Turley Wine Cellars are a benchmark producer of old vine, single vineyard Zinfandel and guardians of California’s vinous history in their care and management of historical plantings. These vineyards might have been otherwise grubbed up and replaced with more youthful, higher yielding and profitable vines, but instead these gnarled, head trained vines continue to be dry farmed, producing tiny yields of highly concentrated grapes. Many of these vineyards produce only a few hundred bottles of wine each year. We are lucky to have received a modest allocation of 4 of these incredible wines, as well as the latest release of Turley’s Juvenile – their young vine blend produced from vineyards spread throughout the state.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes “I was so impressed with the 2021s I tasted at Turley last fall. The 2021s are absolutely gorgeous. There are moments when wine transcends the usual descriptions. That happens often at Turley because the wines are more than just wines, rather they are little snapshots of California history in a glass. Larry Turley and head winemaker Tegan Passalacqua work with a range of legacy sites, many of them planted in the late 1800s/early 1900s, to craft wines that offer stunning expressions of place. The 2021s are aromatically expressive and quite silky, something that is especially evident in the Petite Sirahs this year. Yields are down 30% for most wines, although a bit more in some cases. Best of all, the Turley wines offer exceptional value, something that is increasingly hard to find in today’s world.”
Quantities of the single vineyard wines are extremely limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
“The 2021 Zinfandel Buck Cobb Vineyard is a wonderfully complex, nuanced wine. Expressive floral and savory notes run through a core of red/purplish fruit. This mid-weight, savory mountain Zinfandel planted on granitic and volcanic soils at 1,500 feet in elevation has a ton to offer. There is so much going on here.”
91-93pts, Antonio Galloni for Vinous
Retail $69.95/btl2021 Zinfandel, Deaver Ranch Vineyard Shenandoah Valley, Amador County
“The 2021 Zinfandel Deaver Ranch is an attractive, mid-weight wine. Floral and savory accents lift a core of bright, redfleshed fruit, with bright acids and driving tannins that add both presence and character.”
90-92pts, Antonio Galloni for Vinous
Retail $69.95/btl2021 Zinfandel, Kirschenmann Vineyard Mokelumne RIver, Lodi
“The 2021 Zinfandel Kirschenmann Vineyard is superb. In most vintages, the Kirschenmann can be a bit light, but in 2021 it offers a beguiling mix of its typical floral qualities, but with an extra kick of depth that holds everything together so well. Bright red berry fruit, rose petal, chalk, min and white pepper are some of the many notes that grace this striking Lodi Zinfandel from Turley.”
92-94pts, Antonio Galloni for Vinous
Retail $79.95/btl
2021 Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard Willow Creek, Paso Robles
“The 2021 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard is packed with dark fruit, candied plum, spice, lavender and leather. This opulent flamboyant Paso Robles Zinfandel from vines planted in 1923 is a wine of extremes. Jammy, opulent fruit and searing acids are all dialled up. Then again, that is Paso.”
92-94pts, Antonio Galloni for Vinous
Retail $84.95/btl
2021 ‘Juvenile’ Zinfandel California
“The 2021 Zinfandel Juvenile, Turley’s young vines bottling, is terrific. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, mocha, chocolate, tobacco and dried herbs give the Juvenile tons of flavor intensity to fill out its plush contours. This racy Zinfandel is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Best of all, it will be easy on the budget, too.”
90pts, Antonio Galloni for Vinous
Retail $49.95/btl
