93 Points Decanter (2018).  The 2019 Turley Old Vine Zinfandel is composed of a variety of old sites from California that are either too small to be made into a vineyard designate wine or are new to the Turley family (and way of farming). Vines are anywhere from 50 to 130 years old, and a true representation of California old vine Zinfandel, hailing from vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lodi, Contra Costa, Amador, and Paso Robles. There is no better way to gauge the classic character of old vine Zinfandel in California than through this wine.

Taste

Winemakers tasting note: The 2017 Old Vines smells like one of my all-time favourite, most vivid summer memories: picking the blackberry bushes that line our Estate vineyard in St. Helena in the late afternoon. Warm and perfectly ripe, these berries were destined for a pie, if I could hold off on eating all of them before I walked back home. Hailing from over 20 ancient vineyards across California and aged in only 10% new oak, the wine has all those bright, pure berry fruit notes and more; the elegant, grown-up version of that Rockwellian memory. Intensely satiating and polished on the palate, with the kind of natural depth, complexity, and grace that can only come from truly old vines.

About the Producer

Turley Wine Cellars is a second-generation family winery that has the reputation for producing the finest Zinfandels in California from small parcels of extremely old, dry-farmed vines. 

Larry Turley with his director of winemaking, Tegan Passalacqua, continue to produce a fantastic range of wines from some of Californias oldest, head pruned, dry-farmed Zinfandel vineyards.

Along with Larrys daughters, they have managed to persuade the owners of some of Californias finest old vineyards to let them take total control of viticulture; farming organically, reducing yields to extremely low levels and picking earlier to retain acidity.

Wine Press / Awards

93 Points Decanter

"From 18 different old-vine vineyards, including sites in Amador County, Lodi and Contra Costa, this wines depth and purity are mesmerising. Hints of plum, black raspberry and violet pair with a supple texture and vibrant acidity to moderate the alcohol."

92 Points Robert Parker

"Medium to deep ruby-purple in colour, the 2017 Zinfandel Old Vines features exotic spice accents over a core of blueberry and boysenberry compote, crushed black cherries and berries with notes of cinnamon stick and potpourri. Medium to full-bodied, it has loads of spicy black and blue fruits in the mouth with firm, ripe tannins to frame and juicy acidity, finishing long and very spicy. 12,000 cases produced."

90 Points Wine Spectator

"Sleek and briary, with generous black cherry, liquorice and toasty spice flavours. Drink now through 2024."

Why are Old Vines Superior 

In addition to their cultural significance, old vines produce a naturally more complex, balanced, and sustainable wine. Young vines tend to be vigorous and high yielding for a short period of time (16-20 years) before most wineries rip them up and replant, to keep yields at a maximum.

An old vine, on the other hand, naturally regulates its yields, focusing all of the vines energy into a more finiteand ultimately more concentratedfinal wine. Furthermore, these vines are dry-farmed, meaning they survive only on the natural rainfall patterns and water tables of their respective micro-climates. Finally, they are more deeply rooted in the soils, reaching down over 40 feet into the earth in some cases.