Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A Howell Mountain Zinfandel that many afficionados of Turley Zinfandels know so well is the 2013 Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge. From an organic vineyard at the very top of Howell Mountain, I think this may well be the highest elevation vineyard that Larry Turley farms (2600 feet). Because of that elevation, this is a relatively cool site, but well above the fog line and certainly the recipient of intense sunlight. One of the greatest Zinfandels I’ve ever tasted from Larry Turley, this wine (15.7% alcohol) offers super-concentrated blueberry, black raspberry and blackberry fruit, some floral notes, an underlying firm structure, but lavish (if not luxurious) fruit, texture and a full-bodied mouthfeel. The finish goes on for a good 45+ seconds. This is an absolute tour de force in winemaking and a great example of what this winery – which changed the face of and consumer’s reaction to Zinfandel – has achieved for nearly 25 years. This wine should drink well for 10-15 years, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see bottles still strutting their stuff 20-25 years from now.
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.
Today Cabernet Sauvignon is the star of this part of Napa’s rugged, eastern hills, but Zinfandel was responsible for giving the Howell Mountain growing area its original fame in the late 1800s.
Winemaking in Howell Mountain was abandoned during Prohibition, and wasn’t reawakened until the arrival of Randy Dunn, a talented winemaker famous for the success of Caymus in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early eighties, he set his sights on the Napa hills and subsequently astonished the wine world with a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Shortly thereafter Howell Mountain became officially recognized as the first sub-region of Napa Valley (1983).
With vineyards at 1,400 to 2,000 feet in elevation, they predominantly sit above the fog line but the days in Howell Mountain remain cooler than those in the heart of the valley, giving the grapes a bit more time on the vine.
The Howell Mountain AVA includes 1,000 acres of vineyards interspersed by forestlands in the Vaca Mountains. The soils, shallow and infertile with good drainage, are volcanic ash and red clay and produce highly concentrated berries with thick skins. The resulting wines are full of structure and potential to age.
Today Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah thrive in this sub-appellation, as well as its founding variety, Zinfandel.