Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
One of the most famous Zinfandels made is Turley's 2006 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard. Always a big, backstrapping, super-concentrated Zinfandel, the 2006 is much more elegant than usual, without the blockbuster power. It is hardly a wimpish wine at 15.7% natural alcohol, but the overall impression is one of delicacy, finesse, and beautiful black cherry and currant notes intermixed with some lavender, spring flowers, and incense. A pretty wine, and another Zinfandel in this vintage that has a somewhat Pinot Noir sensibility to it.
Range: 90-93
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.