Tom Garland

9.2

Pop and pour. A gorgeous dark ruby red color. On the nose: jumping from the glass are ripe cherries, clove, earth, smokey oak, herbs, bacon fat. Taste: smooth, creamy, expressive mouthcoating wine with black raspberry, ripe strawberry, cedar, tobacco, black tea, little pepper, and a minerally nutmeg medium plus finish. YUM! — 21 days ago

Edward Allen

9.1

More fallback than first pick red blend, but easily solid in my view. Label claims dark cherry and toasty oak, which I do pick up but I could use more detectable toasty oak. The dark cherry is more easily detectable than the oak for sure, so having stronger oak would really drive this up in rating for me. It’s slightly on the dry side but not excessive. Still, I have no problem honoring the barn built in 1900 based on this admirable tribute. I don’t quite know who RoxyAnn is, but I do hope to one day purchase produce and leave payment in the honor box at the Hillcrest barn. — 2 years ago

Jean Kim

9.0

Cranberry, citrus, potting soil, woody herbs, menthol. Juicy, light, acidic. Doing a side by side tasting with Great Oak Vineyard — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I view Turley Zinfandel much like Williams Selyem wines when they are young, good not great.

They need ten years plus to show you greatness. There is no faking bottle age properly stored.

I can’t drink their wine young. Too primitive, astringent, all tannin, wood & baking spices.

The nose reveals, ripe, ruby, candied fruits that are; stewed & naked, jammy fruit of; black plum, blackberry, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, blue fruit mix, rhubarb & ripe date & some figs. Steeped black tea, creamy violet cola, black licorice to anise, sweet tarriness, tobacco leaf, dark spices, vapors of alcohol, dark spices, limestone minerals, moist, fresh forest floor, some mushroom, black pepper, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, rounded oak, spiced florals of; dark, red, candied florals with withering dark florals set in old violet & lavender.

The palate is full, round, ripe, candied, baked, stewed liqueured, ruby & lush w/ high viscosity. ripe, ruby. Jammy fruit of; black plum, blackberry, black raspberries, plum, raspberries, mulberries, olallieberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, blue fruit mix, rhubarb & black raisins, ripe date & some figs. The tannins, stern, tarry & chewy. Steeped black tea, creamy violet cola, black licorice to anise, dark chocolate/dry mocha powder, caramel, sweet, dark, chewy tarriness, tobacco leaf, dark spices, touch of alcohol burn, dark spices w/ soft heat, limestone minerals, moist, fresh forest floor, dry top soil & clay, some mushroom, black pepper, clove, nutmeg & vanillin, cedar/oak plank, spiced florals of; dark, red, candied florals with withering dark florals set in old violet & lavender. The acidity is like a fresh, clean river. The finish is a little too ripe, sweet but, well balanced with great complexity and persistent length.

I don’t drink a lot of Zinfandel but, this is the style that speaks to my origins. This is good with food or some berry desserts.

This still needed a two plus hour decant & has another 5-7 plus years of pleasure ahead of it. At its current evolution, it is bordering on dessert wine & should be treated as such going forward.

Photos of; Turley tasting room in Paseo, very old, taller & slimmer than normal grape press, 2008 Winemaker- Ehren Jordan and their Cedarman Vineyard on Howell Mtn. — 5 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.0

This wine is quite dark and quite aromatic. The nose would be fruit-forward if the oak spices weren’t so strident. The big display shows dark fruit - plum, blackberry and black currant - carried along by a huge whiff of clove, cedar, tobacco, cardamom and several other occupants of the spice rack, I’m sure. The palate is similarly blessed, or handicapped, depending on your own view of oak treatment. The oak in this wine is heavy-handed and best suited for blunt-force trauma. That is disappointing, since I have long been a fan of Bogle’s wines. I’ll stick with their other offerings in the future. — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Here's a nice Merlot for #MerlotThursday.

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Nose of black plums, cooked cherries, oak, spices, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, light vegetables, pencil lead, earth, herbs and espresso.

Full bodied with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, oak, light vanilla, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, earth and black tea.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty Merlot blend from Bordeaux. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel.

Needs an hour to open up properly, but good right out of the bottle too. Tannins show up after an hour of airtime.

This 7 year old is drinking very nicely now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

I had this vintage a couple of years ago and it is drinking much better now.

Spicy and entertaining, and good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses, crackers and a beautiful view of the lake.

A blend of 65% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Kosher and Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Mid to dense Ruby. Herbaceous aromas with graphite and black currant. A sweet fluid palate showing black currant of medium plus intensity and partly resolved Tannins. Oak has been absorbed. In a great spot at the moment - excellent balance. Drink remaining 4 bottles in next few years but it is essentially at its peak. A really good wine but from an Aussie point of view tasting more South East than West Australia. Had another bottle 25 weeks later on the 6th October 2020 with consistent notes. The main feature was that it was less herbaceous than it usually is for Margaret River. Showing more ripe berry fruit and cassis in this warmer year. More McLaren Vale in style. Still very good. — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Like Chardonnay through a vintage View-Master. Hirsch giving me old school Cali vibes with an honest nod to Burgundy.

Despite the decade, high acid and oak seasoning in pastry like measurements. Opens up just barely into the tropicals - banana and mango - as little sprinkled hints in hazy rays of sepia sun and a Polaroid filter. — 2 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily (83%) Cabernet Sauvignon with some other Bordeaux varietals blended in. Pleasant aromas of violets, roses, black currant/black berry. Dark cooked fruit flavors with hints of soy sauce and beef jerky. Pleasant touch of oak on the finish. Fresh acidity. Good balance. Pleasant surprise. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

The nose speaks velvety, slightly perfumed floral, ruby fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, very black plum, mulberries, boysenberries and some hints strawberries & raspberries. Soft, subtle, sexy, dark spices, incense, potpourri, cherry kirsch, understated anise, dark, used expresso grounds, savory meats, fresh tobacco, leather, oak barrel dust, dark rich soils, graphite, dry limestone powder, dry herbaceousness, clove, light nutmeg/cinnamon & vanillin with fresh but leaning withering; dark, red, purple and blue flowers wrapped in soft lavender.

The palate is beautiful with velvety tannins that still punch as meaty & tarry. The tension & structure are just out of adolescence. The balance & length are stunning now but, show room for further improvement 10 years down the road. One small flaw is you sense some elevated alcohol vapors. Velvety, slightly perfumed floral, ruby fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, very black plum, mulberries, plums, boysenberries and some hints strawberries & raspberries. Soft, subtle, sexy, dark spices with heat, incense, potpourri, cherry kirsch, understated anise, raspberry cola, dark, used expresso grounds, savory meats, iron deposits, fresh tobacco, leather, oak barrel dust, dark rich soils, mix of dry & moist clay, graphite, volcanic ash, dry limestone powder, dry herbaceousness, black & some white pepper, clove, light nutmeg/cinnamon & vanillin, caramel notes, mocha powder with fresh but leaning withering, dark, red, purple and blue flowers wrapped in soft lavender. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is; ruby, lush, silky, velvety, elegance defined, extremely well knitted & balanced fruit & earth, persisting endlessly onto earth & spice.

If you own the 05, leave it in your cellar another 5-8 years before opening.

Photos of, a downslope view of the Estate & vines, their gated entrance, their private wine cellar & the Estate building. — 4 years ago