Product Review
Consistently spectacular in the capable, meticulous winemaking hands at Turley Cellars, the 2013 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard comes from one of the oldest Zinfandel vineyards in California (planted in 1885). The ungrafted, head-trained vines from steep limestone slopes just down the road from Justin Smith’s Saxum Winery have produced a monster and a fascinating Zinfandel in 2013. Coming in at 15.8% alcohol, the wine displays deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit, hints of crushed rock, and fresh acidity that is no doubt attributable to the pH of the limestone soils. The wine, in spite of its relatively lofty alcohol, comes across as remarkably elegant, concentrated, and stunningly proportioned. This full-bodied tour de force in Zinfandel winemaking should drink well for a decade or more.
For a long time, Zinfandel's history has been much disputed. Originally thought to be a descendant of Puglia's Primitivo in southern Italy, extensive DNA profiling by UC Davis have established that Primitivo and Zinfandel are actually offspring of Crljenak Kaštelanski, a virtually extinct variety recently identified on the Croatian island of Kaštela. Planted widely by miners turned farmers in California’s gold rush, it thrived in the warm, sunny, and dry conditions. While it grows well across most of California, some of the finest examples come from Sonoma, Paso Robles and the Sierra Foothills in particular. A good Zin should be bursting with big, ripe, jammy fruit, peppery spices and have good levels of tannin and acidity giving it backbone and structure.
California is one of the most diverse wine producing regions of the world. Although it has a history spanning over 200 years, it has experienced most of its growth in the last fifty years. The regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County have become as renowned as France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy. While Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay are by far the most popular fine wine varieties, producers in the Golden State have also experimented with an unparalleled array of diverse varieties, including Zinfandel, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo.
The Central Coast is the largest AVA and includes the famous appellations of Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Valleys.
Red wine is wine made from dark-coloured grape varieties. The color of red differs based on the grapes variety or varieties used.Interestingly, black grapes yield a juice that is greenish-white. The actual red color comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) from the skin of the grape (exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice). Most of the production centers around the extraction of color and flavor from the grape skin.
