2011 Turley Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard

(15.5 alcohol; from vines planted on extremely steep terraces in 1937, at an altitude of 1,100 feet): Good dark red. Initially quite closed on the nose, but showed cranberry, licorice and an exotic hint of banana with aeration. At once sweet and savory, with impressive stuffing to its concentrated cranberry and pepper flavors. Despite showing serious, building tannins, the finish remains sweet and smooth.

The 2011 Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard comes across as not yet totally put together. Not surprisingly, the Fredericks is often one of the last wines to be bottled at Turley. That is likely to be the case again in 2011. This is a pretty, mid-weight wine, but it is not totally formed. I am curious to see the direction the 2011 takes over the coming months and years.

The 2011 Zinfandel Fredericks Vineyard comes across as not yet totally put together. Not surprisingly, the Fredericks is often one of the last wines to be bottled at Turley. That is likely to be the case again in 2011. This is a pretty, mid-weight wine, but it is not totally formed. I am curious to see the direction the 2011 takes over the coming months and years. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. This is a thrilling set of wines from Larry Turley, Ehren Jordan and Tegan Passalacqua. Tasting this wide a range of 2010 and 2011 Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs is like taking a master class in California terroir. The house style favors an expression of Zinfandel and Petite Syrah built on aromatic intensity and elegance, which Jordan credits to gentle extractions. At times, the wines come across as quite Burgundian in the way they express richness but not excess heaviness. Over the last few years, the wines have become a little more laid-back and less overtly ripe, which is a net positive given that the starting point for all of these wines is fruit of exceptional quality. The Petite Syrahs in particular are noteworthy because they are among the few wines that find the elegance Petite Syrah is capable of, while avoiding the massive tannins that are so typical elsewhere. The 2010s are strong across the board, although Turley did not bottle a few of their wines from sites that got scorched by the heat spikes, which includes the Highway 101 and Zampatti. The 2011s are more variable, as befits a vintage that had much less favorable conditions overall. Tel. (707) 963-0940