2022 Turley Old Vines Zinfandel, including Hayne (97 pts)
"...the most nuanced, intricate and arguably timeless wine in the extensive Turley Zinfandel array...a modern classic in the making...97 points" (ML) Wine Advocate on the 2022 Hayne Zinfandel
Turley Wine Cellars have released their 2022 vintages for sale en primeur and we are delighted to have secured allocations. Turley are famous for their extraordinary range of single-vineyard Zinfandels, from small parcels of old vines across California.
Larry Turley established his winery in 1993, having previously helped to found Frog's Leap. At a time when Californian vine growers were focused on Cabernet and Chardonnay, Turley realized that old Zinfandel vines were part of a unique viticultural heritage, in danger of being lost.
Zinfandel originated in Croatia, but found its way to Southern Italy, where it became known as Primitivo, and Austria, from where it was imported to the East Coast of the US, in the early 1800s. The variety found its ideal home when it was transported to the West Coast during the Gold Rush era, from 1849 onwards. Planted extensively in California throughout the late 1800s, the vineyards fell into neglect following Prohibition.
When fine winemaking in Napa and Sonoma took off in the 1970s, the focus was on emulating Bordeaux and Burgundy, based on classic French varieties, so the pre-prohibition Zinfandel vines were neglected by most growers. Larry Turley saw this opportunity and began sourcing fruit from the oldest, highest-quality plots, like the Evangelho Zinfandel, from vines planted in the 1890s.
Today, Turley produces wine from a dizzying 29 different vineyards. Below we offer six of the most highly-rated, from the 2022 vintage. The growing season in California in 2022 was ideal, except for a heat wave around Labor Day (5 September) that caused many vines to shut down. Zinfandel's natural tolerance for high heat made it one of the success stories of the vintage and Turley's wines are known for their restrained, focused style, as well as the kind of 'monolithic density' that The Wine Advocate's Matthew Luczy finds in the Ueberroth Zinfandel (94 points).
With prices starting at under £22 per bottle in bond for the 'Old Vines', these offer a very authentic expression of a unique piece of winemaking history. Availability is very limited, so please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to add some to your cellar.
Offered en primeur, landing in the UK in early-2025
| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Estate Zinfandel | 75cl | £360 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Estate Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £360 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Zinfandel Turley Estate is composed of three generations of plantings that commenced in 1996. Medium to deep ruby in the glass, it opens with pure, deep, characteristic aromas of grilled yellow peaches, red cherry, redcurrant, lavender, leather and angostura bitters, revealing finer detail as it spends time in the glass. The palate is massively rich, full-bodied and powerful, with a brooding density that melds with grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity. The finish is layered, dramatic and perfumed, with an overarching youthful density that will take a few years in bottle to unwind. This is a lovely effort that combines modern density with a classically framed structure. 2025-2040. 95 points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Evangelho Zinfandel | 75cl | £360 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Evangelho Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £360 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Sourced from a historic site planted in the 1890s, the 2022 Zinfandel Evangelho Vineyard is ethereal and captivating. Medium to deep ruby in the glass, it opens with aromas of muddled berries, crushed plums, black cherries and Graham crackers that gain intensity and additional floral tones with oxygen exposure. Medium-bodied on the palate, it is lighter on its feet than expected, entering the palate with a weightless, beautifully refined intensity that exudes bright fruits and floral perfume. The finish sneaks up on you with explosively bright acidity, a dusty tannin structure and ever-increasing layers with time. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and should drink confidently over the next decade or beyond. 2026-2038. 94 points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Hayne Zinfandel | 75cl | £660 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Hayne Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £660 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2022 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard is the most nuanced, intricate and arguably timeless wine in the extensive Turley Zinfandel array. The nose straddles deep, powerful fruit aromas of apricot, dark berries, cranberry and pomegranate with rose petal-driven perfume. Scorched earth, tobacco leaves, licorice and forest-floor accents continuously supply ever-present complexity. The palate is lush and lacy with incredible precision and energy, fusing into an approachable, delicious fruit-driven core lined with fine, clay-textured tannins and vibrant, clarifying acidity. The finish has fantastic length and fidelity, with layers that grow ever more kaleidoscopic with time. This is a modern classic in the making and should evolve for at least two decades. 2025-2045. 97 points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Old Vines Zinfandel | 75cl | £260 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Old Vines Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £260 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"As with the Juvenile bottling, the 2022 Zinfandel Old Vines punches above its weight in this vintage. The nose is considerably deeper, fuller and more polished, opening with aromas of crushed plums, wild berry preserves, tobacco leaves and similar autumnal accents to its younger sibling. The palate is light- to medium-bodied, carrying through the polished quality of the nose and melds it with a subtly dusty tannin structure and bright acidity. The finish is straightforward and easy to drink, offering generous layers of fruit, spice and floral notes. 2024-2032. 92 points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Steacy Ranch Zinfandel | 75cl | £280 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Steacy Ranch Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £280 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"From vines planted in 1907, the 2022 Zinfandel Steacy Ranch is medium ruby in color and takes time to reveal a pure, complex nose of crushed berries, candied stone fruit, autumn leaves, dusty earth and subtle meaty, savory tones. The palate is dense and concentrated yet bound with a youthfully firm, dusty frame and fireworks of mouthwatering acidity on the long, gently coiled finish. While fans of a forward, fleshy style will enjoy this on the young side, this should improve beautifully in the cellar over the coming decade. 2025-2040. 93 points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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| RED | 2022 | Turley Vineyards - Ueberroth Zinfandel | 75cl | £450 per case of 12 | Turley Vineyards Ueberroth Zinfandel 2022 / / 75cl £450 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Planted on calcareous shale soils, the 2022 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard leads with a compelling, brooding nose of iron, tree bark, autumn leaves, scorched earth and a deep core of just-ripe wild red cherry fruit. The palate is dense and saturated with immense concentration but has the framing to hold it without going out of balance. The finish combines punchy, ripe fruit flavors with a fine, dusty tannin structure lined with vibrant, mineral-laced acidity. This wine does an admirable job of straddling monolithic density and lifted vibrancy and deserves several years in bottle to unwind and further come into itself. 2025-2040. 94+ points." (ML) The Wine Advocate, Jun '24 |
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