Turley
Cedarman Howell Mountain Zinfandel
Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, USA
Had two bottles hidden in inventory because it came from their other location that shut down. I love Howell Mountain. I Iove Howell Mountain Zinfandel (think Outpost). And I love it when Turley brings it all together! While not as deep and dark as most Howell Zins, this one is much more delicate...almost Pinot Noir in style. Our Mad Scientist Sommelier really ‘got me’ with this one.
Had two bottles hidden in inventory because it came from their other location that shut down. I love Howell Mountain. I Iove Howell Mountain Zinfandel (think Outpost). And I love it when Turley brings it all together! While not as deep and dark as most Howell Zins, this one is much more delicate...almost Pinot Noir in style. Our Mad Scientist Sommelier really ‘got me’ with this one.
Dec 25th, 2020
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.
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.
Starter wine and delicious
At my fav restaurant.
Smiling
Starter wine and delicious
At my fav restaurant.
Smiling
I either love or hate Turley wine. She has so many styles from extreme over extraction and full throttle alcohol, to beautiful, elegant and light on its feet. I prefer the latter usually, and this one was pretty darned close. Elegant, refined, alcohol was high but well hidden, and a bouquet of ripe red fruits, smoke, Spanish cedar, tobacco, and gravel. I was super into this wine. Yum - thanks Mike Ancuta, great pull!
I either love or hate Turley wine. She has so many styles from extreme over extraction and full throttle alcohol, to beautiful, elegant and light on its feet. I prefer the latter usually, and this one was pretty darned close. Elegant, refined, alcohol was high but well hidden, and a bouquet of ripe red fruits, smoke, Spanish cedar, tobacco, and gravel. I was super into this wine. Yum - thanks Mike Ancuta, great pull!
Dec 11th, 2018Anything with Howell Mt. in it seems to agree with my palette. Lush. Full body. Cinnamon meets raisins meets forest floor.
Anything with Howell Mt. in it seems to agree with my palette. Lush. Full body. Cinnamon meets raisins meets forest floor.
Sep 1st, 2018
A few of us stopped by the wine storage facility today to “celebrate” the 4th in style...wine style. American zins and American Sparklers. Happy 4th 🇺🇸
Maybe the name sways me, but I always get notes of cedar in this wine. As in, cedar bark. Also pencil shavings. Cinnamon on the nose with almost a cooling/mint note on the finish. Would like to drink this alongside the Lamborn Zin and compare some Howell Mtn Zins!
A few of us stopped by the wine storage facility today to “celebrate” the 4th in style...wine style. American zins and American Sparklers. Happy 4th 🇺🇸
Maybe the name sways me, but I always get notes of cedar in this wine. As in, cedar bark. Also pencil shavings. Cinnamon on the nose with almost a cooling/mint note on the finish. Would like to drink this alongside the Lamborn Zin and compare some Howell Mtn Zins!
Forgot to post these from the other day. Mark, Dan and I were able to enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the wine storage facility, and some unique stuff was opened, as always!
Not sure if it was intended, but this Cedarman zin was giving off a LOT of cedar on the nose. Ripe blue and black fruits on the palate, but the finish was spicy rhubarb and herbal. Still a baby. Decant required. Thanks Dan.
Forgot to post these from the other day. Mark, Dan and I were able to enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the wine storage facility, and some unique stuff was opened, as always!
Not sure if it was intended, but this Cedarman zin was giving off a LOT of cedar on the nose. Ripe blue and black fruits on the palate, but the finish was spicy rhubarb and herbal. Still a baby. Decant required. Thanks Dan.
One of the highlight of the Zin evening.
One of the highlight of the Zin evening.
Feb 5th, 2018
2011 Howell is so pretty and approachable. Winner with brambly fruit and hint cracked pepper
2011 Howell is so pretty and approachable. Winner with brambly fruit and hint cracked pepper
Jan 22nd, 2018
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of concentrated blackberry, tar, pepper, anise, sweet spices; dry, medium acid, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced intensity flavors of blackberry, anise, vanilla, sweet spices
Deep ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of concentrated blackberry, tar, pepper, anise, sweet spices; dry, medium acid, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, medium plus body, pronounced intensity flavors of blackberry, anise, vanilla, sweet spices
Jan 3rd, 2018