Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Not yet in bottle is the 2013 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard. Often a candidate for the top Zinfandel in any vintage (along with the Jackass Hill of Martinelli, a handful of Zinfandels from Carlisle, and more recently Bedrock and Limerick Lane), this wine from a vineyard on the west side of St. Helena tucked under the Mayacamas Mountains has been a staple of Turley’s brilliant winemaking for many, many years. These head-pruned, dry-farmed vines were planted in 1902 and 1903, and the wine seems to be a perfect messenger for them, providing power and elegance, no matter what the vintage seems to offer. No doubt the root systems go down so deep that the vintage differences are often negated by this extraordinary terroir. The 2013 has a dense ruby/plum color and is full-bodied and rich, with brambleberry, blackberry, black cherry fruit and a full-bodied mouthfeel, but (possibly because it is still a barrel sample) not showing the nuances that the bottled 2013s possess. It’s all there, and this wine seems loaded, but I suspect my comments and score are conservative based on what will ultimately turn out in bottle. Barrel Sample: 93-95+
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Wine Spectator
Deeply structured, focused and refined, with dark blackberry and pepper aromas and a firm core of acidity and ripe tannins surrounded by intense flavors. Drink now through 2027.
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.