Similar to the last bottle, although the bitterness was there but dissipated after a little while. Otherwise this was nicely fruity, lots of earth and spice, shortish finish, and some floral aromas to round it out.
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Showing just slight signs of age with some bricking on the edge. This is at its peak and everything has integrated. Fruit is more savory than the typical jammy fruit sometimes associated with older zin. This is lighter, good acid and spices/earthy characteristics. In a great place right now, drink now over next 2-3 years.
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A bit too much heat for my liking but otherwise this was drinking rather well. No hint of the VA or other faults that others mentioned. Dark fruits, lots of herbs, bitterness from the alcohol. Plenty of acidity.
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Yet another older Turley that has gone south for my tastes. Alcoholic, liqueur-like, sweet, stewed juice that doesn’t have the fresh fruit that I imagine it had in its youth. These older Turley wines (and not that old- I am talking 7-10 years) have profile that, for my tastes, is consistently not good. I was listening to an interview which Larry Turley and he is not a fan of waiting on his Zinfandels - he feels that that is not what they are about. Now having enjoyed a bunch between 3 and 10 yeas old, I have to say that I like them young. And to be clear: I love Turley wines. But I am going to drink the rest of the Zinfandels early and without guilt. Followed this one over 3 days and it remained not pretty unpleasant. As the bard says: “What's to come is still unsure: In delay there lies no plenty; Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty, Youth's a stuff will not endure.”
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This was pretty nasty. Occasionally I’ll get a Turley with big time VA and rarely some type of microbial activity. I think this had both. Clearly huge VA in nose and in the mouth, it also has a spritz often caused by some microbial activity. High acidity and some blue zin-berry fruit make it barely drinkable. I’ll need to check my other notes on other vintages of Mead to see if the site has been problematic.
One of the best Turleys. A touch brambly at first and it blew off to be a perfectly balanced Zin with a great acid finish. High alcohol is not noticeable. Lingering, delicious finish. Wonderful wine.
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My records show that this is the last of my 2011 Mead but with about 250 bottles of Turley in my inventory I'm hoping my records are wrong. Beautiful wine and still consistent with my last notes. Bombs of fruit and juice that is even be a tad better than my last tasting.
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Similar to others' comments- I pulled from our cellar at about 56 degrees, opened and served promptly. Very approachable. Excellent example of how a Zin can be a complex and compelling wine, in the right winemaker's hands. Enjoyed the spiciness and the depth of the blackberry flavors.
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I do not know what everyone else is drinking in the name of this wine, but the Atlas 2011 is one heck of a wine. Again, at 57 degrees and as poured right after the cork is popped, this wine remains consistent with my last notes and may even be one tad of a bit better.
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I was rearranging my cellar and decided to pop my first of 5 bottles of the 2011 Mead. And I thought that Turley although it is still delicious had lost a spice or two since I started drinking the wine many moons ago. The 2011 Mead is an excellent example of Turley at its best. Contrary to the notes of others, this wine puts the Juvenile to shame. Taken from the cellar at 57 degrees and popped and sampled within 10 minutes later, this wine oozed in the nose with gobs of fruit, mint, pepper, and exotic historically Turley spice. The taste is similarly as enjoyable with a smooth long finish and an aftertaste which to my palate and throat approaches 60 seconds if not longer. Nice color (or should I say colors) in the glass. Legs are as long as can be. I'm writing now about 40 minutes after my first impressions, and my advice is not to decant (as is typically my experience with most Turleys unless they are older Petite Sirahs; I tend to shy away from the younger ones)) but to pop this wine and pour it. It needs at the most 5 to 10 minutes to breathe. Fabulous right out of the bottle. Others who have the pleasure of tasting a glass or two of this wine (one or two sips does not count but is purely a tease), what do you think?
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60 min decant- full bodied- zero heat- VERY smooth- this is the refined, subdued older brother of the 2011 juvenile Zinn offered by Turley. Mild spice box compared to juvenile. Great value.
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12/22/2020 - klezman wrote:
Similar to the last bottle, although the bitterness was there but dissipated after a little while. Otherwise this was nicely fruity, lots of earth and spice, shortish finish, and some floral aromas to round it out.
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12/11/2020 - West Coast Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Showing just slight signs of age with some bricking on the edge. This is at its peak and everything has integrated. Fruit is more savory than the typical jammy fruit sometimes associated with older zin. This is lighter, good acid and spices/earthy characteristics. In a great place right now, drink now over next 2-3 years.
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1/20/2020 - klezman wrote:
A bit too much heat for my liking but otherwise this was drinking rather well. No hint of the VA or other faults that others mentioned. Dark fruits, lots of herbs, bitterness from the alcohol. Plenty of acidity.
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10/12/2018 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very well balanced with a wonderful upfront fruit and finish. In a real good place right now. After a long decanting, seems a bit Burgundy like.
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9/24/2018 - short and confused wrote:
Yet another older Turley that has gone south for my tastes. Alcoholic, liqueur-like, sweet, stewed juice that doesn’t have the fresh fruit that I imagine it had in its youth. These older Turley wines (and not that old- I am talking 7-10 years) have profile that, for my tastes, is consistently not good. I was listening to an interview which Larry Turley and he is not a fan of waiting on his Zinfandels - he feels that that is not what they are about. Now having enjoyed a bunch between 3 and 10 yeas old, I have to say that I like them young. And to be clear: I love Turley wines. But I am going to drink the rest of the Zinfandels early and without guilt. Followed this one over 3 days and it remained not pretty unpleasant. As the bard says: “What's to come is still unsure: In delay there lies no plenty; Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty, Youth's a stuff will not endure.”
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4/6/2018 - guitarguy wrote: 79 Points
This was pretty nasty. Occasionally I’ll get a Turley with big time VA and rarely some type of microbial activity. I think this had both. Clearly huge VA in nose and in the mouth, it also has a spritz often caused by some microbial activity. High acidity and some blue zin-berry fruit make it barely drinkable. I’ll need to check my other notes on other vintages of Mead to see if the site has been problematic.
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3/11/2018 - cstir Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well; nice balanced jammy flavor with slight spice and good depth; good finish.
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3/30/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful Zinfandel. As good as the last bottle and Laura loved it again. A touch ripe at first but wonderful balance and zippy finish.
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3/6/2017 - Salute Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted - small amount of sediment.
Drink up folks. Feeling its age. Slight brownish tinge on edges. Ripe dried fruit. Slight sour note on the finish.
Pretty good, but nowhere NEAR the 2010 Rattlesnake we also had this evening.
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1/24/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best Turleys. A touch brambly at first and it blew off to be a perfectly balanced Zin with a great acid finish. High alcohol is not noticeable. Lingering, delicious finish. Wonderful wine.
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10/4/2016 - cultdrinker Likes this wine: 98 Points
My records show that this is the last of my 2011 Mead but with about 250 bottles of Turley in my inventory I'm hoping my records are wrong. Beautiful wine and still consistent with my last notes. Bombs of fruit and juice that is even be a tad better than my last tasting.
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3/25/2016 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar to others' comments- I pulled from our cellar at about 56 degrees, opened and served promptly. Very approachable. Excellent example of how a Zin can be a complex and compelling wine, in the right winemaker's hands. Enjoyed the spiciness and the depth of the blackberry flavors.
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2/8/2016 - twoamps wrote: flawed
corked. Just enough wet cardboard taste to ruin it.
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2/8/2016 - cstir Likes this wine: 89 Points
Jammy quality with spice and modest expressive flavor; moderate finish.
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11/11/2014 - cultdrinker Likes this wine: 98 Points
I do not know what everyone else is drinking in the name of this wine, but the Atlas 2011 is one heck of a wine. Again, at 57 degrees and as poured right after the cork is popped, this wine remains consistent with my last notes and may even be one tad of a bit better.
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8/12/2014 - Giuseppe Donuts Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good but nothing special Drank via coravin on 3 occasions cork held up well
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7/25/2013 - cultdrinker Likes this wine: 98 Points
I was rearranging my cellar and decided to pop my first of 5 bottles of the 2011 Mead. And I thought that Turley although it is still delicious had lost a spice or two since I started drinking the wine many moons ago. The 2011 Mead is an excellent example of Turley at its best. Contrary to the notes of others, this wine puts the Juvenile to shame. Taken from the cellar at 57 degrees and popped and sampled within 10 minutes later, this wine oozed in the nose with gobs of fruit, mint, pepper, and exotic historically Turley spice. The taste is similarly as enjoyable with a smooth long finish and an aftertaste which to my palate and throat approaches 60 seconds if not longer. Nice color (or should I say colors) in the glass. Legs are as long as can be. I'm writing now about 40 minutes after my first impressions, and my advice is not to decant (as is typically my experience with most Turleys unless they are older Petite Sirahs; I tend to shy away from the younger ones)) but to pop this wine and pour it. It needs at the most 5 to 10 minutes to breathe. Fabulous right out of the bottle. Others who have the pleasure of tasting a glass or two of this wine (one or two sips does not count but is purely a tease), what do you think?
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6/29/2013 - Matt T wrote: 90 Points
Loaded with raspberry jam and just enough smoke, cherry, and acid to keep this fun.
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4/21/2013 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 93 Points
60 min decant- full bodied- zero heat- VERY smooth- this is the refined, subdued older brother of the 2011 juvenile Zinn offered by Turley. Mild spice box compared to juvenile. Great value.
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