2008 Turley California Old Vines Zinfandel

Made from parcels culled out from the single vineyard lots and blended with some tiny parcels that are too small to bottle on their own, the 2008 Zinfandel Old Vines is a fuller effort displaying a deep ruby/plum color along with a big, sweet bouquet of gamy roasted herbs, sweet cherries and berries, plush, heady flavors, and a luscious finish. It should drink well for 3-4 years. There are mind-boggling numbers of old vine Zinfandels produced, most of them hitting 14.5%-16% natural alcohol. 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