2013 Turley Zinfandel Estate

Anyone who has visited Turley Cellars knows that the winery is right off Route 29, just north of St. Helena, seven miles south of Calistoga. The vineyard in their backyard produced the 2013 Zinfandel Turley Estate (15.7%). A young-vine, dry-farmed Zinfandel from head-pruned, organic vines planted in 2006, this is another Châteauneuf du Pape look-alike. Peppery, roasted meat, blackcurrant, black cherry and garrigue smells dominate this wine, which has a distinctive Mediterranean personality even though the closest body of water is Lake Hennessy, and the Pacific Ocean is a drive two to three hours west. Rich, full-bodied, and clearly one of the great Estate Zinfandels Larry Turley has made to date, this is beauty to drink now or to cellar and drink over the following decade. It’s a stunner – multi-dimensional, complex and – do I dare use the word? – delicious.

The 2013 Zinfandel Turley Estate shows the virile side of the year. One of the most raw, intense wines in the range, the Estate possesses notable breadth and power, with layers of deep, ample fruit and considerable supporting tannin. Layers of flavor build to the explosive finish. The 2013 has more than enough depth and pure density to drink well for many years.