2008 Turley Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard

More structured with more obvious tannin, minerality, and graphite notes is the blue and black fruit-filled, dark purple-hued 2008 Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard. From Howell Mountain, it is one of the strongest Zinfandels produced by Turley. The wine exhibits lots of structure as well as considerable aging potential for a Zinfandel (10+ years). It offers loads of mineral-laced blue and black fruits combined with notions of new saddle leather, crushed rocks, flowers, and berries. 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