Turley Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel 2013

ew to the Turley family this year, and particularly close to our hearts, as our winemaker, Tegan Passalacqua, owns and farms this vineyard. The ungrafted vines were planted in 1915 in the silica-rich sandy soils of the east side of the Mokelumne River AVA. Thanks to the river's cool waters and delta breezes, these head-trained, dry-farmed vines are constantly protected from the heat. As a result, the Kirschenmann is a gorgeously perfumed wine, reminiscent of purple flowers like lilac or wisteria on the nose, as well as savory game and pepper. Light to middle-weight on the palate, bolstered by plenty of acid and extremely well-integrated, fine-grained tannins.