“Old Vine” has been a catch phrase for Zinfandel for some time now, and rightly so. Some of the old heritage vineyards in the state produce fruit that can be turned into some of the most unique wines in the world. But, old vines are like you and me — they have a life span, and they do reach their end at some point. This wine is a blend made from young vines that have replaced old vines on several famed heritage vineyards. The nose shows cherry, raspberry, pepper and toasted oak. The palate is dry and delivers the nose elements with menthol and dried leaf notes added in, and great acidity keeps everything bright through the medium long finish. I’d like to revisit this in a couple of years to see how it evolves.
Turley Wine Cellars, California (United States) Zinfandel 2012
By Rich Cook