2016 Turley Zinfandel Judge Bell
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Tasting notes
Winemaker Tegan Passalacqua suggests the 2016 Zinfandel Judge Bell Vineyard is strangely reminiscent of Nebbiolo, and it's difficult to disagree. The wine displays a complex bouquet of dried herbs, sage and juicy red-black fruit, followed by a full-bodied, ample and fleshy palate with chewy, stony tannins and an enticingly bittersweet "amaro" finish that's a world away from how Zinfandel is commonly rendered. This is one of the most singular wines in the Turley lineup.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
A powerful wine, the 2016 Zinfandel Judge Bell Vineyard is built on a core of serious fruit intensity and tannin. I imagine the 2016 will need quite a few years to be at its best, as it is very much tightly wound at this stage. This is one of the more burly wines in this range, at least today. The Judge Bell emerges from a site planted at 1,500 feet above sea level in 1907.
About the producer
Founded in 1993, Turley Cellars is a leading name in California Zinfandel and Petite Syrah. The winery has helped preserve the state’s old-vine heritage, farming historic vineyards organically and producing distinctive single-vineyard wines known for their character and longevity.