2011 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard

(16.3% alcohol): Good full medium red. Brooding aromas of black raspberry and deep smoky minerals. Hugely rich and lush, with very deep dark berry, spice and garrigue flavors framed and lifted by pungent mineral-driven acidity. Wonderfully mouthfilling, creamy and deep. Finishes with outstanding breadth and palate-staining persistence. Already showing some positive evolution but its crushed-rock umami character suggests that it will be even better for four or five years of bottle aging. The soil here has a very high pH and yet the wine is always very low--in this case 3.3.

The 2011 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard shows why this Paso Robles vineyard is so admired. A wine of uncommon grace, the Ueberroth possesses gorgeous depth and sheer purity from start to finish. The aromas and flavors are darker than in the two other Paso Zinfandels in the Turley lineup. I can't wait to taste the 2011 again once it is in bottle.

The 2011 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard shows why this Paso Robles vineyard is so admired. A wine of uncommon grace, the Ueberroth possesses gorgeous depth and sheer purity from start to finish. The aromas and flavors are darker than in the two other Paso Zinfandels in the Turley lineup. I can’t wait to taste the 2011 again once it is in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021. 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