2011 Zinfandel Turley Estate
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Tasting notes
An intense, layered wine, the 2011 Zinfandel Turley Estate is drop-dead gorgeous. The expressive bouquet is reminiscent of whole clusters, but the fruit was fully destemmed. Anise, dried cherries herbs and wild flowers all flesh out on an inviting finish supported by bright, saline notes. The Estate stands out for its nuance, delineation and complexity.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(15.6% alcohol): Bright dark red. Superripe but fresh aromas of smoky redcurrant, coffee and mocha. Than broad, savory and serious on the palate, offering a lush texture to its flavors of red fruits, plum, spearmint and garrigue. Surprisingly healthy acidity kicks in on the end, giving firmness to the aftertaste. This wine's higher pH gives it early sex appeal.
Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, crushed flowers and licorice caress the palate of the 2011 Zinfandel Turley Estate. This is another soft, relatively delicate wine with lovely balance, expressive aromatics and plenty of harmony to go around.
Sweet tobacco, grilled herbs, crushed flowers and licorice caress the palate of the 2011 Zinfandel Turley Estate. This is another soft, relatively delicate wine with lovely balance, expressive aromatics and plenty of harmony to go around. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. This is a thrilling set of wines from Larry Turley, Ehren Jordan and Tegan Passalacqua. Tasting this wide a range of 2010 and 2011 Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs is like taking a master class in California terroir. The house style favors an expression of Zinfandel and Petite Syrah built on aromatic intensity and elegance, which Jordan credits to gentle extractions. At times, the wines come across as quite Burgundian in the way they express richness but not excess heaviness. Over the last few years, the wines have become a little more laid-back and less overtly ripe, which is a net positive given that the starting point for all of these wines is fruit of exceptional quality. The Petite Syrahs in particular are noteworthy because they are among the few wines that find the elegance Petite Syrah is capable of, while avoiding the massive tannins that are so typical elsewhere. The 2010s are strong across the board, although Turley did not bottle a few of their wines from sites that got scorched by the heat spikes, which includes the Highway 101 and Zampatti. The 2011s are more variable, as befits a vintage that had much less favorable conditions overall. Tel. (707) 963-0940
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.