Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine Spectator
I was blown away by the 2002 Zinfandel Moore (Earthquake) Vineyard. This Bordeaux-like, rich, inky/purple-colored effort (500 cases; 16.2% alcohol) boasts a voluptuous texture, huge body, and spectacular characteristics of blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, scorched earth, violets, and a hint of pepper. Complex and rich, this full-throttle Zin pushes the quality of this varietal to an almost surreal level. This is one of the coolest sites the Turleys farm, and many vintages are not harvested until November ... amazing! The Moore (Earthquake) cuvee will drink well for 7-8 years. Rating 94-97.
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.