Tagged: Lodi

TURLEY ROLLS OUT THE 2023 FALL RELEASE WITH A PARTY!

Ambitious Paso Robles Weekend Part 5

THE STORY

We are now smack in the middle of our weekend in Paso Robles at the winery which brought us there –  Turley. When Turley announce this first pre-release tasting, we decided this was a rare opportunity for once to try the wines before buying.

We were hosted as though we were wine judges, seminar style, in the winery by certified sommelier, Christina Turley. Christina is the oldest of Larry’s 4 daughters. She did a fabulous job educating us on the vineyards and the vintage. I thought this was excellent marketing – a way to get members down to their Templeton tasting room after closing their Amador one. Our bonus was tasting some library wines, all of which was accompanied by some charcuterie – if you could pull yourselves away from the tastings! But the icing on top was free shipping on our Fall order – if we placed it then.  Smart!

You can read my last post about Turley here: A NEW TURLEY FROM PASO ROBLES!

ABOUT TURLEY (from their website)

“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.”

There is a great story on their website about how emergency room doctor Larry Turley got into winemaking and co-founded Frog’s Leap Winery, leaving it to start Turley Wine Cellars in 1993. But what I liked even more was this description, which explains why Turley makes so many wines from so many vineyards:

“Because Larry has never met an old vine vineyard he didn’t like, Turley now makes 47 separate wines from over 50 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s.  Often weak and decaying, these old vine vineyards require extra care and attention in order to restore them to their former glory.  After twenty-five years in the emergency room, Larry can now focus his resuscitative skills on the various old vineyards that comprise the wines he loves.”

THE WINE

I have 8 wines to present to you today from Turley. Interestingly, none are Central Coast!  Winery notes come from their website, unless otherwise indicated. As a rule, I don’t correct typos from winery websites. Any errors are mine and mine alone.

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Zampatti Vineyard, Sonoma, $50 (#1627)

Winery Notes: “A miniscule jewel of an organic vineyard, planted 1915. Raspberry preserves, violets, and holiday spices, evocative of the orange and clove pomanders we make at home each year. Juicy and mouthwatering with plenty of lift, freshness, and zesty energy. A lovely pairing with either “Mule Skinner Blues” and “Love is like a Butterfly.”

My Review: Blueberry on the nose. Rich and delicious red fruits and blueberry on the palate. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Dog Town, Clements Hill AVA, Lodi, $50 (#1628)

Winery Notes: “A jewel of Lodi, these organically farmed ungrafted vines were planted in 1944. An ambrosial mélange of cranberry, currant, gingerbread, orange peel and cigar box-like spices. Refined and elegant, tea-like tannins combined with the baker’s chocolate and dried raspberry on the palate make this wine a must-have from 2023. Enjoy with the haunting beauty of “Silver Dagger.”.”

My Review: Texture like tea steeped for a while. Cassis or prune on the palate. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Judge Bell, Amador, $43 (#1629)

Winery Notes: “Ungrafted vines planted 1907 in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Sweetly scented of cherries, cranberries, chapparal, baking spices, and sappy evergreen. The fine-grained granitic dust tannins are softened up with a pleasurable candy-coated-like texture from the ripe fruits. A true delight, evocative of the ancient mountain soils.”

My Review: Dark slightly cooked fruit. I kinda like it. We have enjoyed the Judge Bell year over year. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Monte Rosso Vineyard, Sonoma Valley, $76 (#1630)

Winery Notes: “Legendary 1888 planting on Moon Mtn., along the southeastern edge of the Mayacamas. Fragrant dark fruits, black pepper, orange peel; palate is boldly full bodied with plenty of richness. If you are a fan of the Dragon, don’t miss Monte Rosso. Lay down and/or decant before enjoying.”

My Review: More sophisticated. The Monte Rosso has become one of my favorites. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Brandlin Ranch, Napa, $53 (#1631)

Winery Notes: “Historic 1926 Zinfandel vineyard atop Mt. Veeder, along the steep southern edge of the Mayacamas Mountains. Refined Napa Valley brambly mountain fruits, violets, graphite; signature Mt Veeder tannins with a bright, fresh finish. A Zin that could convert a skeptic or two. Beautiful, even more so with some air.”

My Review: Delicious nose. We are long time fans of Zinfandel from this vineyard and ordered some. August 2025

2023 Turley Zinfandel, Dupratt  Vineyard, Mendocino, $50 (#1632)

Winery Notes: “A destination worth the distance, this remote, secluded old vine Mendocino mountain vineyard was planted ungrafted in 1919 at 1500 ft. Wild brambly berries, meat marinade, sarsaparilla, and game. More fruit and plenty of mountain tannin on the palate, with bright balancing acidity and an impressive, dynamic, lengthy finish. Given this site is oft referred to as the “islands in the sky,” it is only fitting to pair it with Dolly’s “Islands in the Stream.” Decant.”

My Review: Medicinal on the nose. Pine needles in the soil. Try the old Dupratts now. Really delicious. Lay down and decant August 2025

2023 Turley Petite Syrah, Library Vineyard, Napa Valley, $71 (#1633)

Winery Notes: “Cherished in the community, this incredibly varietally diverse vineyard was planted 1880-1920. Deep and dynamic, it draws you in with blackberry, currant, tropical fruits, and grilled game. Lay down and decant and enjoy for many years to come.”

My Review: Really dense in the glass alcohol and smooth dark fruit like the bbq we had last night. Sweet and spicy. August 2025

2023 Turley Petite Syrah, Rattlesnake Ridge, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, $66 (#1634)

Winery Notes: “Certified organic estate vines planted at nearly the highest point (2400 ft.) on Howell Mtn, on a windswept ridge overlooking Napa Valley. Classic Rattlesnake notes of berries wrapped in supple leather and surrounded by wild herbs and underbrush. Texture is signature mountain structure, lending length and robustness to the finish. Pair with Dolly’s early hit about a rough yet romantic lonesome soul, “Joshua.”

My Review: No note but I am sure I ordered some. August 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Want to try a Turley? Let’s head on down to Paso Robles!

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.”

It is open daily 10 am – 4 pm. If you make it there, tell them Decanting Monterey sent you!

© Decanting Monterey 2025

*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon

Another Flavorful Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots!

THE STORY

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society #aws #americanwinesociety once again had the chance to celebrate an early Valentines Day at the Twisted Roots Tasting Room in Carmel Valley!  They allowed us to use their beautiful club space for our members to bring appetizers to share. The wines were delicious. The surprise wine education component was comparing and contrasting a filtered and unfiltered wine – the same wine, the same vintage. Eye opening, to say the least! Many thanks to Josh, Julie, Jon and the rest of the staff who helped us that evening!

I’ve written about Twisted Roots Winery and their wines several times, with our previous AWS visit presented here: Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots! You can read about their history in that post.

You can join the Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society by becoming a member of the National American Wine Society and choosing Monterey as your local chapter.

THE EVENT

At this month’s tasting, we started with a new California bubbly, segued to a Lodi Albariño from one of the oldest vineyards in California.  Before moving into the Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, which they are mostly known for, Josh took us on a wine education journey.  In detail, he explained that he was presenting us with two versions of his 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.  He tends to make his Cabernet Sauvignon in a lighter style.  For this vintage, he held back some of the juice (wine) from the filtering process and bottle it separately.  We got to taste the difference from the bigger, fruitier unfiltered wine and the lighter, more sophisticated style of the filtered wine.  I’m sure we put a dent in his last case of the unfiltered wine, so make a beeline there if you still want to grab a bottle!

THE WINES

Today I am presenting 6 wines, including the unfiltered version of the Cabernet Sauvignon.  As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone. As a rule, I do not correct typos from winery websites.

NV Twisted Roots California Brut, Monterey County, 12.5% ABV, $55 (#1516)

Winery Notes: “Our NEW California Brut Sparkling wine has notes of ripe green apple on the nose, followed by bright notes of lemon and citrus on the palate. We produced our new Monterey County, Sparkling Brut using the traditional of methode champenoise, which creates soft and round little bubbles that round the finish off perfectly! While completely dry, our California Brut also has nice hints of almond and brioche which pairs nicely with your favorite cheese platter. Cheers!”

My Review: A very faint nose with scents of apple. Light flavors on the palate beginning with brioche and finishing crisp. Tiny bubbles throughout. This was a favorite wine of the tasting. February 2025

2022 Twisted Roots Albariño, Bokish Vineyards – Terra Alta, Lodi AVA, $50  (#1517)

Winery Notes: “Our Albarino is a light, crisp, and fruity white wine. Perfect for a hot summer day by the pool, the BBQ, or just hanging out in the shade. This wine brings lots of tropical type fruit like mangos and pineapples, and lots of citrus type acid on the finish. Ice cold out of the cold box, its really refreshing!”

My Review: This Albariño begins with scents of wet hay, like after a spring rain, and ends with grilled pineapple.  Lots of minerality mid palate with a pronounced acidic, grapefruit finish. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots (Filtered) Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1518)

Winery Notes: “Unlike those Napa Valley style Cabernet Sauvignon, with a ton of tannins, our Cabernet drinks more like a Pinot Noir, in terms of body and tannins, with all the fruit of a Cabernet Sauvignon. Our 2018 vintage present a soft sublte body, with dry cherry, and coco flavors on the palate. Great with a meal, or on its own!”

My Review: Light bodied with more tannin and cassis on the finish. The filtered version is lighter, yet still quite flavorful – a more sophisticated presentation than its unfiltered brother. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1519)

Winery Notes: Josh described how this wine was made – by reserving some of the wine before filtering.  It is the exact same wine and juice as the regular 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, but without the filtering.  This leaves you with a more robust, juicy, tasty wine. There is less than a case left – so stop on over soon if you want one!

My Review: Distinctive yummy cherry and plum on the nose.  Delicious, with sweet cherry on the rich palate, finishing with raisiny notes. A delicious fruit bomb, in a good way.  This was the second favorite wine of the night for our group. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots Petite Sirah, Lodi AVA, 15.5% ABV, $60 (#1520)

Winery Notes: “Our winemakers passion, the first wine he ever made, the one that he drinks the most. Our Petite Sirah is big, and bold, but not harsh, which makes it enjoyable. It presents lots of dark fruit, blackberry, and raspberry, both on the nose and on the finish, followed by a little black pepper as well.”

My Review: Purple in the glass. A subtle nose of grape sweet tart, oregano and raisins. The fruitiness in the rich palate is offset by a little tobacco on the finish. I liked this wine. February 2025

2018 Twisted Roots “1918” Old Vine Zinfandel, Dairy Vineyard, Lodi AVA, 14% ABV, $60 (#1521)

Winery Notes: “make sure right vintage These are the grapes that started it all for Twisted Roots… Originally planted on the “Dairy” Vineyard in 1918! Three generations of our family have cared for these vines, and they are still producing to this day. This wine presents itself as big and fruity on the nose, but on the pallet it has gentle fruit and smooth tannins. We aged this wine in 100% neutral French oak barrels to showcase the depth of flavor these old vines produce.”

My Review: Ripe plum on the nose. Prune and bitter tannins with a white pepper finish. The terroir of the old vines shines through. February 2025

THE TASTING ROOM

Visit The Twisted Roots Tasting Room: “Wine is an experience meant to be shared with others. Stop by our beautiful tasting room and let’s share it together.” Located at 12 Del Fino Pl, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Open 12-5pm, Thursday-Sunday. Reserve online or at 831- 594-8282. You can also buy their wines on their website!

Valentine’s Celebration at Twisted Roots!

The Monterey Chapter of the American Wine Society wanted to do something a little special for its members:  food and wine!  Self-catered by their wonderful Board Member Anita, we celebrated an early Valentine’s Day at Twisted Roots, on February 3, 2023.

Monterey AWS members chat with Josh Ruiz, co-owner and winemaker, Twisted Roots.

We’ve always been fond of Twisted Roots for its signature Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs, as well as the occasional special red blend.  Winery co-owners Josh and Julie Ruiz, and Matt and Whitney Pridey bring us these wines mostly from their Lodi vineyard, established in 1918.  Why have a tasting room in Carmel Valley?  The Ruiz’s have relocated to Carmel Valley and his wife’s family owns the vineyard in Lodi.  A great marriage! And we were fortunate to have both of them and their awesome tasting room manager Shannon present for this event.

About Twisted Roots: “Twisted Roots is the work of five generations of family, dedicated to growing wine grapes following sustainable growing practices. While our family’s vineyard was established in 1918, it wasn’t until 2005 that we began producing our own wines. Our commitment to hand crafted, Sustainable & Green, small-lot wines, allows for the utmost care and attention to detail as we strive to produce premium-quality, consistently delicious wines…

“The name Twisted Roots comes from the deep and twisted roots of Lodi old vine Zinfandel found in Julie Ruiz’s childhood vineyard, where vines date back to the early 1900’s.  While excavating vines one day, her beloved uncle remarked “Those roots are really twisted, that would be a great name for a winery.”  This would be a day both Julie and her husband Josh would never forget.  This is the day the winery was truly born.

“Both Josh and Julie have an incredible love for agriculture, community and friendship.  Josh’s mission was to cultivate community around wine, a beverage that wasn’t common in his home growing up.  As an entrepreneur, Josh was determined to create a winery that was tied to the original roots of Lodi Vineyards, and share those wines with his now home in the Carmel Valley. 

“As luck would have it he joined forces with a few of his very special friends to create a dynamic winery and hospitality experience with a diverse selection of wines you won’t typically find in the area; Old Vine Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Hard Cider to name a few.  All produced in small batches carefully selected from unique sites in an effort to maintain quality and allow for attention to detail shine.  We invite you to visit our charming and newly renovated tasting room, the perfect spot for enjoying the most important things in life, the people.”

When I present a class on our local wines, I like to talk about the affordability of going wine tasting there.  This winery is a case in point:  great wines for a $15 tasting fee!

Today we got to taste some additions to the usual big reds – a real treat.  I am presenting 5 wines, plus a bonus wine I knew to ask about.  As usual, winery notes come from the tasting sheet, the winery website, or tasting room staff. Any errors are mine or mine alone.

NV Brut Rosé, California, 13.5% ABV, $35 (#937)

Winery Notes: “We are excited to release our first Rose! A Pinot Noir based sparkling, with lots of bright red berries. Great for all of your summer events!” The Pinot Noir grapes for this wine come from Alexander Valley.

My Review Powered by Terravenos: Dusty salmon in the glass. Warm on the nose with nice tiny bubbles. We detected rose petal, rainier cherry, and apple cider with a slightly brioche quality on the nose. ENO: high acid, medium alcohol, medium minus body. Creamy mousse with a medium plus finish. Well integrated. Flavors of melon, under ripe strawberry, white peach, rainier cherry. February 2023

2021 Albariño, Terra Alta Estate, Lodi, $35 (#938)

Winery Notes: “A delicious Spanish varietal, Albariño is a great every day white wine. It pairs perfectly with all of your summer time activities.”

My Review: Citrus, pineapple, mango, with acidity and tropical notes on the nose, Meyer lemon and pineapple, a nice palate with good minerality, including peach and sweet, tropical notes. Balanced.

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#939)

Winery Notes: “This is not the typical “Napa Style” Cabernet. Our Cabernet is soft and subtle, with all the fruit of a Cabernet but without that harshness!”

My Review: Rich, dark Cabernet color in the bottle. A rich, dusty bouquet. Lots of oak and berries wrapped in high alcohol upfront. It’s not very Cab-like, but it has a nice spice on the finish. It’s made more in the style of a Zinfandel, more like a fruit bomb. Soft, yet chewy, tannins with a touch of harshness on the finish.

2017 Petite Sirah, Lodi, 15.5% ABV, $40 (#940)

Winery Notes: “The biggest of our red wines, with lots fruit up front, followed with some light tannins, and soft finish.”

My Review: Inky in the glass. Big, bold flavor, Fruit-forward with big, bold blackberry and raspberry flavors. Wow. A big … red wine.  Well integrated and downright yummy.  I took some home and half has already disappeared! 

2018 Old Vine Zinfandel, the 1918, Lodi, 14% ABV, $40 (#941)

Winery Notes: “If you’ve ever wanted to know what wine from 100 year old vines tastes like, you’re in luck!! Planted in “1918”, these are the vines that started it all for the Twisted Roots Family. After 3 generations of family farmers, we are now able to bring you this special wine!”

My Review: Dark, dark ruby in color, sweet dark berries on the palate, caramel and vanilla on the nose  Very nice .

2020 Ross’s Cherry Road Red, Lodi, 14% ABV, $60 (#942)

Winery Notes: This is a special blend named after Julie’s beloved Uncle Ross, available to wine club members only. 85% Syrah, 10% Petite Sirah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

My Review: Raisins, with lots of cherry and dark fruit. Very big, with prune flavors.

Taste Twisted Roots Wines: “Wine is an experience meant to be shared with others. Stop by our beautiful, newly renovated tasting room and let’s share it together.” Located at 12 Del Fino Pl, Carmel Valley, CA 93924. Open 12-5pm, Thursday-Sunday. Reserve online or at 831- 594-8282. You can also buy their wines on their website!

© Decanting Monterey 2023

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Twisted Roots: Deep Roots on the Central Coast!

For the last couple of months, this blog has been on a roll.  With the pandemic winding down and wineries opening up, it only took a handful of wine outings to feed the blog with some hefty articles.  I hope you’ve enjoyed them.  If you missed them, take a look on back!  With our daughter in town, we’ll be slowing this back down to its usual old pace for a bit – until we get out again and create new stories to tell.  Meanwhile, I’ve had some wines in the wings waiting to be presented, so let’s go!

Twisted Roots Tasting Room at 12 Del Fino Place, Carmel Valley Village is OPEN!

Back in January, I introduced you to Twisted Roots as one of several out-of-area wineries which have opened tasting rooms in Carmel Valley Village. You can review that post here:   https://decantingmonterey.com/twisted-roots-showcasing-lodi-right-here-in-carmel-valley/. I include them in this blog, as they are part of our local wine tasting fabric. You can read more about the history and current team at Twisted Roots on their website. While mostly known for their big reds, they are also now making a couple of whites and sparkling wines – I look forward to trying those!

2013 Twisted Roots Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi AVA, 14.3% ABV, (#342*)

From the label: “Aromas of warm brambleberry, black tea and clove grace the palate with dark, luscious fruit-firm tannins.  With a finish featuring bright cherry notes, this is a fine wine to pair with most foods and it’s even enjoyable with cheesecake.  A portion of the profits from every bottle sold will be donated to the ALS Association to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease.” The 2015 vintage sells for $33, a very nice price.

My Review: Translucent ruby with a garnet ring in the glass.  Dark fruits of cherry and cedar notes on the nose.  Dark fruit flavors of cherry and plum with a bit of mushroom and earth mid-palate.  Almost slightly sweet on the finish. Yep, this is a Lodi wine alright!  March 2021

You can buy Twisted Roots wines on their website and at the tasting room.  Check out their webpage to hear more about their wine tasting options – inside and outside on their patios.  Nice!

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

Twisted Roots: Showcasing Lodi Right Here in Carmel Valley!

We were pleasantly surprised when Twisted Roots launched a tasting room in Carmel Valley (I love Zinfandel and Petite Sirah – and Lodi big reds)! But we wondered why. Took us a while to learn that there was a local connection: Josh Ruiz, partner and winemaker, is originally from Salinas! Twisted Roots opening their tasting room at 12 Del Fino Place gives us yet another reason to come to Carmel Valley to taste wine. In addition to Monterey County wines, you can find wines from Santa Cruz, Clarksburg, Lodi and even Napa (both Rombi and Bunter Spring feature wines with grapes from Napa) in Carmel Valley Village!  We like to check in at Twisted Roots when we can catch them open to check out the latest releases, including what special wines/blends they may have. 

This is the second article about non-Central Coast wineries with tasting rooms in Carmel Valley.

From the Twisted Roots webpage: Twisted Roots Vineyard includes vines (Zinfandel) planted in 1918, but the small lot winery didn’t start making its own wines until 2005 by producing its flagship Petite Sirah.  In 2009, they expanded to produce wines based on the other grapes in the vineyard, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Old Vine Zinfandel (1918) along with yearly “Limited Release” wines. 

There is a great article about vintner Josh Ruiz from Eve’s Wine 101 and another great article from LodiWine.com here if you want to read more about why Lodi makes such great Petite Sirah. 

2016 Twisted Roots 1918 Old Vines Zinfandel, Lodi AVA, 14.7% ABV, $40 (#32*)

According to its website, the 2016 Twisted Roots “1918” Old Vines Zinfandel is made from “the grapes that started it all for Twisted Roots… Originally planted on the “Dairy” Vineyard in 1918! Three generations of our family have cared for these vines, and they are still producing to this day. This wine presents itself as big and fruity on the nose, but on the pallet (sic) it has gentle fruit and smooth tannins. We aged this wine in 100% neutral French oak barrels to showcase the depth of flavor these old vines produce.”  

My Review: Very dark purple in color, the nose and palate match on this wine:  dark fruit, currant and licorice with a touch of alcohol.  An almost port-like finish.  April 2020

2015 Twisted Roots Petite Sirah, Lodi AVA, 15.8% ABV, $30 (#128*)

Reviews: From the above Lodi Wine article: “This is a dryer, slimmed down version of the varietal, which suits a Petite Sirah lover looking for the black color and blue fruit, but underlined by more of an edgy, angular tannin than the big, rounded, overtly fruit driven styles more typical of California iterations. Slightly caramelized, toasted vanillin oak helps drive the point home in this zesty, toothsome yet moderately sized (as Petite Sirahs go) wine.” The current release is the 2016 and sounds more up my alley: “…intense berry flavors up front, followed by a smooth, subtle finish.” It sells for $33 and you can for sure buy it through the winery’s website.

My Review: A rich, deep ruby red in color, with a strong berry nose. There is still quite a bit of tannin and acidity in this wine, with a tobacco finish. August 2020 

Twisted Roots currently is offering free shipping. Check out Twisted Roots Vineyard on Facebook for their current specials.  Check out their webpage to hear more about their wine tasting options – whenever we are able to reopen.  “For more information or to make a reservation, call (831) 594-8282 or email info@twistedrootsvineyard.com.”

*Refers to wines tasted while Sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.    

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