Turley Aida Petite Syrah 1996
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Turley continues to offer two of the blackest, densest, richest Petite Syrahs ever produced in California. Alongside its siblings, the 1996 Petite Syrah Aida Vineyard looks like a wimp with only 13.8% alcohol, but what concentration and intensity this wine offers. From a 4.5-acre vineyard, only 3 tons of fruit were harvested in 1996. The result is an opaque purple-colored wine with a dense, mineral, earthy, peppery, blackberry-scented nose, huge, ripe, thick flavors, gobs of glycerin and fruit, and a long, moderately tannic finish. My guess is that this wine requires 5-6 years of cellaring, and will keep for 2-3 decades. These wines sell out quickly, so readers should try to get their names on the winery's mailing list.
Range: 92-93
Turley Wine Cellars was founded in 1993 by Larry Turley and makes forty-seven wines, the vast majority of which are single vineyard designate Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs. By focusing on old vine vineyards in particular, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.
All of Turley’s vineyards are either certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers or somewhere in the process, and the winery uses all natural yeasts in the fermentations.
Turley aims to be stewards of some of California’s most distinctive vineyards, producing authentic wines that reflect their heritage.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.