2011 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch
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Tasting notes
Dried cherries, mint, licorice, wild flowers and leather waft from the glass in the 2011 Zinfandel Mead Ranch. One of the more high-toned, savory wines in the range, the 2011 stands out for its length and balance. A feminine, ethereal finish rounds things out nicely. Yields were just 0.47 tons per acre because of heavy rains during the flowering.
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Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(16.1% alcohol; from vines planted between 1,400 and 1,500 feet above sea level; the crop level here was 0.57 tons per acre in 2011, according to Larry Turley): Good medium red. High-toned, distinctly liqueur-like nose, with a minty topnote. Very sweet but a bit aggressive with alcohol and dominated today by high-toned mint and pepper elements. A bit too exotic for me but undeniably rich.
The 2011 Zinfandel Mead Ranch needs time in the glass to come together. Still a bit disjointed and raw, the Mead Ranch possesses good inner sweetness and definition in its exotic aromas and flavors. This is a pretty effort, even if at times the wine appears to be a bit fragile. With time in the glass the Mead Ranch continued to improve, which makes me hopeful for the future.
The 2011 Zinfandel Mead Ranch needs time in the glass to come together. Still a bit disjointed and raw, the Mead Ranch possesses good inner sweetness and definition in its exotic aromas and flavors. This is a pretty effort, even if at times the wine appears to be a bit fragile. With time in the glass the Mead Ranch continued to improve, which makes me hopeful for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. This is a thrilling set of wines from Larry Turley, Ehren Jordan and Tegan Passalacqua. Tasting this wide a range of 2010 and 2011 Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs is like taking a master class in California terroir. The house style favors an expression of Zinfandel and Petite Syrah built on aromatic intensity and elegance, which Jordan credits to gentle extractions. At times, the wines come across as quite Burgundian in the way they express richness but not excess heaviness. Over the last few years, the wines have become a little more laid-back and less overtly ripe, which is a net positive given that the starting point for all of these wines is fruit of exceptional quality. The Petite Syrahs in particular are noteworthy because they are among the few wines that find the elegance Petite Syrah is capable of, while avoiding the massive tannins that are so typical elsewhere. The 2010s are strong across the board, although Turley did not bottle a few of their wines from sites that got scorched by the heat spikes, which includes the Highway 101 and Zampatti. The 2011s are more variable, as befits a vintage that had much less favorable conditions overall. Tel. (707) 963-0940
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.