2008 Zinfandel Turley Estate
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Tasting notes
Good medium red. Knockout nose combines raspberry, mocha, coffee, spices, gunpowder and maple syrup, with good lift for a wine with 15.7% alcohol. Sweet, lush and deep, with a silky, seamless texture and a combination of creaminess with energy that's rare for zinfandel. The strong spice character of this very rich wine carries through the long, broad finish, which features very fine tannins.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From the home vineyard, the 2008 Zinfandel Turley Estate displays a dark ruby/purple color in addition to copious amounts of sweet blueberries, black raspberries, pepper, garrigue (those Provencal wild herb notes), smoke, and subtle background oak. Lush and heady, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years. As I have said many times, the most underrated varietal (especially if you are a connoisseur or collector wanting to age California wines for 10-20 years) is Petite Sirah, which ages just as well as the finest Cabernet Sauvignons. In fact, it ages more slowly, and in 2009, well-cellared examples from the late 1960s and early 1970s continue to be remarkable wines. All of the following wines are noteworthy, and I am sure they will still be drinking beautifully in 25, 35, perhaps even 40 or more years. They need plenty of time to age, and because they have never been fashionable, their prices tend to be realistic. That said, you have to be a masochist to drink these wines young as they are massive, inky/blue/black, super-concentrated offerings that need at least 8-10 years of bottle age. Tel. (707) 963-0940; Fax (707) 963-8683
About the producer
Founded in 1993, Turley Cellars is a leading name in California Zinfandel and Petite Syrah. The winery has helped preserve the state’s old-vine heritage, farming historic vineyards organically and producing distinctive single-vineyard wines known for their character and longevity.