Turley Wine Cellars was founded in 1993 by Larry Turley and specializes in small lots of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah from some of California’s most historic and treasured vineyards. Turley now makes right around 50 separate wines from 47 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Tegan Passalacqua is the Director of Winemaking at Turley and has been instrumental in revitalizing the brand.
Steacy Ranch was one of the first vineyards planted on St. George rootstock in Lodi, which has since become the gold standard for Zinfandel in California. Hailing from 1907, the Zinfandel vines in this sandy-soiled vineyard are interspersed with Grenache, Carignane, and Mission.
Purple in color. 15.1% ABV. Heady nose of black fruits, licorice, cocoa and pepper. Full bodied with ample acidity. Packed with dark, savory fruits. Blackberry, mulberry, baking spices and earth on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Delicious and easy to drink but lacking that extra something I expect from Turley. Best over the next several years.
My rating: 90 points.
With all due respect to Carlisle, Turley is arguably the best Zinfandel producer in California. Certainly the scale of the operation is second to none. Exceptional vineyards sources throughout the state of California and no detail spared in the winemaking process. The wines are simply better than ever.
Turley wines are available via the mailing list and periodically at retail. Turley has tasting rooms in both Amador and Paso Robles. If you are not on the mailing list, this is an easy way to secure bottles. Both are not to be missed if you are in the area.