Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
Representing the western and Sonoma side of the Mayacamas Mountains is the historic Monte Rosso vineyard. Called “red mountain” for its iron-rich volcanic soils, Monte Rosso’s sloping hills were originally planted in 1880 and partially replanted in 1938. Ranging in elevation from 700 to 1300 feet, these vines sit primarily above the fog line, with the city of San Francisco and the San Pablo Bay visible on a clear day. This well-known vineyard is shared by many colleagues in the Zinfandel and larger wine world, and is widely considered one of the most notable sites both for the age of the vines as well as the superiority of the wines they produce.
Legendary late 19th c vineyard on Moon Mtn., along the southwestern edge of the Mayacamas. Dark purple, black and red fruits, ripe blackberry, sandalwood, and minerality give this wine unique, almost Nebbiolo-like characteristics. Incredible depth, mouth-watering acidity, and utterly seamless, this wine will live a long, long time. Decant and drink now at 55°-60°F or lay it down for years to come.
2020 Turley “Rinaldi Vineyard” Zinfandel, Amador County
Known to many historically as the Eschen vineyard, Rinaldi is one of the most significant ancient vineyards in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Though the bulk of our block dates from 1910, there are even still a few remaining vines from the original planting in the 1860s! Up high at 2000 feet of elevation in the Fiddletown AVA, the wine has plenty of tannin and is generally more blue-fruited than what you might find in nearby Shenandoah Valley.
Century-old dry-farmed vines located 2000’ up in granite soils of the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Multi-faceted and primarily red-fruited, as is widely the case in Amador. Mulling spice, star anise, cranberry, orange rind, savory; the ultimate autumnal wine. Presence and weight on the palate without heaviness; solidly medium-bodied, and classic fine-grained granitic tannins. Very drinkable on its own now at 55°-60°F, or would be lovely paired with roast chicken or duck.