2007 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard

2008 Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

2010 Reininger Syrah Walla Walla Valley

2006 Carlisle Two Acres

2009 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten

 

 

 

2007 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard – $35.00

Turley was one of the original non-Cabernet “cult” wineries in California.  In their early years the zinfandels they produced were a step or two above what was being produced in other wineries.  Over the years the winery has picked up a lot of competition and has slipped in a lot of wine drinker’s eyes but they are still top notch zins.  Even though it seems their mailing list is still in wait list mode, I have been able to buy some of their wines off the shelf at the local wine store.  In some cases the prices locally were better than the mailing list price.

 

This has 15.9% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

In 1993, Turley Wine Cellars was founded by Larry Turley, brother of the well-known consulting winemaker Helen Turley.  Turley, had entered the wine business in 1981 as co-founder of the multi-varietal Frog’s Leap Winery, but soon realized that his interest lay in wines made from the Zinfandel grape.

 

Starting out with just one location in St. Helena, Turley Wine Cellars soon expanded to Templeton with the purchase of the historic Pesenti winery, where Zinfandel had been planted since 1923.

 

As of 2000, Turley Wine Cellars has had a two-year waiting list for new wine club customers.

 

In 2007, Turley Wine Cellars was producing approximately 14,000 cases a year of both single-vineyard and regional Zinfandel wines.

 

By 2011, Turley Wine Cellars was annually producing approximately 16,000 cases of award winning Zinfandel and Petite Sirah wines using multiple “small” vineyards located in Napa and Sonoma counties, and other Paso Robles locations.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep maroon color.  The nose is stunning and filled with brambly berries, vanilla, black pepper, melted licorice, minerals, warm baking spices, and violets.  This has a full body, moderate to solid ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy, peppery berries lead off with vanilla and some subtle earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with some crushed stone minerals coming into focus.  This is at the top of its game right now but should hold for at least a couple more years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2008 Seven Hills Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley – $18.99

I attended a tasting at a local store that was hosted by Casey McClellan, the founder /winemaker of Seven Hills Winery.  This was one of two wines that I felt tasted far better than their selling price.  I left with several bottles and they picked up a new fan.

 

This has 13.8% alcohol by volume and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The Winery

Established in 1988, Seven Hills Winery is one of Walla Walla Valley’s oldest and most respected wineries.  Guided by founder, winemaker and fourth generation farmer, Casey McClellan, Seven Hills Winery crafts an acclaimed portfolio of vineyard-designate and appellation-inspired wines.  Focusing on benchmark Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux-varietal reds from the Red Mountain and Walla Walla Valley AVAs, the wines of Seven Hills have played an important role in establishing the region’s reputation for world-class winemaking, and are recognized as some of the finest wines in the Northwest.

 

More information on the winery is available on their website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very satisfying nose has cassis, cherries, cedar, dried herbs, minerals, dried flowers, baking spices and a slight herbal note.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  Spicy, cedary cassis and cherries carry the palate with minerals and a nice leafy herb note coming in late.  The finish is fairly long again highlighted by nice fruit and the herbal note.  This is drinking very nicely and for under $20 it is a steal.  (90 pts)

 

 

2010 Reininger Syrah Walla Walla Valley – $22.96

Even though I had heard of the winery for a few years, I have not had any of their wine.  The local wine store offered this wine in an e-mail only offer at an exceptional price, so I had to grab a six pack.

 

This has 15.0% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The Winery

From 1997 through 2004, REININGER Winery was located in a small but functional facility located at the historic Walla Walla Regional Airport.  The “shack-teau,” as Chuck and Tracy fondly nicknamed it, was originally designated as a WWII Army Air Corp runway “crash house” and “base theater” where old time crooners and classic films entertained troops.

 

In 2003, REININGER Winery purchased seven acres of land, located six miles west of Walla Walla, adjacent to Highway 12, and began renovating two pre-existing potato sheds into a remodeled 15,000 square foot winery, complete with production facility, administrative offices, and a spacious new tasting room.  “We worked closely with architect Jon Campbell to create a modern production facility incorporating rustic design elements,” said Chuck Reininger.  “This resulted in a unique atmosphere for events and entertaining.”

 

In that same year, Chuck and Tracy partnered with Tracy’s brothers, Jay and Cyndi Tucker, and Kelly and Ann Tucker, as well as her parents, Terry and Ronnie Tucker.  Today, Kelly Tucker serves as general manager and oversees sales and marketing.  Jay Tucker functions as tasting room director, plant manager, and grower relations contact.  Terry and Ronnie Tucker, who’ve been actively involved in both vineyard and winery projects since the 1980’s, bring an abundance of guidance and support to the organization.

 

Much more information can be found on the winery’s website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark, inky purple color.  The outstanding nose has blackberries, minerals, white pepper, dried herbs, warm baking spices, blueberries and a touch of cedar.  On the palate the velvety berries and minerals provide a mountain of flavor with white pepper and dried herbs creeping in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with baking spices joining the party in your mouth.  This is obviously on the young side but it is already outstanding.  (93 pts)

 

 

2006 Carlisle Two Acres – $32.50

This wine is a blend of 75% Mourvèdre, 10% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane, 5% Syrah and 2% Alicante Bouschet from a restored 1910 vineyard in the Russian River Valley.

 

Normally this is where I’d tell you to go to their website and sign up for the mailing list, but not this time.  Unfortunately the Carlisle mailing list is full, the best you could do is get on the waiting list.  The problem with that one is big, the wines are so good and fairly priced, very few people drop off the list.  My best advice is to find someone on the list and beg them to share a bottle or two of their allocation with you.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Carlisle is a winery that started as a classic “garage winery” for Owner/Winemaker Mike Officer.  His first foray into wine making was making 5 gallons of Zinfandel in his kitchen.  Over the next several years, with the help of his wife Kendall (Carlisle), and some friends, he produced a barrel of wine each vintage.  During this period, he also has a “real job” as a software developer.  To make a long story short, eventually the software developer title was left in the rear view mirror and Owner/Winemaker became his new title.  I highly recommend checking out the complete story at http://www.carlislewinery.com/about.html

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The ever changing and evolving nose had crushed berries, dark chocolate, fresh ground espresso, roasted meat, tree bark, leather, cherries, and some dried herbs.  This is a medium to full body wine with ripe tannins and good acidity.  There are loads of spicy berries on the palate with nice earthy elements and dried herbs adding complexity.  This has a nice, lingering, long finish which highlights the more savory elements.  This is in a prime window to enjoy now or over the next half decade.  Outstanding.  (94 pts)

 

 

2009 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten – $75.99

Sea Smoke is another winery that originally was available only via their mailing list.  This once exclusive wine is now finding itself on a fair amount of store shelves around the country.  Luckily for me, the list now includes my local wine store.

 

Ten is named for the ten Pinot Noir clones found on our estate vineyard. Our most masculine wine, it is brooding and intense, with firm, mature tannins and a long, velvety finish.   Ten is not for the faint-of-heart and has been known, on occasion, to convert even the most fanatic Cabernet lover.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The Winery

Our estate vineyard is located in the world’s southernmost – and sunniest – Region 1 microclimate, which has the coolest temperatures for grape growing.  The Pacific Ocean fog funnels across our hillsides each afternoon, creating ideal growing conditions

 

Our Pinot Noir vines are planted on south-facing hillside bluffs, in ‘transition zones’ characterized by rich clay soils, aiding us in our quest for quality.  This is where Pinot Noir finds its most sublime expression.

 

Our entire vineyard is farmed biodynamically, because nurturing the soil and vines without harsh chemicals is the right thing to do for the land and for our customers.

 

Sea Smoke’s unique combination of sun, fog, soil and meticulous farming results in wines that are lush, elegant and expressive.

 

More information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very open and inviting nose has crushed berries, baking spices, dried flowers, cola, roasted leafy herbs, minerals, mocha and some earthy underbrush.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the plush, spicy berries and minerals jump out first with cola and dried flowers coming in later.  The finish is fairly long with a nice earthy element entering the picture add an extra layer.  With an hour of air this was drinking very nicely.  This should drink nicely for a few more years but isn’t one to stash long term.  (93 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

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Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!