THE STORY
For the first time since 2018, we made it down to Templeton for Turley: a rare in-person tasting. I’m a long-time Turley Wine Cellars girl, ever since we first started seeing their Old Vines Zinfandel on our restaurant menus in DC. Back then, there was a long wait to join their mailing list – it was seemingly exclusive. Today, it is easier to join and the members-only access to their broad portfolio makes it a club we haven’t wanted to leave!
Decades ago, during a wine tasting day in the Paso Robles wine region, we stumbled upon a winery called “Pesenti.” It was a great find, making big reds the way we liked them at an affordable price. The next thing we knew, they were acquired by – wait for it – Turley! While Zinfandel and Petite Sirah are the cornerstones of Turley’s Pesenti production, that have ventured out into other whites and reds from the region. It is also the location of 1 of 2 Turley tasting rooms.
We were welcomed at Turley by wine educator Steve O’Brien, who, before coming to their Paso Robles location, was their distributor in Colorado. He was extremely knowledgeable about Turley, its history and its wines. It was a lovely morning and we sat outside on the garden patio. We were presented with the tasting menu of the day, which covered a sampling of the breadth of the Zinfandels. Since I had corresponded with Steve before our arrival, he had some additional wines ready for us to try.
Steve updated us on the 2023 harvest. Historically, harvest used to go well into October, but in recent years, due to warmer weather, the Zinfandel was usually picked by the end of September. Due to our cool Central Coast spring and summer, he anticipated harvest would go well into November.
This is the fourth in a series of five posts about our wine escapades down south! I have written about Turley several times (just search for “Turley” on any page of my website), with the most recent one here: Turley Pesenti Vineyard: A Big, Tasty Petite Syrah with Brambly Juice and a Chalky Finish.
“Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.” You can read more about Turley and proprietor Larry Turley here.
ABOUT PESENTI VINEYARD
“This certified organic estate-owned vineyard was planted in the 1920s on primarily limestone soil. Though the vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, the soil plays the most important role in distinguishing this vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles. The wines have a brightness, with chalk and floral characteristic aromas unique to the site, and to Zinfandel in general.” The Zinfandel vines reached 100 years old in 2022!
THE WINES
I have 10 wines to present to you today from Turley. 7 are from our September tasting and 3, from our home cellar. Winery notes come from their website or conversations during our tasting, unless otherwise indicated. Prices are a mix of tasting sheet and, for the wines we had at home, our member purchase receipts. As a member, we are offered a slightly discounted price from what you might find retail. Any errors are mine and mine alone.
About Juvenile: “Though the vast majority of our wines are single vineyard designates, Juvenile is actually composed of a variety of young vines that have been replanted in several of our old vine sites. We tag the younger vines then pick them separately and make a distinct wine. Juvenile vines range in age from about 6-25 years, and we pull from a selection of our best vineyards across California.”
2020 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel, California, $20 (#1189)
Winery Notes: “Plenty of satiating spiced plum, blood orange, and stone fruits, with grippy tannins and well-balanced acidity. Eminently drinkable now owing to the classic Juvenile texture. Plus, with this vintage of Juvenile we introduced new corks that essentially eliminate TCA! What an absolutely gorgeous knockout of a wine for $20.” A best value.
My Review: Purple in color. Concord grape and blackberry on the nose. Vegetal notes combine with red and black berries in a jammy, full-bodied palate with a slightly tannic finish. September 2023
2021 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel, California, 15.2% ABV, $24 (#1190)
Winery Notes: “Fragrant, lifted aromas of ripe dark fruits like black raspberry and blood orange on the nose. Superb balance between acidity, tannin, and spice, with a succulent, profoundly satisfying texture.”
My Review: Purple in color. Intense berry and warm cinnamon on the nose. Palate finishes with Mandarin orange. We liked this wine. September 2023
2021 Turley Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.9% ABV, $44 (#1191)
Winery Notes: “Deeply perfumed and enthralling nose of ripe red fruits, high-toned spices, orange zest, and an almost minty crushed chalk. Palate is smooth, lush, energetic, and pure, with a smack of well-toned acidity, satiating structure, and a long, precise finish.”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. Fresh berry pie on the nose. Bursts in the mouth with bright berry flavors overlaying a sour, fairly acidic palate. September 2023
2018 Turley Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, 15.8% ABV, $38 (#1192)
Winery Notes: “Vibrant and always distinctive, the Pesenti Zinfandel makes its spring lineup debut! Fragrant red fruits, black raspberry, chalk dust, piquant spices and wildflowers all flourish on the nose. Lush yet linear on the palate, with fresh, lively acidity and profound depth. Intensely pleasurable now, and will age well.”
My Review: Garnet in color. Red raspberry jam on the nose. Rich raspberry and blackberry on the palate. This is raspberry, cassis and vanilla all the way. July 2023
2021 Turley Whitney Tennessee Zinfandel, Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County, 15.8% ABV, $46 (#1193)
Winery Notes: “This small, estate-owned, pre-Prohibition vineyard in Sonoma County was purchased by the winery in 2009, and we’ve since converted all to organic farming. Planted on loam and various gravel soils, the Whitney Tennessee vineyard—named for one of Larry’s four daughters—is a mixed planting as well, with small amounts of Petite Syrah and Carignane vines sprinkled throughout.
“Organically farmed pre-Prohibition vines planted head-trained and dry-farmed in the loam & gravel of Sonoma County. Profuse blue fruits, savory game, and crushed gravel. Lively synergy between acid and tannin on the palate, with a wholly satisfying texture. Best enjoyed with a quick decant.”
Steve added that the 1915 plantings are field blends, which is the case with most pre-Prohibition plantings.
My Review: A pretty ruby color. Looks full and rich. Faint dark berry on the nose. The palate is quite sophisticated, leaner than the nose. An elegant Zinfandel. September 2023
2019 Turley Duarte Zinfandel, Contra Costa AVA, Contra Costa County, 15.7% ABV, $33 (#1194)
Winery Notes: “This wine is an homage to Joe Duarte, a prominent grape grower in Contra Costa who first introduced Turley to the incredible vineyards of the area. The wine is comprised of fruit from the turn-of-the-century Evangehlo, Mori, and Salvador vineyards, planted between 1890 and 1930.Thanks to the sandy soils and impressive age of the vines, the wine has some of the softest, silkiest tannins we’ve ever seen in a Zinfandel.
“One whiff of the Duarte tells you everything you need to know about where this wine comes from. Notes of dark-skinned stone fruits, driftwood, and a bracing shoreline breeze convey the windswept sands of Contra Costa as clearly as if you were standing in the beach-like soils yourself. The palate is only further proof: suave tannins, smooth yet textured, velvety with a hint of grip, almost like peach fuzz. The type of dynamic fruit, acid, and tannin balance that can only come from ancient vines deeply rooted in the sandy soils of Northern California. Perfectly stellar from the first pour. If you’ve ever dreamed of renting a remote beach cottage in winter where you can walk your dog along the shore during the day and write your novel by a crackling fire at night, this wine is for you.”
My Review: Garnet, almost purple in the glass. Tart berry jam with baking spices on the nose. Rich palate of bright berries offset by a tartness like crushed freeze-dried berries. Sticks to the palate with lingering flavors. September 2023
2021 Turley Grenache, Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.9% ABV (#1195)
Winery Notes: “Previously only available in our tasting room, the Pesenti Grenache makes an impressive debut on the mailing list. Made famous in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Priorat, Grenache is also one of the traditional Rhône grapes that helped put modern-day Paso Robles on the map. Aromatics include alpine strawberry, blackberry, fennel, and lavender, mingled with a spice reminiscent of garrigue. A medium-to full-bodied wine, the palate shows tangy bright red brambly fruits, spice, and a balanced acidity offset by fine-grained tannin. With a long finish, the purity and depth of this wine are sure to please even our most dedicated Zin drinkers. Drink now at 55˚- 60 ˚F.”
My Review: Translucent ruby in the glass. Berries and spice on the nose. Leather, raspberry and cranberry cloaked with a touch of sweetness on the palate. Classic Rhône. September 2023
2020 Turley Zinfandel, Ueberroth Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 15.7% ABV, $58 (#1196)
Winery Notes: “Planted in 1885, Ueberroth is the oldest of our Zinfandel vineyards. Located closer to the sea than any other site we work with, you can smell the salt air from the top of the vineyard hill. These ungrafted, head-trained vines are planted on very steep limestone slopes. The high pH of the soil makes for a very high-acid wine, elevating the ripe fruit flavors from this historic certified organic vineyard.
“Certified organic, ungrafted vines over 130 years old; the “grand cru” site of Paso Robles. Exuberant, intense dark red plum, wild strawberry, dried orange peel, white pepper and chalk on the nose. Brooding, dense, pedigreed, powerfully fresh and balanced on the palate with mouth-watering acidity. Ready to drink now at 55°-60°F or could age several years..”
My Review: Super dark garnet. Spice and sea on the nose. Palate is very spicy and delicious. It’s a big wine. We hadn’t had an Ueberroth in quite some time and took a couple home! September 2023
2021 Turley Estate Petite Sirah, Napa Valley AVA, Napa County, 14.5% ABV, $48 (#1197)
Winery Notes: “Planted adjacent to the Estate Zinfandel, this Petite is also certified organic. The Wappo Indians used to roam throughout the region, and obsidian arrowheads are commonplace in the rocky volcanic soils. The wine is a classic Napa Valley Petite Syrah: dark and brooding on the nose, bright and vibrant on the palate.
“Certified organic mixed planting that includes trellised and head-trained, dry-farmed heritage vines. Dark blue and purple fruits, savory spiced game, and earth, like a walk through a rain-wet northern forest. Strikingly silky on the palate, with a fresh, vivacious texture that offsets the brooding depth of this exceptional wine.”
My Review: Inky in the glass. Caramel, eucalyptus and dark berries on the nose. Lean, austere palate with light cherry flavors and vegetal notes. September 2023
2021 Turley Grenache Blanc, Pesenti Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, 13.4% ABV (#1198)
Winery Notes: Grenache Blanc is one of the grapes in Turley’s white blend named White Coat. This is the 4th vintage in which they have had excedd grapes and bottled Grenache Blanc separately.
My Review: Pale, dusty white in the glass. Refreshing nose with pineapple notes. Perfume and pear on the light, crisp palate. Mineral and tar on the finish. A nice white to finish our red tasting. September 2023
“Here at Turley, we consider ourselves and our wines Californian above all else.
We take great pride in traversing old trails in search of ancient vineyards across the state, and encourage you to explore some new territories with us.”
Their two locations are open for tastings by appointment: Thursday – Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!
Amador County Tasting Room: “Nestled in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, our Amador county tasting room in Plymouth is the home of the Gold Rush and the nation’s oldest vineyards.”
Paso Robles Tasting Room: “A few miles inland of California’s storied Central Coast, Paso Robles is a pioneer’s paradise, where surfers, cowboys, vintners, farmers, and ranchers commingle amidst ancient vines, towering oak trees, and rolling hills.”
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