To Tony (La Grange Park, IL): Earthquake December 23, 2003 11:15 AM, 6.5 (Richter). The best Turley I've ever had. Maybe they ought to lean into the style instead of trying to make mediocre dry wines. There's a bit of an earthy quality to this, with the very pure red fruit showing a slightly desiccated style. It's funky and earthy, but there's enough sweetness that it all just kind of works together. The alcohol is high, but it actually feels balanced given that the palate has enough weight to hold everything together. Very fun to try.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decomposing fruits on nose and palate in the most exquisite and deliquent ways. Totally head-turning. Looks like this cuvée is unfortunately not produced anymore (otherwise pls let me know!)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last bottle of six, and it's been a real joy ride. What pleasure this little gem has given to so many I've shared it with. Fully forward and ready, silky and delicious, full flavor authority, and stylish. Wish I had more, and that they'd make more. Sad to see this go, and it was a highlight of a Zinfandel tasting dinner. The 01s are a bit more forward than the 98s in my opinion, so I'm saving my last two bottles of 98 to see where they go in a decade plus. Why don't they make more of this??????
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious! A bit imbalanced and hot, but this wine is unbudged in the last 3 years. No rush. Superb concentration and verve. Actually better on day 2, surprisingly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very enjoyable, better than the 1998. Great, persistent finish. Big attack. Lovely, big ripe fruit. A good time to drink it, as it seems to be starting to show amber on the edges out of half bottle - fully resolved, but still fairly young. (Can last another 5 years pretty readily.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
L'Aventure Optimus Vertical (Allan's House): This wine is all about dense, lush fruit, and a nice, coarse-grained texture. Not complex, it has a nice finish, and is easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not much hea, which was surprising for a 20% ABV port. Not much complexity or intensity to the flavor, either. Sweet, clean, smooth and good, but not worth it compared to Ridge Essence at the same price. Not LH flavors - sweet normal zin flavors. Red fruit, cherries and other red berries. Got more open over the next few days, but also hotter. Not as good a match for chocolate as LH Zin, but still pretty good. Best served right around cellar temp. Lasted three days without much problem. More oak came out at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/1/2024 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
To Tony (La Grange Park, IL): Earthquake December 23, 2003 11:15 AM, 6.5 (Richter). The best Turley I've ever had. Maybe they ought to lean into the style instead of trying to make mediocre dry wines. There's a bit of an earthy quality to this, with the very pure red fruit showing a slightly desiccated style. It's funky and earthy, but there's enough sweetness that it all just kind of works together. The alcohol is high, but it actually feels balanced given that the palate has enough weight to hold everything together. Very fun to try.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2023 - LDA ZH CH wrote: 98 Points
Decomposing fruits on nose and palate in the most exquisite and deliquent ways. Totally head-turning. Looks like this cuvée is unfortunately not produced anymore (otherwise pls let me know!)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last bottle, and it was said to realize that. Enjoyable with Vintage Ruby Port flavors. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2017 - wynlvr wrote: 90 Points
fruity and complex
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2013 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points
DEEP RICH BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR, BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, CURRANTS AND BLACK CHERRIES. VERY LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2013 - sawira wrote: 94 Points
Last bottle of six, and it's been a real joy ride. What pleasure this little gem has given to so many I've shared it with. Fully forward and ready, silky and delicious, full flavor authority, and stylish. Wish I had more, and that they'd make more. Sad to see this go, and it was a highlight of a Zinfandel tasting dinner. The 01s are a bit more forward than the 98s in my opinion, so I'm saving my last two bottles of 98 to see where they go in a decade plus. Why don't they make more of this??????
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2011 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
Tasted much like previous tasting despite being 3 years older
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2011 - psmith wrote:
From 375mL. Actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Flashy dark fruits but restraint shown and in solid balance. Medium sweet. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2010 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Delicious! A bit imbalanced and hot, but this wine is unbudged in the last 3 years. No rush. Superb concentration and verve. Actually better on day 2, surprisingly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2010 - Rocketbar wrote: 94 Points
Still huge fruit of raisin and fig and prune
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2008 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
rich, high extract berry fruit, very hot, little disappointing because it lacked depth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2008 - winekitchen wrote: 90 Points
Yum.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2008 - BeavisCC wrote: 93 Points
Very enjoyable, better than the 1998. Great, persistent finish. Big attack. Lovely, big ripe fruit. A good time to drink it, as it seems to be starting to show amber on the edges out of half bottle - fully resolved, but still fairly young. (Can last another 5 years pretty readily.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2006 - jwwinec wrote: 88 Points
L'Aventure Optimus Vertical (Allan's House): This wine is all about dense, lush fruit, and a nice, coarse-grained texture. Not complex, it has a nice finish, and is easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2006 - 97mjr wrote:
James Beard House: California Cult Wine Dinner (NYC): _
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2005 - rourkem wrote: 90 Points
Not much hea, which was surprising for a 20% ABV port. Not much complexity or intensity to the flavor, either. Sweet, clean, smooth and good, but not worth it compared to Ridge Essence at the same price. Not LH flavors - sweet normal zin flavors. Red fruit, cherries and other red berries. Got more open over the next few days, but also hotter. Not as good a match for chocolate as LH Zin, but still pretty good. Best served right around cellar temp. Lasted three days without much problem. More oak came out at the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/10/2005 - Russell Faulkner wrote: 91 Points
Gary Margol Offline (Bentley Hotel London): I enjoyed this wine, but found it a little one dimensional, very nice summer pudding fruit, quite grapey.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment