Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Turley’s 2011 Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge is impressive. Dense, rich and powerful, the 2011 is beautifully crafted, with great balance of fruit, acidity and structure. Layers of black currants, sweet tobacco and tar are layered into the vibrant, nuanced finish. This vivid Zinfandel should drink well pretty much upon release, but also has the stuffing to develop beautifully in bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021.
Range: 92-94 -
Wine Spectator
An impressive Zin, powerfully built yet complex and precise. Loaded with pepper and floral boysenberry aromas, this balances lively tannins and acidity with ripe cherry, smoky sage and anise flavors. Cellar for now. Best from 2015 through 2023.
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.