Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From the estate, the 2013 Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard (15.9%) comes from vines planted in the 1920s on primarily limestone soil. This wine smells like an exploding black cherry fruit bomb. Gorgeous notes of kirsch liqueur and raspberries, an almost laser-like minerality and crispness are present in this full-bodied, beautiful wine, which seems remarkably light on its feet for its power and richness. Blind-tasted, this wine could easily pass for an old vine Grenache from a Mediterranean climate – it’s that Grenache-like. This full-bodied, stunningly pure beauty is another great success for Turley in 2013. Drink it over the next decade.
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Wine Spectator
Precise and intensely structured, with distinctive aromas of savory raspberry and iron-tinged mineral and complex flavors of smoky plum, licorice and grilled herb. The tannins are big but zesty. Drink now through 2027.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.