2005 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
(15.2% alcohol): Healthy bright ruby. Pure, sexy nose combines blackberry, gunflint and dark chocolate. Plush, silky and seamless on the palate, but with less intensity and chewiness than the extraordinary 2004. But this more polite example of the variety is plenty dense and impeccably balanced. Finishes with sweet, fine-grained tannins and terrific length. The yield of 2.33 tons per acre is actually high in the context of the last dozen vintages.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(tasted from tank) Bright medium ruby. High-toned nose shows a porty ripeness to the black raspberry and bitter chocolate flavors. Wonderfully ripe, sweet and dense, with a plush texture and good inner-mouth lift. Not yet as complex as some past vintages of this wine, but the finish features impressive sweetness and a fine dusting of tannins.
Not surprisingly, one of the great Petite Syrahs made in this vintage has again come from the Hayne Vineyard. Turley’s inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard possesses a boatload of tannin as well as a fabulously concentrated attack and mid-palate. This full-bodied monster reveals beautiful purity and intensity as well as a superb attack and richness. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 20-25 years. Previously recommended: As indicated last year, 2004 was a terrific vintage for Turley Zinfandels. If they can still be found, I would opt for purchasing them over their lighter 2005 counterparts. The 2004 reds include: Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard (97), Petite Syrah Library Vineyard (97), Petite Syrah Rattlesnake Ridge (97), Petite Syrah Turley Estate (94), Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard (88), Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard (94), Zinfandel Duarte (92), Zinfandel Dusi Vineyard (90), Zinfandel Grist Vineyard (94), Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard (95), Zinfandel Juvenile (89), Zinfandel Mead Ranch (89), Zinfandel Moore Earthquake Vineyard (92), Zinfandel Old Vines (91), Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard (92), Zinfandel Rancho Escondido (89), Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge (92), Zinfandel Tofanelli Vineyard (89), Zinfandel Turley Estate (91), Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard (92), Zinfandel Vineyard 101 (95). Not yet released. Tel. (707) 963-0940; Fax (707) 963-8683
About the producer
Founded in 1993, Turley Cellars is a leading name in California Zinfandel and Petite Syrah. The winery has helped preserve the state’s old-vine heritage, farming historic vineyards organically and producing distinctive single-vineyard wines known for their character and longevity.