1996 Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard

This wine, which offered a dusty, earthy, balsam wood character prior to bottling, has retained much of that in its flavors. There are copious quantities of black cherry/raspberry fruit in this dry, full-bodied wine. Although this wine does not possess complexity and length, it exhibits excellent richness and quality. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. These are the Zinfandels of the 1996 vintage. Critics will whine that they are the most alcoholic wines of the vintage, and yes, they are among the most potent. Yet they are unequivocally the most complex, concentrated, and complete wines of the vintage - offering layers of flavor, extraordinary textures, and unbelievable balance. Readers must certainly be aware of the fact that they have become almost impossible to obtain because of their huge popularity. Zinfandels such as Turley's set the standards for other producers, and encourage people to search out old, head-pruned parcels of Zinfandel vines and treat them as they would Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir - with tender, loving care. Tasting these Zinfandels from bottle is a treat. Tel. (707) 963-0940