| Score: |
97 RP.
"A Howell Mountain Zinfandel, the 2013 Zinfandel Cedarman Vineyard is a proprietary blend of Zinfandel from both the Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon Vineyards. A tiny bit of Petite Syrah and Syrah makes it into the final blend. This is profound wine. Inky ruby/purple, with notes of blackcurrants, blackberries and a floral component as well, this full-bodied, stunningly rich, concentrated and structured Zinfandel is loaded. Dense and powerful, the wine will last for . . . years. This is a great, great effort in what looks to be an unreal vintage in terms of quality for Turley. With a finish that goes on for a good 40-45 seconds, this is amazing stuff. Probably no one in Northern California has done more for the renaissance and resurrection of old vine Zinfandel than Larry Turley. He started Turley Cellars after selling most of his interest in Frog’s Leap Winery to his original partner, John Williams. The Turley Cellars project was founded in 1993, and is now over 20 years of age. The great thing about Larry Turley is that he’s quick to admit he’s never met an old vine he’s not fond of. As a result, they farm and buy fruit from 35 different vineyards, with some of them dating back to the late 1800s, long before Prohibition. There are at least 30-plus separate wines, and some super-talented winemakers have worked for Turley – first Ehren Jordan and more recently Tegan Passalacqua. I have praised these wines from the beginning and, to my surprise, older vintages . . . have aged remarkably well . . . . Turley’s Petite Syrahs are probably 50-year wines . . ." eRobertParker.com #218, Apr 2015 |