Bob McDonald

9.5

Spice, Plum and Earthy aromas with a little mint - typical Hunter Valley aromatics with a bit of sweaty saddle. On the palate more full bodied than the old school Hunter Valley Shirazes. Handpicked from 100+ year old vines where Maurice O’Shea created his famous red wines in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s in primitive conditions until his death in 1956. Most O’Sheas only hitting their stride after 20 years and this is no exception. I still have some from the late 90’s. — 8 months ago

Ann Miranda

9.7

Deep color and full bodied flavors. This is a blend of Cab Sav, primitive and Mourvèdre. Dry finish but full of earthiness, berries and tobacco. Excellent wine! — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Very primary showing its Youth on nose and palate. The perfume of the Pinot Noir and the spice of the Syrah - both varieties grow well in the Yarra, expertly blended by Steve Flamsteed. Not sure who else would make this blend around the world but it was a blend used in the late 40’s and 50’s in the Hunter Valley by the legendary Maurice OShea who crafted some amazing wines in primitive conditions by gaslight. This version from Giant Steps is designed to be eminently smashable and it is as our Delectable friend from the Adelaide Hills, Scott Rowe said as well. The ultimate out door Bistro Wine in an Australian Spring bursting with flavour and vitality. Buy by the case. 73 weeks later on 14th January 2022, I had my last bottle of the 2018 and have decided to leave the last bottle of 2019 for some years to see how it develops and put HH’s drinking window to the test. — 3 years ago

James Ellerby

9.5

Delicious primitive, bursting with rich fruit and smooth mellow tannins. Worked perfectly with a slow cooked Caribbean goat curry — a year ago

Ron R

9.1

I like this wine because when you taste it, your are pushed into a foreign pinot sanctum. A world where pinot takes on a different meaning. It’s just very different. It’s a paradox, and maybe primitive, but for my wife and I. It does have utility. Day 2 and it’s still a fruit bomb. Sweet, textured and decadent.
I shud have remarked that I pay less than $30 for it! — 2 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Like wafting through a forest of pine needles, cherries and pinewood campfires. Seductive and primitive. Soft woodsy cherries yet it strikes your mouth with acid. — 3 years ago

Cintia Mabilde

9.8

excellent primitive wine! — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Very Hunter with earth, leather and red cherries, presented in a savoury manner. More full bodied on the palate than Hunter Valley Shiraz should be. In the mid 2000’s it was when Mount Pleasant was trying to emulate full bodied South Australian Shiraz instead of doing what they do best. This was most enjoyable but I still enjoy the old fashioned style made by Maurice O’Shea in the late 1940s and early 1950s in primitive conditions which were just medium bodied and very long lived. I once had a 1952 Mt Pleasant Stevens Vineyard made by the legend (birth year wine) which I bought at auction. It was over 40 years old when I consumed it. Barely medium bodied with amazing length and still kicking goals. A wonderful old curio and a privilege to drink. The “Maurice OShea” is the top Cuvée from Mt Pleasant these days. — 2 years ago

Bryan Hopkins

9.3

The amphora process gives this wine a very unique quality that is difficult to describe: funky, primitive (in a good way), and forceful. Aromas of greens and hot peppers. The taste brings forth that hot pepper with eucalyptus, earth, and blackberry. Remarkable. — 3 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. — 3 years ago