2003 Turley Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(16.5% alcohol): Dark, bright red. Sexy, sweet scents of raspberry and coffee, plus a whiff of briary blackberry. Tactile, sweet and densely packed, conveying a strong glyceral impression of extract and a lovely blend of salinity and energy. Still plenty of ripe fruit remaining. Compared to 2002, the ripeness here came more from photosynthesis, rather than dehydration, noted winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, who added that the larger crop level and healthy, full canopy allowed the fruit to deal with the season's heat more effectively. Finishes very long and powerful, even still a bit aggressive. This was the first wine of the tasting to show real Zinfandel primary fruit character--impressive for a 15-year-old wine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby-red. Blackberry, violet and licorice aromas. Supersweet flavors of briary crushed red berries framed by firm acidity. Not at all affected by the bottling a few days ago. A huge, plush wine that comes across as less chiseled and more exotic than the Ueberroth example.
The most revered Zinfandel in the Turley portfolio, the 2003 Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard (500 cases; 16.5% alcohol) is again a prodigious Zinfandel and represents the essence of this varietal. Outrageously rich, full-bodied, dense, and multilayered, with a dark ruby/purple color (the most saturated color of all the Zinfandels), it boasts aromas and flavors of raspberries, black cherries, cassis, licorice, pepper, and loamy soil notes. The finish lasts for 45+ seconds. It is a sensational Zinfandel, and based on all the vintages produced by Turley to date, capable of lasting a decade or more. (Release date 11/05) Tel. (707) 963-0940; Fax (707) 963-8683
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.