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.
Cedarman is a proprietary blend of certified organic fruit from some of the highest elevation plantings on Howell Mountain. Primarily Zinfandel with a small amount of Petite Sirah.
Crimson in color. 15.3% ABV. Heady nose of red fruits, plums, licorice and mint. Medium body with medium acidity. Packed with tart, earthy fruits. Cherry, boysenberry, earth and white pepper on the palate. Nice length on the finish. There is an appealing austerity to this wine that is a great reflection of Howell Mountain Zins. Best over the next 1-2 years.
My rating: 91 points.
The 2024 vintage of this Zinfandel will be released next Spring.
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.