2010 Turley Petite Sirah Pesenti Vineyard

The 2010 Petite Syrah Pesenti Vineyard is another deep, inky wine. Blackberry jam, violets, tar and spices are some of the many notes that flow from this deep, full-bodied wine. The huge, creamy finish saturates every corner of the palate. The Pesenti is one of the more expressive, powerful 2010s at Turley. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. 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

(yes, that's how Turley spells the variety): Saturated ruby. High-toned, slightly porty aromas of blackberry liqueur, black olive and nutty oak. Round, ripe and rich in the mouth, with a tactile quality to the flavors of dark berries, black olive, licorice and resin. A saline element contributes nuance to this concentrated, intriguing petite sirah. Finishes with ripe, broad tannins and excellent length.