Buying Wine

A Cabernet Sauvignon from Turley: 2010 The Label Napa Valley

The Label

I received an offer from Turley for their new Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon the 2010 Label. There is a lot to like about this not the least of which is the $40 price tag. It is also cool to see Turley using a Bordeaux style bottle although I have a hard time imagining this carrying over to a more traditional bottle for their Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs. Below is the offer letter with some additional details.

The Label: We felt making a Cabernet under the Turley lable would be incongruous, especially given Larry’s somewhat disparaging past comments about the varietal. In fact, the name for the new wine was born from just such a comment: In a 2004 Wine Spectator article, Larry said he belived Zinfandel lovers drink the wine, whereas Cabernet people “drink the label”. We wanted to acknowledge the hypocrisy, and now give both you and Larry a chance to “drink The Lable”.

Vision: A modern reinterpretation of the “classic” Napa Cabernet from the 60’s & 70’s; more moderate use of oak, lower in alcohol, etc. It is for this same reason the wine is bottled in the old-school flat bottomed Bordeaux bottles; not only is that what was originally used, but it is also one of the “greenest” bottles available, due to its light weight & low density. (I jokingly refer to this wine as the “Mini Cooper” of Cabernet: cars started out small & light, then giant gas guzzling SUVs were all the rage, and now we’re slowly but surely circling back, with an updated look & methodology.)

Vineyard: Single vineyard, organically farmed, gravelly alluvial fan. Now part of the Turley Estate in St Helena. Vines are over 20 years old.

Elevage: All French oak, aged 18 months and bottled in March 2012. 60% used, 40% new, 10% barrel fermented.

This wine is being offered separately from the Fall Release which came out several months ago. I won’t be buying the full case I have been offered, but I will most definitely be buying a few bottles and look forward to posting a bottle note in the coming months.

I don’t have much more to add, but I’m curious: What do you think about this new offering from Turley?

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3 thoughts on “A Cabernet Sauvignon from Turley: 2010 The Label Napa Valley

  1. For the price, I have to grab a few bottles. When I heard Turley was going to be releasing a St. Helena Cab, I never imagined it would be released at a relative bargain price. Yes I am one of the sheep. :-)

  2. I’m all over it. A return to classic Napa cabs of the 70’s, from a producer like Turley, for 40 bucks? This is a no brainer…

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