Opened and poured. Very dark, and somewhat supple full to medium body initially. Notes of very ripe reds and blacks, with some dusty mineral qualities. With air, fleshing out and gaining body, without the harsh alcohol notes that sometimes follow. Throwing some sediment at the end of the bottle. Nice.
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I found this wine dry, tannic, and brooding, similar in feel to serious Italian reds. It was nothing like Turley’s Pesenti (Paso Robles) zins that I am more accustomed to drinking. It was not even like the 2012 vintage of this same wine, which I am drinking right now, and which is much more fruit forward. I didn’t know what to make of it — whether it is past its prime because the fruit has already dissipated, or whether it will improve as it unfolds with more bottle age. I have optimism about the latter.
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A nice purple, dark berry nose. First impressions are dark berry, pepper, fine back note tannins and some length in the finish. There are lingering notes of heat and dark berry. Really quite nice at this point, drink up.
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Hard to distinguish one Turley from another; that's a good thing. They're all good, consistant, pleasurable drinkers. Not sure what the difference is between 90 and 93 is anymore, so this is in the middle. Drink anytime.
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I love the 2011 vintage. Lean and racy that adds a dimension to Zin that can be lost in a warmer vintage. From Howell Mountain it appears to be even more intense. Wonderful balance, refreshing Zin in a world of overripeness.
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I was underwhelmed by a bottle of this two months ago, but this one was a different story. Same characteristics as my earlier bottle, but this one seemed more bright, vibrant, and racy. Don't know if the difference is due to serving temperature, air time, glass shape, bottle variation, or my biorhythms, but this was an excellent zinfandel, almost (but not quite) worth its price. Certainly has several years of useful life left.
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After looking at other tasting notes on this, it's safe to say that I'm an outlier. Opened about an hour before drinking. Nice nose - miscellaneous black and blue fruits, along with pleasant herbal notes. Currants and dark berries on the palate. Fairly rich, not raisiny or port-like, and a decent finish. It checked all the right boxes, but it struck me as rather dull and lifeless. Maybe that's because I'd had a wonderful Carlisle Zin the night before, because it needs more time or air, or because it was an off bottle. Whatever the reason, it was underwhelming.
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Agreeing with my previous note but the cloudiness is finer and less apparent tonight. Served chilled, the herbals only come out above 64 degrees and bring some dusty to piney cannabis aromatics to the nose. Drinking my last bottle tonight but if I had another I'd be in no hurry to drink it for a few years.
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Opaque crimson and brimming with blackberries, boysenberries, mandarin oranges, cedar and savory herbs, this is a plump, layered Zinfandel with fresh acidity, big sweet tannins and well-integrated oak. As is so often the case with Turley offerings, the wine's substantial alcohol (15.5%) flies under the radar. Finishing long and with a sweet licorice note, this is one that stands out from the crowd. It is delicious now and has the stuffing (and balance) to ensure enjoyment over the next five years or more. Drink now-2021.
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Darker pomegranate color showing some weight. A bit on the cloudy side with a soft rim. Legs are slow and wide. Nose has ripe berry with anis and some fresh herbs. There's a remarkable texture with layers of bramble, minerals, dark chocolate and round spice. Very rich for a Zinfandel with plump yet focused tannins and an enduring finish that goes on for days.
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mellow and incredibly well integrated with no rough edges. Powerful, but not forceful, it coats the mouth with complex flavors and has a finish that lasts for minutes.
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Thank you Larry for this sexy cuvee. Dark in the glass with long legs that follow the swirl. After letting it breathe for about 30 minutes, and maintaining the temperature at the low 60s, it is well proportioned and enjoyable in the taste, with pronounced deep scents and pronounced deep jammy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, and terroir that reminds me of its upbringing. Pleasant long lasting aftertaste. Zinfandel does not get much better than this.
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I'll agree with the masses, on score. Warning: I'd recommend holding this for a couple years. It did not open up for 2 hours, and then became a completely different animal. The Jammy Berries, baking spice notes and Chocolate mentioned by others took hours to come out, and then they did with a flourish.. Would recommend as a hold.
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On day one the wine was tight and sour on the palate. Day two blossomed to show a nose of flowers, black pepper and red fruits. The palate opened Up dramatically with juicy raspberries and some savory herbs. I like this a lot but ill drink my other bottle within a year. It changed very quickly.
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The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black currant (cassis), and Blueberry. It tastes like Blackberry, and Black currant (cassis). The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Angular texture. The wine finishes Long.
Definitely needs to breath as it is a "big" Zin with tannin.
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1/22/2024 - Senso-beak wrote: 90 Points
Opened and poured. Very dark, and somewhat supple full to medium body initially. Notes of very ripe reds and blacks, with some dusty mineral qualities. With air, fleshing out and gaining body, without the harsh alcohol notes that sometimes follow. Throwing some sediment at the end of the bottle. Nice.
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12/24/2022 - Hildybeest wrote:
Unfortunately left too long and now in the freezer for cooking...
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11/12/2022 - davudvl Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. In perfect plays. Does not have the usual sweetness of a zin. Perfect balance of fruit and acidity with long finish. (Dinner at Novikov )
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3/20/2022 - rhanke wrote:
Off.
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12/8/2021 - ocfriday Likes this wine: 93 Points
I agree with:
4/30/2019 - BGK810 wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit, black pepper, spice, and a 30 second finish. Delicious!
Still in a great place and drinking very well.
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8/10/2021 - rmalloy wrote:
I found this wine dry, tannic, and brooding, similar in feel to serious Italian reds. It was nothing like Turley’s Pesenti (Paso Robles) zins that I am more accustomed to drinking. It was not even like the 2012 vintage of this same wine, which I am drinking right now, and which is much more fruit forward. I didn’t know what to make of it — whether it is past its prime because the fruit has already dissipated, or whether it will improve as it unfolds with more bottle age. I have optimism about the latter.
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2/24/2021 - whudock wrote:
x
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5/9/2020 - MystMrQ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big and bold but there’s a spicy, peppery zing that really sets this over the top. Love it!
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1/20/2020 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Exceptionally good Zinfandel!
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4/30/2019 - BGK810 wrote: 93 Points
Dark fruit, black pepper, spice, and a 30 second finish. Delicious!
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4/4/2019 - guitarguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
A nice purple, dark berry nose. First impressions are dark berry, pepper, fine back note tannins and some length in the finish. There are lingering notes of heat and dark berry. Really quite nice at this point, drink up.
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8/31/2018 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice Zin. Good fruit and nice finish.
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8/24/2018 - silbakor wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Great zin pepper and spice, very soft tannin, tons of acidity. Very good friendly and lovely with sausage pizza.
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7/2/2018 - Salute Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice - spice, dried fruit, not overly sweet
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11/30/2017 - silbakor wrote: 90 Points
Better, more balanced and more complex the second day. Still clearly needs some air to open up.
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7/19/2017 - levinml wrote: 91 Points
Hard to distinguish one Turley from another; that's a good thing. They're all good, consistant, pleasurable drinkers. Not sure what the difference is between 90 and 93 is anymore, so this is in the middle. Drink anytime.
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3/4/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love the 2011 vintage. Lean and racy that adds a dimension to Zin that can be lost in a warmer vintage. From Howell Mountain it appears to be even more intense. Wonderful balance, refreshing Zin in a world of overripeness.
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1/28/2017 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was underwhelmed by a bottle of this two months ago, but this one was a different story. Same characteristics as my earlier bottle, but this one seemed more bright, vibrant, and racy. Don't know if the difference is due to serving temperature, air time, glass shape, bottle variation, or my biorhythms, but this was an excellent zinfandel, almost (but not quite) worth its price. Certainly has several years of useful life left.
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11/13/2016 - Night Train Likes this wine: 88 Points
After looking at other tasting notes on this, it's safe to say that I'm an outlier. Opened about an hour before drinking. Nice nose - miscellaneous black and blue fruits, along with pleasant herbal notes. Currants and dark berries on the palate. Fairly rich, not raisiny or port-like, and a decent finish. It checked all the right boxes, but it struck me as rather dull and lifeless. Maybe that's because I'd had a wonderful Carlisle Zin the night before, because it needs more time or air, or because it was an off bottle. Whatever the reason, it was underwhelming.
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7/22/2016 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Agreeing with my previous note but the cloudiness is finer and less apparent tonight. Served chilled, the herbals only come out above 64 degrees and bring some dusty to piney cannabis aromatics to the nose. Drinking my last bottle tonight but if I had another I'd be in no hurry to drink it for a few years.
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3/28/2016 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opaque crimson and brimming with blackberries, boysenberries, mandarin oranges, cedar and savory herbs, this is a plump, layered Zinfandel with fresh acidity, big sweet tannins and well-integrated oak. As is so often the case with Turley offerings, the wine's substantial alcohol (15.5%) flies under the radar. Finishing long and with a sweet licorice note, this is one that stands out from the crowd. It is delicious now and has the stuffing (and balance) to ensure enjoyment over the next five years or more. Drink now-2021.
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1/10/2016 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Darker pomegranate color showing some weight. A bit on the cloudy side with a soft rim. Legs are slow and wide. Nose has ripe berry with anis and some fresh herbs. There's a remarkable texture with layers of bramble, minerals, dark chocolate and round spice. Very rich for a Zinfandel with plump yet focused tannins and an enduring finish that goes on for days.
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10/30/2015 - gesusser wrote: 90 Points
Friday lunchtime quaff w/ office... maybe decanted too long, as IMO, this was off; my office staff loved it, but to me had a unpleasant finish
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5/3/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 91 Points
Wonderful, layered dark red fruit flavor with good complexity; moderate finish.
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4/11/2015 - whudock Likes this wine: 92 Points
mellow and incredibly well integrated with no rough edges. Powerful, but not forceful, it coats the mouth with complex flavors and has a finish that lasts for minutes.
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3/1/2015 - cultdrinker wrote: 96 Points
Thank you Larry for this sexy cuvee. Dark in the glass with long legs that follow the swirl. After letting it breathe for about 30 minutes, and maintaining the temperature at the low 60s, it is well proportioned and enjoyable in the taste, with pronounced deep scents and pronounced deep jammy flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, and terroir that reminds me of its upbringing. Pleasant long lasting aftertaste. Zinfandel does not get much better than this.
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1/4/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 91 Points
Round, layered full berry flavor with slight spice and good balance; nice finish.
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11/23/2014 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Boysenberry, intensely juicy on the palate. Good acidity keeps this bright and not too hot, despite the 15.5% ABV.
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7/21/2014 - BigSchmove Likes this wine: 91 Points
was great. touched all the senses. was good with and without food. wish I had more
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7/20/2014 - slippytoad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Racy, expressive.
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6/7/2014 - leadpencil wrote: 92 Points
Boysenberry, bramble, balsamic
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2/15/2014 - mpricher wrote: 93 Points
I'll agree with the masses, on score. Warning: I'd recommend holding this for a couple years. It did not open up for 2 hours, and then became a completely different animal. The Jammy Berries, baking spice notes and Chocolate mentioned by others took hours to come out, and then they did with a flourish.. Would recommend as a hold.
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12/9/2013 - ettalovesgoodwine wrote: 93 Points
Took a while to open up even with Venturi. Once it did it was still tannic but flavorful & aromatic - berries, spice, chocolate
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10/15/2013 - amanofwords Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich brambly blackberry, very jammy. Classic Turley. Opened up with a couple of hours exposed to air.
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9/13/2013 - Fred44 wrote: 94 Points
Nose:Big Bad Zin!! Taste:Raspberries, cherries, and blackberries. Turley needs time.
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8/17/2013 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
On day one the wine was tight and sour on the palate. Day two blossomed to show a nose of flowers, black pepper and red fruits. The palate opened
Up dramatically with juicy raspberries and some savory herbs. I like this a lot but ill drink my other bottle within a year. It changed very quickly.
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7/29/2013 - 321Nomad Likes this wine: 94 Points
The wine looks Purple colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black currant (cassis), and Blueberry. It tastes like Blackberry, and Black currant (cassis). The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Angular texture. The wine finishes Long.
Definitely needs to breath as it is a "big" Zin with tannin.
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7/20/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully rich and concentrated with just the right amount of tannic structure.
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6/16/2013 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Chocolate, currant, spice and blackberry aromas, layered flavors on the palate, maybe some pepper in the finish.
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