96 Points - new One of Paso Roble's up-and-coming Superstars. Turtle Rock is a new label from Don Burns, assistant winemaker at SAXUM. Limited. 96 Points Robert Parker: "The 2021 Westberg Red is a blend of 40% Zinfandel, 36% Tempranillo and 24% Petite Sirah from the 4Hearts Vineyard and matured for 22 months in 70% new French oak. It has kaleidoscopic scents of wild berry jam, apricot, aged balsamic, leather, iron and beef that continue to unwind as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is packed with perfumed, spicy fruit! It has a frame of grainy tannins, a focused spine of acidity and a long finish with a flourish of spicy accents. It's easy to drink without sacrificing complexity and will be long lived in the cellar. 312 cases were made." ...There are few estates in California today that are more exciting than Don Burns’ Turtle Rock. Pulling from some of the top vineyards on the westside of Paso Robles and making the wines as Justin Smith’s Saxum estate, Burns has consistently produced some of the wines of the vintage since his first releases in 2014. As I wrote in the past, readers interested in finding the next up and coming superstar in Paso Robles need to put Don and Claudia Burns’ Turtle Rock estate at the top of their list."
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The 2021 Red Westberg bursts from the glass with crushed raspberries and plums complemented by violet candies, baking spice and hints of clove. Seamlessly silky in character, the Westberg compensates with crisp red and blue fruits, all contrasted by hints of blood orange. It cleans up beautifully, tactile and long with a tinge of tart citrus and a savory herbal flourish over a coating of edgy tannins. This is zesty to the core yet with a balanced structure that should carry it for many years in the cellar. (Eric Guido, Vinous, July 2024)
The 2021 Red Westberg bursts from the glass with crushed raspberries and plums complemented by violet candies, baking spice and hints of clove. Seamlessly silky in character, the Westberg compensates with crisp red and blue fruits, all contrasted by hints of blood orange. It cleans up beautifully, tactile and long with a tinge of tart citrus and a savory herbal flourish over a coating of edgy tannins. This is zesty to the core yet with a balanced structure that should carry it for many years in the cellar. (Eric Guido, Vinous, July 2024)
9.5WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.