served this from my personal cellar to friends at my restaurant. Was astounded how well it held up. Deep, rich and structured with a slight meat and vegetal bouquet.
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Popped this open toward the tail end of a caldo gallego (Galician stew) on an overcast night and ran it through a Vinturi. Black pepper explosion with a gobsmack of dark fruit and enticing acidity. Took us home on a cold, cold evening (cold for LA, mind you - it was 50). Glad I let this on sit in the bottle for a few years. She was nice to us.
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This "surprise" bottle that did not exist in my computerized inventory is deep ruby in color, highly aromatic and simply a delight to drink. Blackberries, boysenberries, cedar, coriander, earth and cardamom are framed with low-to-medium acidity, seamless alcohol (despite being listed as 15.6%) and medium-weight, softly-textured tannins. The middle is solid and the dark fruit-laden finish is lengthy. Well-cellared bottles should continue to drink well through to the end of this decade. Drink now-2020.
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Delightful and easy to drink; smooth; on the lighter side; nice balanced red fruit flavor without spice or jam; pleasant finish; drank like less than 15+% alcohol on the label
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Opened at a potluck and poured. Nice brambly zinberry with a hefty finish that could get rough if you aren't careful. Medium to full bodied, fleshy and meaty. Classic zinberry finish. Not too porty, or madierized yet, still holding the fruit.
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Very good and predictable; not the best Old Vines I have had, but a reliable Turley Zin. Medium bodied; not very expressive for a Turley Zin. Nevertheless, very good and priced fairly.
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Wow, what a surprise. I have a few bottles of Turley zins left and figured they are getting close to the end of their drinking window. This is a lower end Turley, so I wasn't expecting too much, boy was I wrong. Long, balanced, great taste with cherry initially and spice/pepper. Interestingly, the color was turning to a brickish brown color. Much better than my other two bottles of the old vines. It was so good I drank almost the whole bottle.
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A Full Monty of a wine that almost defies descriptors. Has gotten much richer and fuller since our last tasting a half year ago. Generous legs, reflecting a very full body and a dark crimson hue in the Riedel. The bouquet could enchant you from twenty paces with a sandalwood incense quality. Loaded with spice box elements, especially rosewood, and dripping with blackberries, blueberries and seasoned plum. Long, rewarding finish. Not the elegant wine it was earlier this year, but, boy, what a lot of fun!
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Tangy berry, tart cherry and a bit of oak on a surprisingly light frame. Peppery as well, with a bramble, violet nose. Maybe not old time zin, but better for it.
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The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color. The spicy nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, minerals, baking spices, smoke, and some earthy underbrush. This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity. Brighter on the palate than the nose lead me to expect with the fruit more in the cherry and raspberry arena with a load of black pepper and spice poured on top. The finish has decent length and adds a touch of earthiness. This doesn’t offer much complexity but still very tasty. Not your typical rich and velvety Turley zinfandel.
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Super, and materially better than a bottle from 9 months ago. Fresh, refreshing aroma of underbrush after a rainstorm, with notes of raspberry and wild berry and a hint of pepper. Mouthfilling raspberry and wild berry -- freshness continues with great acidity, offset by a flinty finish. Terrific, and an awesome value.
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She's a beauty and a bargain. We're longtime Turley mailing list members, and this offering again confirms the trend we've seen in the last half dozen or so years -- a greater focus on elegance instead of brute power. This in spite of 15+% alcohol. A very food-friendly wine. Deep purple robe. Dark, concentrated berries in the nose and palate, with an elegant finish that's more Rhone than Cali. A special occasion wine affordable enough to serve up with weeknight spaghetti.
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Was excited for this given recent CT notes but have to say was disappointed. Really great aroma bursts out when the cork was drawn but I found the wine a bit thin. I think this is 1-2 years past peak. Red currant, bright acidity, but not the depth that the Old Vine can deliver (I like it more on the purple fruit spectrum). Wine picked up a bit of weight in the glass as the night went on, but overall was looking for a little more punch. Drink Now.
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Big, bold, beautiful, and drinking nicely right now. Sweet cranberry and cherry, with nice leaf tobacco and underbrush notes. Me thinks this was aged in American oak barrels because of the subtle vanilla that pops up from time to time in the glass. Substantial legs and a vibrant red hue. It's all out there from the time the cork leaves the bottle, not developing any complexity in the glass. But who cares; this is delicious when you're in the mood for a smack on the palate.
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Juicy and big but also elegant and dignified. Jammy red fruit, black cherry and bramble fruit with vanilla and pepper. Full bodied but there is a sense of lightness on the palate with the refreshing acidity. Drinking really well now...no point in holding this longer.
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The wine is a medium to dark ruby color. The very nice nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, black cherry, minerals, smoked meat, and some dried herbs. This is medium to full bodied with fairly solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. A bit brighter on the palate with cherries and black raspberries, roasted herbs, and black pepper. Decent length on the finish. A very nice zinfandel that is tasty but could use a bit more complexity. Not as big and lush as some Turleys but still very enjoyable.
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I had this bottle of wine in memory of a very close and dear friend, David Sax, who passed away way too soon on 10/11/12. I shared this bottle with his wife's grieving family. Turley was Dave's favorite producer. I will always think fondly of this wonderful human being and friend who I had the privilege of knowing over 15 years whenever I open a Turley wine. In his memory I will purchase an additional bottle every year from my Turley mailer. I will miss Dave every day.
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I had this bottle of wine in memory of a very dear and close friend, Dave Sax, who passed away way too soon. This bottle was shared with his grieving wifes' family. Turley was Dave's favorite producer. I will always think of this wonderful human being and great friend who I had the privlege of knowing for over 15 years. I will miss him every day. I will purchase an extra bottle every year from my Turley mailer in his memory.
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Smoky, peppery nose, with notes of wild berry, blueberry, and menthol. On the palate, raspberry and a fairly pronounced menthol note. I'd almost describe it as cough syrup, but in a good way (if that makes any sense). Power but silky in the mouth -- goes right up to the edge of overripeness but does not cross it. Not as nuanced as many of Turley's single vineyard wines, but very nice (especially for the price). Should mellow and improve with more bottle age.
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Bottle signed by Larry Turley -- "Enjoy!" We did. An early Father's Day dinner with the gang, served with BBQ'd tri-tip. Time in the bottle has served this well, knocking off remaining rough edges. Very refined, almost elegant. Plums, dark berries and a whiff of smoke. Drinking very well now; so why wait?
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We thought this was a great bottle. PnV'ed. Big red fruit on the nose with not much more than that. Same on the palate without the Turley zin spice. We didn't drink this with food which I think was a good choice; less complex than the single vinyard wines. Medium finish and the 15.9% ABV was well hidden. Last bottle of this and am looking forward to the '09.
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This is a good, but not great, zin from Turley. It has a lot of the red fruit, some tannin with decent acid balance. Not overly fruity also not very complex. At the lower end of the Turley price range it is a decent zin - not one for keeping a long time but will certainly age for a few years.
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Big Red Baby Killing (Our home): Classic Turley spice on the nose and palate. Deep dark red and black fruit. Medium bodied, balanced acidity, oak, pepper... For $25 this was a good buy but my last one.
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PnD let breathe for 3hrs. Purple red not dense with red rim. Woodsy red fruits on the nose. Very smooth but weak mid-palate. Earthy red fruit flavors. Not much finish and did not improve over the course of the meal. Tasted alongside 2009 Bedrock Dolinsek Ranch Heirloom maybe not fair but no contest - Bedrock way better. Pleasant claret style no wow and not what was expected. Drink now do not see it getting better.
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Decanted about an hour. Deep, dark ruby color. Brambly berries, pepper, dried herbs, spicy oak, and vanilla on the nose. Full bodied with solid tannins and very nice acidity. Rich and plush on the palate with the spicy, peppery berries carrying through to the decent length finish. Appears to be a well above average Old Vines vintage for Turley which shows well for the single vineyard offerings. Absolutely no hurry on this one, I probably won't pop another for a year.
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Bright glossy raspberry red, you can see the fullness of the wine in the glass. The nose is full and aromatic with plummy black fruits, herbs and a touch of spicy wood. Full and almost viscous like a smoothie the palate is dense, sweet and massively intense. The fruit is concentrated and ultra-ripe with notes of cassis, black cherry, liquorice and spice. A very over-the-top style of wine which will polarise opinion. Not my cup of tea.
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Deep purple colour; spicy blackcurrant nose. Licquorice. Very nice indeed; Smooth. Lots of concentrated flavours. Good weight and balance. Very nice example - sweet fruits on finish.
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Deep dark ruby, expressive fruity nose of blackberry and plum. Generous in the mouth with big texture and concentration of dark fruit, bramble and spice. The 15.6% Alc was really puzzling as it didn't really show like on most Turleys. Soft spicy finish that held the fruit with no perceptible heat. Every time I come back to a Turley I get reminded why I like this producer so much. Solid wine drinking well in its' youth.
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Served with roasted beef filet and herbed turkey breast at an early Christmas dinner with family. The highlight of a lineup of different reds. Not as fruit or alcohol forward as many Turley offerings, making it a graceful food wine. Almost a Rhone-like quality with slightly gamey aromas and plums and apricot. Wonderful lip-smacking finish with a hint of American oak. Another reason we really enjoy Turley wines.
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Pop 'n Pour. Before dinner, this was fairly soft and showing some simple bramble and raspberry -- just OK and unremarkable. However, with the rosemary and mustard leg of lamb, this wine was gorgeous. The meat brought out the spicy character of this wine and it was the perfect complement to the meal. Loved it.
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iI was disappointed as I hoped for more in this wine. Of the five we teasted this night the group though it was the worst of the lot, although I do not agree with that rating. Young fruit-filled wine with strawberry, plum and licorace noted by members of the group. The color was rich, but not as deep as other wines (Carlisle and Elyse) suggesting less extract. Very pleasant, but I was exteacting more from Turley. While very pleasant now, I do not know if it will develop more complexity with age.
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This is a seriously good Zinfandel. It has wonderful briary aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, pepper, herbs and a hint of mint. It has a bit of a stemmyness to it which gives the wine a wild edge. On the palate there is definitely a full mouth full of fruit, but it is balanced by strong acidity and ample fine tannins which blend together in perfect harmony. This is drinking great now.
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15.6% alcohol. I can't say which old vine vineards are represented here, although Turley sources from some of the finest historic vineyards in the state - 101, Alexander Valley Road, Bechtold-Cinsault, Danti Dusi, Dogtown, Duarte, Fredericks, Hayne, Library, Mattern Ranch, Moore, Mori, Pesenti, Salvador, Ueberroth and Zampatti (to name a few)!
I can tell you that this wine was made under the supervision of Ehren Jordan and that Turley's vineyard cultivation practices are legendary throughout California.
Dark ruby red. Floral and red fruit nose. On the palate, black cherry, rasberry, plums and some peppery spice. Very well balanced nice focus and concentration. Looong aftertaste.
This wine cost around $25 IIRC. A great introduction to historic California vineyards!
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The aroma is softly prune-like, with a pleasant pipe tobacco edge. There are some sweet vanilla cream tones, a touch of freshly cut rose wood, some raspberry and a hint of herbs de Provence.
This is a softly profiled wine, with a delicately jammy quality. It’s bright with red fruit tones, cherry, and tart raspberry. Rose petals and a mixed floral bouquet mingle with vanilla and a subtly bitter, toasted hue. This wine strikes an exceptional balance between a dark, gripping core and bright lively acidity. This is an impressive effort and easily worth trying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #69: Central Coast Adventures Pt.8: Zin Week: Turley Winery ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/09/17/post-69-central-coast-adventures-pt-8-turley-winery/ )
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pretty nose, with lots going on. Suprised by the quality at $25 for a turley. Huge acid. powerful wine. Pepper, berries and cherry on the nose. Some chocolate and coffee on the palate also a touch of cherry cough medicine. no slouch in the alcohol. Fruite to last, but will the acid come down to the (larger, but not as large) alcohol and tannins. I'd like to find out...
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15.6% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Expressive red and black fruit aromas with a little spice and funk. Blackberries and cherry entry leading into a rich, brambly mid-palate. Well balanced with nice old-vine focus. Lengthy and delicious finish. Very nice effort by the Turley team!
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big in your face, Turley, great value for $25.00, I'll leave my last bottle to age. I just got my mailer from Turley with an allocation of 3 bottles????, not worth paying the shipping for just 3 bottles, I'll pass.
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Dildine, this is for you. Big and juicy up front, spice and pepper in the middle and big tannins on the medium long finish. Good now but definitely will be better with time. Surprised at the low scores so far. Showing pretty good so far. Drank with my Son and his Girlfriend while we enjoyed pan seared Rib Eyes w/ blue cheese butter, rice pilaf and a real fresh green salad w/ bleu cheese, toasted walnuts and italian dressing.
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As always Turley Old Vine a soild wine with dark fruit and pepper spicy notes. If your in the mood having it with pizza Tuesday or Thursday Turley is the way to go.
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A solid Zin, bursting with dark, ripe fruits and a peppery edge. Unfortunately I did not decant and the structure seemed a bit harsh. Got better with air.
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This seemed less ripe than previous vintages, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Lovely, dark fruit, hints of black pepper, herbs; higher than average acidity. The components appear in relatively good balance. The alcohol seemed reasonably well buffered by the supporting fruit. Worked well with BBQ.
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I must agree with some of the previous posts - this was not they typical Turley OV that I am used to. Much more subtle and dialed back that previous vintages. Enjoyable bottle, but not the distinctive Turley characteristics I'm used to.
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A nice ripe Zin, but not at all raisiny or Port-like. Lots of herbs and spices on complex nose. Actually I've had some Cali PN that were more full-bodied and hot on the finish than this. Turley seems to have dialed down some of their ripeness over the past several vintages- a nice development that better matches my palate. At $25 this is a terrific QPR.
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Nice balanced bottle of OV. Much better then the previous 2 vintages. A little heat did sneak in with some air time, but the ripe fruit wasn't too ripe. Nice spice, black pepper, dark berries, and some herbs. Popped and poured. Medium finish. Went fairly well with lamb burgers.
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Interesting herbal and spice nose with a dominant aroma that I could not quite place (my mom identified it as chicory, but I don't know how that smells). The palate also was dominated by herbs and spice with some secondary black/blue fruit. Really kind of non-Turley like with it being more medium bodied and less fruit driven. Good finish though. I bet this one can age for a while.
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Pop and pour. Black berry on the nose. In the mouth, blackberry, pepper and mint. Some structure providing tanins on the back end. I like this better than the last couple years of Old Vines.
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9/8/2023 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing how well this wine held up over all of these years... Drinking great!
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3/26/2021 - Bumper Likes this wine: 92 Points
served this from my personal cellar to friends at my restaurant. Was astounded how well it held up. Deep, rich and structured with a slight meat and vegetal bouquet.
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9/2/2018 - yatchisin Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened at a party, so only got a taste. Maybe a tad past its prime, but still delivering deep dark fruit and bramble.
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1/7/2017 - brasstab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped this open toward the tail end of a caldo gallego (Galician stew) on an overcast night and ran it through a Vinturi. Black pepper explosion with a gobsmack of dark fruit and enticing acidity. Took us home on a cold, cold evening (cold for LA, mind you - it was 50). Glad I let this on sit in the bottle for a few years. She was nice to us.
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11/5/2015 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 90 Points
This "surprise" bottle that did not exist in my computerized inventory is deep ruby in color, highly aromatic and simply a delight to drink. Blackberries, boysenberries, cedar, coriander, earth and cardamom are framed with low-to-medium acidity, seamless alcohol (despite being listed as 15.6%) and medium-weight, softly-textured tannins. The middle is solid and the dark fruit-laden finish is lengthy. Well-cellared bottles should continue to drink well through to the end of this decade. Drink now-2020.
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9/7/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
incredibly reliable zin
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7/18/2015 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
terrific baseline zin
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4/8/2015 - tcosgriff wrote: 86 Points
Purple color with a brown rim. Remnants of the typical brambly Zinfandel profile, but clearly an over the hill wine. Drink it up if you have some.
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2/26/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delightful and easy to drink; smooth; on the lighter side; nice balanced red fruit flavor without spice or jam; pleasant finish; drank like less than 15+% alcohol on the label
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1/15/2015 - Senso-beak wrote: 89 Points
Opened at a potluck and poured. Nice brambly zinberry with a hefty finish that could get rough if you aren't careful. Medium to full bodied, fleshy and meaty. Classic zinberry finish. Not too porty, or madierized yet, still holding the fruit.
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11/2/2014 - pyrat40 wrote:
Tasty and nice with a lamb shoulder. Not a "big" zin, rather mellow, but a good bottle of wis with dinner. Definitely ready to drink.
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9/12/2014 - Sharky911 wrote: 85 Points
Was liked by most
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9/6/2014 - mgl wrote: 92 Points
Still drinking wonderfully. Not pruney at all, like many of the zin's that I have had lately. Loved it.
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8/21/2014 - mactheknife Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good and predictable; not the best Old Vines I have had, but a reliable Turley Zin. Medium bodied; not very expressive for a Turley Zin. Nevertheless, very good and priced fairly.
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7/10/2014 - vinohnd wrote:
Surprisingly still full of life, with a bit of acidic bite.
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2/1/2014 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, what a surprise. I have a few bottles of Turley zins left and figured they are getting close to the end of their drinking window.
This is a lower end Turley, so I wasn't expecting too much, boy was I wrong. Long, balanced, great taste with cherry initially and spice/pepper. Interestingly, the color was turning to a brickish brown color. Much better than my other two bottles of the old vines. It was so good I drank almost the whole bottle.
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9/1/2013 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Popped and poured in Nashville with BBQ. Big fruit, not complex, solid wine for every day drinking.
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8/17/2013 - jonahfactor Likes this wine: 92 Points
A Full Monty of a wine that almost defies descriptors. Has gotten much richer and fuller since our last tasting a half year ago. Generous legs, reflecting a very full body and a dark crimson hue in the Riedel. The bouquet could enchant you from twenty paces with a sandalwood incense quality. Loaded with spice box elements, especially rosewood, and dripping with blackberries, blueberries and seasoned plum. Long, rewarding finish. Not the elegant wine it was earlier this year, but, boy, what a lot of fun!
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7/17/2013 - djpo wrote: 89 Points
Always good - I agree with cbbrowne3
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6/23/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
Tangy berry, tart cherry and a bit of oak on a surprisingly light frame. Peppery as well, with a bramble, violet nose. Maybe not old time zin, but better for it.
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5/23/2013 - cbbrown3 wrote: 91 Points
The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color. The spicy nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, minerals, baking spices, smoke, and some earthy underbrush. This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity. Brighter on the palate than the nose lead me to expect with the fruit more in the cherry and raspberry arena with a load of black pepper and spice poured on top. The finish has decent length and adds a touch of earthiness. This doesn’t offer much complexity but still very tasty. Not your typical rich and velvety Turley zinfandel.
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5/2/2013 - JOJ wrote: 93 Points
Super, and materially better than a bottle from 9 months ago. Fresh, refreshing aroma of underbrush after a rainstorm, with notes of raspberry and wild berry and a hint of pepper. Mouthfilling raspberry and wild berry -- freshness continues with great acidity, offset by a flinty finish. Terrific, and an awesome value.
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4/27/2013 - jonahfactor Likes this wine: 92 Points
She's a beauty and a bargain. We're longtime Turley mailing list members, and this offering again confirms the trend we've seen in the last half dozen or so years -- a greater focus on elegance instead of brute power. This in spite of 15+% alcohol. A very food-friendly wine. Deep purple robe. Dark, concentrated berries in the nose and palate, with an elegant finish that's more Rhone than Cali. A special occasion wine affordable enough to serve up with weeknight spaghetti.
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2/14/2013 - btock wrote: 87 Points
Was excited for this given recent CT notes but have to say was disappointed. Really great aroma bursts out when the cork was drawn but I found the wine a bit thin. I think this is 1-2 years past peak. Red currant, bright acidity, but not the depth that the Old Vine can deliver (I like it more on the purple fruit spectrum). Wine picked up a bit of weight in the glass as the night went on, but overall was looking for a little more punch. Drink Now.
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1/21/2013 - Melli Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well now. Very smooth with loads of fruit.
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1/20/2013 - jonahfactor wrote: 92 Points
Big, bold, beautiful, and drinking nicely right now. Sweet cranberry and cherry, with nice leaf tobacco and underbrush notes. Me thinks this was aged in American oak barrels because of the subtle vanilla that pops up from time to time in the glass. Substantial legs and a vibrant red hue. It's all out there from the time the cork leaves the bottle, not developing any complexity in the glass. But who cares; this is delicious when you're in the mood for a smack on the palate.
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1/9/2013 - Patches Likes this wine: 92 Points
Juicy and big but also elegant and dignified. Jammy red fruit, black cherry and bramble fruit with vanilla and pepper. Full bodied but there is a sense of lightness on the palate with the refreshing acidity. Drinking really well now...no point in holding this longer.
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12/29/2012 - NickP Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not really a change from last note, but clearly at its peak heading to the downhill side of its life. Drink up!
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11/23/2012 - denisontb wrote: 90 Points
A very nice, enjoyable Turley. cbbrown3 on 11/7/2012 described it perfectly.
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11/19/2012 - jwalker1140 wrote: 88 Points
Tartness was distracting.
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11/7/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 90 Points
The wine is a medium to dark ruby color. The very nice nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, black cherry, minerals, smoked meat, and some dried herbs. This is medium to full bodied with fairly solid, ripe tannins and very nice acidity. A bit brighter on the palate with cherries and black raspberries, roasted herbs, and black pepper. Decent length on the finish. A very nice zinfandel that is tasty but could use a bit more complexity. Not as big and lush as some Turleys but still very enjoyable.
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10/16/2012 - ajr wrote: 92 Points
I had this bottle of wine in memory of a very close and dear friend, David Sax, who passed away way too soon on 10/11/12. I shared this bottle with his wife's grieving family. Turley was Dave's favorite producer. I will always think fondly of this wonderful human being and friend who I had the privilege of knowing over 15 years whenever I open a Turley wine. In his memory I will purchase an additional bottle every year from my Turley mailer. I will miss Dave every day.
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10/16/2012 - ajr wrote: 92 Points
I had this bottle of wine in memory of a very dear and close friend, Dave Sax, who passed away way too soon. This bottle was shared with his grieving wifes' family. Turley was Dave's favorite producer. I will always think of this wonderful human being and great friend who I had the privlege of knowing for over 15 years. I will miss him every day. I will purchase an extra bottle every year from my Turley mailer in his memory.
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9/19/2012 - JOJ wrote: 91 Points
Smoky, peppery nose, with notes of wild berry, blueberry, and menthol. On the palate, raspberry and a fairly pronounced menthol note. I'd almost describe it as cough syrup, but in a good way (if that makes any sense). Power but silky in the mouth -- goes right up to the edge of overripeness but does not cross it. Not as nuanced as many of Turley's single vineyard wines, but very nice (especially for the price). Should mellow and improve with more bottle age.
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7/16/2012 - jwalker1140 wrote: 91 Points
Bright, focused and concentrated. Nice mouth feel. Flavors of black cherries stand out.
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6/10/2012 - Bigfresser wrote: 90 Points
silky mouthfeel.
Jammy ripeness of fruit.
very nice bottle
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6/9/2012 - jonahfactor wrote: 91 Points
Bottle signed by Larry Turley -- "Enjoy!" We did. An early Father's Day dinner with the gang, served with BBQ'd tri-tip. Time in the bottle has served this well, knocking off remaining rough edges. Very refined, almost elegant. Plums, dark berries and a whiff of smoke. Drinking very well now; so why wait?
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5/6/2012 - williamswhine wrote: 90 Points
Crowd pleaser. Typical Turley- reliable, full bodied, fruit forward, nicely balanced. For the price, nice bottle,
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4/2/2012 - dtirsell Likes this wine: 89 Points
Slightly unfiltered, rich but not overly deep cherry nose, solid Zin
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3/31/2012 - JSolo wrote: 91 Points
Good before and with dinner. Italian beef entree.
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11/10/2011 - mattyboy76 wrote: 90 Points
We thought this was a great bottle. PnV'ed. Big red fruit on the nose with not much more than that. Same on the palate without the Turley zin spice. We didn't drink this with food which I think was a good choice; less complex than the single vinyard wines. Medium finish and the 15.9% ABV was well hidden. Last bottle of this and am looking forward to the '09.
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11/10/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 88 Points
Nice soft mouth feel but not as good as the 2007. Not sure this is going to get much better.
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11/3/2011 - lynarthur wrote: 86 Points
Not the best Old Vines I've had but it was still pretty good
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9/30/2011 - NickP wrote: 87 Points
This is a good, but not great, zin from Turley. It has a lot of the red fruit, some tannin with decent acid balance. Not overly fruity also not very complex. At the lower end of the Turley price range it is a decent zin - not one for keeping a long time but will certainly age for a few years.
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8/22/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote: 88 Points
P&p. Smoothed out nicely... Not was fruitty as ibwas expecting.
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8/18/2011 - LeechDogg wrote: 90 Points
Wonderfully fruit forward nose; slightly stiff tannins on the palate. Nice wine.
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8/6/2011 - River Rat wrote:
Big Red Baby Killing (Our home): Classic Turley spice on the nose and palate. Deep dark red and black fruit. Medium bodied, balanced acidity, oak, pepper... For $25 this was a good buy but my last one.
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7/7/2011 - huberww wrote: 88 Points
Big and smooth, solid round fruit and good finish.
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4/21/2011 - df1962 wrote: 86 Points
PnD let breathe for 3hrs. Purple red not dense with red rim. Woodsy red fruits on the nose. Very smooth but weak mid-palate. Earthy red fruit flavors. Not much finish and did not improve over the course of the meal. Tasted alongside 2009 Bedrock Dolinsek Ranch Heirloom maybe not fair but no contest - Bedrock way better. Pleasant claret style no wow and not what was expected. Drink now do not see it getting better.
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4/11/2011 - cbbrown3 wrote: 91 Points
Decanted about an hour. Deep, dark ruby color. Brambly berries, pepper, dried herbs, spicy oak, and vanilla on the nose. Full bodied with solid tannins and very nice acidity. Rich and plush on the palate with the spicy, peppery berries carrying through to the decent length finish. Appears to be a well above average Old Vines vintage for Turley which shows well for the single vineyard offerings. Absolutely no hurry on this one, I probably won't pop another for a year.
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4/6/2011 - dustbuddy wrote: 88 Points
Very plummy nose with hints of spice. Palate is well balanced with a long, slightly acidic finish.
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3/19/2011 - lightning wrote: 89 Points
A slutty, hedonistic fruit bomb, full-bodied but conceals its high alcohol level well...good length.
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3/17/2011 - Biggsy wrote: 86 Points
Bright glossy raspberry red, you can see the fullness of the wine in the glass. The nose is full and aromatic with plummy black fruits, herbs and a touch of spicy wood. Full and almost viscous like a smoothie the palate is dense, sweet and massively intense. The fruit is concentrated and ultra-ripe with notes of cassis, black cherry, liquorice and spice. A very over-the-top style of wine which will polarise opinion. Not my cup of tea.
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3/15/2011 - vespasian wrote: 90 Points
Deep purple colour; spicy blackcurrant nose. Licquorice. Very nice indeed; Smooth. Lots of concentrated flavours. Good weight and balance. Very nice example - sweet fruits on finish.
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2/12/2011 - Cantina Hill's wrote: 92 Points
very good, an ecellent Zin, smooth, dark berries
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2/10/2011 - ravbik wrote: 89 Points
Better on second day, nice medium finish.
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2/5/2011 - Dave and Mo Cellar wrote: 90 Points
Drank over a period of three days. Was better the third day than when we opened it. Continued to develop depth. Would have rated an 88 on day one.
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1/28/2011 - cstir wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyable on opening; good balance and fruit flavor but not as much depth and intensity as other Turley's; moderate finish.
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1/17/2011 - River Rat wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark ruby, expressive fruity nose of blackberry and plum. Generous in the mouth with big texture and concentration of dark fruit, bramble and spice. The 15.6% Alc was really puzzling as it didn't really show like on most Turleys. Soft spicy finish that held the fruit with no perceptible heat. Every time I come back to a Turley I get reminded why I like this producer so much. Solid wine drinking well in its' youth.
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12/20/2010 - jonahfactor wrote: 90 Points
Served with roasted beef filet and herbed turkey breast at an early Christmas dinner with family. The highlight of a lineup of different reds. Not as fruit or alcohol forward as many Turley offerings, making it a graceful food wine. Almost a Rhone-like quality with slightly gamey aromas and plums and apricot. Wonderful lip-smacking finish with a hint of American oak. Another reason we really enjoy Turley wines.
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12/5/2010 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Pop 'n Pour. Before dinner, this was fairly soft and showing some simple bramble and raspberry -- just OK and unremarkable. However, with the rosemary and mustard leg of lamb, this wine was gorgeous. The meat brought out the spicy character of this wine and it was the perfect complement to the meal. Loved it.
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11/28/2010 - jasonkle wrote: 87 Points
Good wine. Good fruit and flavor. Thick and rich. But finish a little too strong . . .
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11/24/2010 - Arch57 wrote: 88 Points
I thought this was just OK. My wife liked it a lot but I preferred a 2002 Rosemount Shiraz that we also were drinking. It had much more complexity.
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11/24/2010 - jtt300 wrote: 90 Points
Great berries with spice on back end.
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11/22/2010 - ravbik wrote: 86 Points
fruity, young, rasberry, brambly. light tannins. smooths with two hours decanting.
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11/21/2010 - sma wrote: 88 Points
iI was disappointed as I hoped for more in this wine. Of the five we teasted this night the group though it was the worst of the lot, although I do not agree with that rating. Young fruit-filled wine with strawberry, plum and licorace noted by members of the group. The color was rich, but not as deep as other wines (Carlisle and Elyse) suggesting less extract. Very pleasant, but I was exteacting more from Turley. While very pleasant now, I do not know if it will develop more complexity with age.
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11/7/2010 - Vinsant wrote: 89 Points
Fruit, spice, and everything nice! Went well with a lot of different pizzas. Pepper, berries, herbs, and vanilla.
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11/1/2010 - Patches wrote: 92 Points
This is a seriously good Zinfandel. It has wonderful briary aromas of raspberry, blackberry, cherry, pepper, herbs and a hint of mint. It has a bit of a stemmyness to it which gives the wine a wild edge. On the palate there is definitely a full mouth full of fruit, but it is balanced by strong acidity and ample fine tannins which blend together in perfect harmony. This is drinking great now.
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9/26/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 91 Points
15.6% alcohol. I can't say which old vine vineards are represented here, although Turley sources from some of the finest historic vineyards in the state - 101, Alexander Valley Road, Bechtold-Cinsault, Danti Dusi, Dogtown, Duarte, Fredericks, Hayne, Library, Mattern Ranch, Moore, Mori, Pesenti, Salvador, Ueberroth and Zampatti (to name a few)!
I can tell you that this wine was made under the supervision of Ehren Jordan and that Turley's vineyard cultivation practices are legendary throughout California.
Dark ruby red. Floral and red fruit nose. On the palate, black cherry, rasberry, plums and some peppery spice. Very well balanced nice focus and concentration. Looong aftertaste.
This wine cost around $25 IIRC. A great introduction to historic California vineyards!
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9/17/2010 - Tyler_at_WWD Likes this wine: 91 Points
The aroma is softly prune-like, with a pleasant pipe tobacco edge. There are some sweet vanilla cream tones, a touch of freshly cut rose wood, some raspberry and a hint of herbs de Provence.
This is a softly profiled wine, with a delicately jammy quality. It’s bright with red fruit tones, cherry, and tart raspberry. Rose petals and a mixed floral bouquet mingle with vanilla and a subtly bitter, toasted hue. This wine strikes an exceptional balance between a dark, gripping core and bright lively acidity. This is an impressive effort and easily worth trying.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #69: Central Coast Adventures Pt.8: Zin Week: Turley Winery ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/09/17/post-69-central-coast-adventures-pt-8-turley-winery/ )
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9/8/2010 - JS199 wrote: 88 Points
Good young Zin for the money. Needs some time, perhaps a year or two. 88+
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9/7/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 90 Points
pretty nose, with lots going on. Suprised by the quality at $25 for a turley. Huge acid. powerful wine. Pepper, berries and cherry on the nose. Some chocolate and coffee on the palate also a touch of cherry cough medicine. no slouch in the alcohol. Fruite to last, but will the acid come down to the (larger, but not as large) alcohol and tannins. I'd like to find out...
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9/5/2010 - rpenn77 wrote: 88 Points
Young but good fruit. Pleasant.
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8/25/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 90 Points
15.6% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Expressive red and black fruit aromas with a little spice and funk. Blackberries and cherry entry leading into a rich, brambly mid-palate. Well balanced with nice old-vine focus. Lengthy and delicious finish. Very nice effort by the Turley team!
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8/24/2010 - michigan dogs wrote: 89 Points
big in your face, Turley, great value for $25.00, I'll leave my last bottle to age. I just got my mailer from Turley with an allocation of 3 bottles????, not worth paying the shipping for just 3 bottles, I'll pass.
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8/22/2010 - Brsed wrote: 90 Points
Opened after a flawed Juvenille. Copius amounts of black fruits and peppers are present. In fact, this is just what I expect and want in a Turley.
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8/20/2010 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 87 Points
Did not live up to our Turley expectations. Fruit but no spice
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8/17/2010 - River Rat wrote:
Dildine, this is for you. Big and juicy up front, spice and pepper in the middle and big tannins on the medium long finish. Good now but definitely will be better with time. Surprised at the low scores so far. Showing pretty good so far. Drank with my Son and his Girlfriend while we enjoyed pan seared Rib Eyes w/ blue cheese butter, rice pilaf and a real fresh green salad w/ bleu cheese, toasted walnuts and italian dressing.
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8/5/2010 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Potent fruit yet restrained at the same time -- a good thing. Sour cherry, lengthy finish.
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8/2/2010 - Bracamonte wrote: 90 Points
As always Turley Old Vine a soild wine with dark fruit and pepper spicy notes. If your in the mood having it with pizza Tuesday or Thursday Turley is the way to go.
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7/30/2010 - djpo wrote: 90 Points
Nicely done. While somewhat tame compared to past OV, a fine example none the less.
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6/25/2010 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
A solid Zin, bursting with dark, ripe fruits and a peppery edge. Unfortunately I did not decant and the structure seemed a bit harsh. Got better with air.
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6/21/2010 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous note. Nicely balanced, relatively elegant for Turley Zin that doesn't hit you over the head.
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6/7/2010 - whudock wrote: 89 Points
Excellent fruit forward wine with nice spicy notes. Not deep, but very enjoyable
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5/31/2010 - mdefreitas wrote: 89 Points
This seemed less ripe than previous vintages, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Lovely, dark fruit, hints of black pepper, herbs; higher than average acidity. The components appear in relatively good balance. The alcohol seemed reasonably well buffered by the supporting fruit. Worked well with BBQ.
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5/3/2010 - tdh42 wrote: 88 Points
I must agree with some of the previous posts - this was not they typical Turley OV that I am used to. Much more subtle and dialed back that previous vintages. Enjoyable bottle, but not the distinctive Turley characteristics I'm used to.
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5/1/2010 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 79 Points
There was a slight effervescence suggesting a secondary fermentation. The wine was dirty and rustic, but drinkable. I wouldn't buy more; bad QPR.
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4/29/2010 - michigan dogs wrote: 87 Points
better the 2nd day
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4/23/2010 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 89 Points
A nice ripe Zin, but not at all raisiny or Port-like. Lots of herbs and spices on complex nose. Actually I've had some Cali PN that were more full-bodied and hot on the finish than this. Turley seems to have dialed down some of their ripeness over the past several vintages- a nice development that better matches my palate. At $25 this is a terrific QPR.
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4/21/2010 - Vinsant wrote: 90 Points
Nice balanced bottle of OV. Much better then the previous 2 vintages. A little heat did sneak in with some air time, but the ripe fruit wasn't too ripe. Nice spice, black pepper, dark berries, and some herbs. Popped and poured. Medium finish. Went fairly well with lamb burgers.
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4/9/2010 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Interesting herbal and spice nose with a dominant aroma that I could not quite place (my mom identified it as chicory, but I don't know how that smells). The palate also was dominated by herbs and spice with some secondary black/blue fruit. Really kind of non-Turley like with it being more medium bodied and less fruit driven. Good finish though. I bet this one can age for a while.
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4/8/2010 - Jens22 wrote: 91 Points
Opened up nicely after 45 mins.
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4/8/2010 - tairanosaurus wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Black berry on the nose. In the mouth, blackberry, pepper and mint. Some structure providing tanins on the back end. I like this better than the last couple years of Old Vines.
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