Turley Bechtoldt Vineyard Cinsault 2018

96 Points - Limited                                                Rare Cinsault release from Turley Cellars- Very limited! previous vintage 90 Points Robert Parker: "Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of orange rind, Griotte cherry, wild strawberry, dried herbs and flower petals, the Cinsault Bechthold Vineyard is medium-bodied, juicy and mouthwatering, with melting tannins, a sweet core of fruit and a fragrant finish. An outlier in the Turley portfolio in that it's fermented with whole clusters and sees a mere six months in old oak, it's a deliciously drinkable red for a remarkably modest tariff." Winemaker's Notes: "Planted in 1886, this Cinsault vineyard is the oldest of its kind in the country - perhaps even beyond. The vines are gnarly, head-trained and planted on their own roots. The wine is light-bodied, tart, perfumed, and extremely well balanced." ...One of California's great wineries, Larry Turley's Turley Wine Cellars continues to play a critical role in safeguarding the Golden State's viticultural heritage, saving old, head-trained and sometimes own-rooted vineyards from destruction. With fully 29 different bottlings, Zinfandel (often complemented by small amounts of other co-planted varieties, such as Carignan and Grenache) is the standard-bearer here, though Turley also does a fantastic job with other varieties, most obviously Petite Syrah. Given how distinctive each of the single-vineyard bottlings is, it's tempting to suggest (though some will no doubt think it heretical) that Zinfandel might be the variety best adapted to expressing "terroir" in California."

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