Turley Old Vine Zinfandel 2022

The sage, autumnal older sister to the spring verve of the Juvenile, Old Vines encompasses everything we stand for at Turley. Teeming with dark berries, currants, baking spices, earth, and a sprinkle of petrichor on the nose. The palate is brooding yet supple, serious yet satisfying. Inherently embodies the depth, complexity, and grace that can only come from old vines. Delicious.

Technical Information

  • 95% Zinfandel, 5% Mataro, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault

  • California

    • Number of Vineyards: 20+

    • Counties Represented: 8

    • Age of Vines: 50 - 130 years

    • Fermentation: Native yeast

    • Barrels: 90% used oak, 10% new 80% French oak, 20% American

    • Aging: 12 months in barrel Bottled unfined

  • Turley

    Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 separate wines from over 50 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800s. Often weak and decaying, these old vine vineyards require extra care and attention in order to restore them to their former glory. After twenty-five years as an emergency room physician, Larry can now focus his resuscitative skills on the various old vineyards that comprise the wines he loves. All of the vineyards are either certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers or somewhere in the process, and all fermentations are driven by native yeasts. By focusing on old vine Zinfandels and Petite Syrahs in particular, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.

    Tegan started at Turley in 2003 as Vineyard Manager. As a Napa Valley native, he shares Larry’s passion for old vine vineyards and the wines they painstakingly produce. Tegan started his career in wine as a lab tech. He has since learned from some of the best worldwide, spending time working with Doug Wisor at Craggy Range in New Zealand, Alain Graillot in the northern Rhône, and Eben Sadie in Swartland, South Africa.

    Christina Turley joined her father at Turley full time in 2010 after 8 years in the bustling wine industry of New York City. Having worked her way up as beverage director for the Momofuku Restaurant Group and spending a short time as a sales representative in California, she understands wine sales from a few different perspectives.

  • 15.2%

  • 55-60ºF

Press & Reviews

  • Medium ruby purple. Jerky, bramble, garrigue, dried chillies, thyme, roasted blueberries, rosemary, baked earth and cinnamon spice. Weightier than the Juvenile with more structured, grippy tannin. Intense palate impact with a long finish. The acid is fresh but not quite as high as Juvenile.

    Jancis Robinson 17pts

  • The 2022 Zinfandel Old Vines offers terrific brightness and energy. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, mint and white pepper lend notable energy and freshness throughout. This is a fabulous introduction to the vintage at Turley.

    Vinous 91pts

  • As with the Juvenile bottling, the 2022 Zinfandel Old Vines punches above its weight in this vintage. The nose is considerably deeper, fuller and more polished, opening with aromas of crushed plums, wild berry preserves, tobacco leaves and similar autumnal accents to its younger sibling. The palate is light- to medium-bodied, carrying through the polished quality of the nose and melds it with a subtly dusty tannin structure and bright acidity. The finish is straightforward and easy to drink, offering generous layers of fruit, spice and floral notes.

    Wind Advocate 92pts