I was blown away by several bottles of this wine drunk on vacation in Maui. After spending three weeks in Asia tasting primarily French wines and Sake, they hit all the sweet spots on my palate. The finest effort yet from this vineyard, the 1996 is reminiscent of a phenomenal Chateauneuf du Pape. This wine continues to remind me of California's version of Henri Bonneau's Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins. With an alcohol content just above 15.5%, this full-bodied, meaty, dark ruby/purple-colored wine reveals celestial aromas of smoked duck, Provencal herbs, and pepper. On the palate, intense layers of glycerin-imbued, super-rich, chewy levels of extract are sensational. It is a blockbuster, decadently rich Zinfandel to drink over the next 7-8 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.
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