Turley, Rattlesnake Ridge Zinfandel, Howell Mountain

Still very good

2012 vintage

Soft cork - crumbled and filtered decant. Pleasant, but feels like this was not stored properly or is past its prime. Acidity present, but feels over the hill. Drink

2012 vintage

Last tasted two years ago with similar notes though the alcohol which I thought was a distraction then is no longer. Blackberries, black cherries and blueberries with licorice, spice and earthiness in the nose. Deep, jammy fruit in the flavor with black raspberries and plums along with pepper and spice. This is a big zinfandel with nice complexity, very well balanced and a long finish.

2012 vintage

Medium garnet colored with a fairly dense crust on the bottle with some sediment Earthy briary aromas Fairly dry and juicy spicy on the palate with a slightly chalky finish. Much more resolved since last bottle 7 years ago. Moderate heat in the finish. Atypical Turley zin, may benefit from a bit more time

2012 vintage

Closest thing to an Amarone without drying the grapes "appassimento"? The last bottle I had of this was very "hot" and the fruit had disintegrated. Not so here. A big monster for sure, but if I think of it in Amarone terms, it's enjoyable... with lamb, for example. Not my style, but an interesting bottle. Didn't need decanting; the powerful dark, rich, dried fruit aromas were immediately plentiful.

2012 vintage

Opened and poured. Very dark to pink on the rim. Humid boysenberry and marionberry on the nose. Youthful and deeply lush fruited. Full bodied and dense jammy wine. This is nice in that the alcohol doesn't overpower the fruit. Smooth reds and blacks on the finish. Looks like it hit a dumb phase for a spell based on past reviews but now it's singing.

2012 vintage

Very much past it's prime. Decanted and drank over two days.

2012 vintage

Red raspberry, boysenberry, leather, tobacco, sage alcohol on the nose. Red fruits, herbs with a tart finish. The alcohol is quite noticeable in the mouth (16.4%) and the fruit has faded. My last bottle, definitely past its peak. Tasted alongside the 2013 Ueberroth

2012 vintage

Opened and poured. Very dark...very jam-centric zin. Nice sweetness as the last several Turley's have been too hot and overbearing, lacking true zin characteristics. This one showing maturing blacks and dark reds - boysenberry, blackberry, dense woven textures. Nice bottle.

2012 vintage

Last time I had this was about 2-3 years ago and this was the last of the bunch. This was tasting much better so the last must have been in a bad phase and it has definitely evolved nicely. Fresher on the nose than last time around with more red fruit and some spices. Alcohol has integrated and not the fruit is more vibrant. Would say it has more years ahead but this is in a great place right now …

2012 vintage

We really enjoy Howell Mtn wines and this Turley did not disappoint!

2012 vintage

Blackberries, black cherries and blueberries with licorice and earthiness in the nose. This is a big alcoholic zinfandel with rich black fruits and a long finish. Deep, jammy fruit in the flavor with pepper and spice. The only downside is the 16.4% alcohol is definitely obvious in the finish and is a bit of a detraction, but still a very nice wine.

2012 vintage

Really impressive Turley Zin.Probably a handful of really good years ahead.

2012 vintage

Who says these wines won't age... wish i had another six to try over another handful or so years.

2012 vintage

Delightful Zinfandel from Paso Robles

2012 vintage

What a nose! Ripe blackberry and blueberry fruit aromas mixed with baking spice, star anise and dusty earth. Big, but bright, chewy and energetic, showing some tangerine peel, black pepper, brambly fruit and yes, heat on the finish. Other than the alcohol on the back end, this is about as good as zin gets.

2012 vintage

Wow! Wonderful edge and complexity. I’m glad I forgot this case down in my 55 degree crawl space.

2012 vintage

Interesting how there’s bottle variation. One year ago I tasted this and declared it over-the-hill. Just found another bottle and it was still tasting pretty good. Lots of spice and dark fruit flavors.

2012 vintage

Evergreen, blackberry in the nose with pepper, blackberry and molasses notes.

2012 vintage

Consistently the best of the Turley's for my taste

2012 vintage

Strawberry and pepper notes, still pretty lively, with rhubarb and sulfur in the nose. Drink any time.

2012 vintage

a spectacular and youthful tasting Zin, with lusciuos fruit forward and all the complexity you couls ask for - soice and toast and incredibly weel integrated flavors seamlessly lasting for many minutes. DRINK NOW

2012 vintage

Still bringing the Love!!!

2012 vintage

Past it’s prime for drinking. Alcohol and sour cherry. Not much else.

2012 vintage

Fruity, and spicy with good acidity and structure. Medium to long finish.

2012 vintage

Intense, brooding Zin - approaching peak but not past. Delicious.

2012 vintage

PnP - be careful of light sediment. Still in reasonable shape, but showing its age. Some red fruits and earth on the nose. A medium plus bodied palate of red fruits, earth, spice, and some black pepper. The acidity was quite juicy, and overwhelmed the fruit by a bit, and the 16.4% abv was slightly noticeable on the finish -- both of which lead to a "drink soon" conclusion.

2012 vintage

Crimson in color. 16.4% ABV. Heady nose of ripe red fruits, licorice and pepper. Full bodied with ample acidity. There is certainly some heat on the palate but it is not too distracting. Flavors of raspberry liqueur, tawny port, black cherry and pepper. Tremendous length on the finish. I can appreciate the wine in the glass buy my preference is to a Zin with slightly more elegance and restraint. Despite that we had no problem finishing the bottle. Best over …

2012 vintage

Dark cherry, dark raspberry, great acidity and a nice oak finish. 30 seconds. Delicious right now.

2012 vintage

On its downhill swing now. No longer enjoyable.

2012 vintage

Still holding. Gobs of fruit—cherry to damson plum—baking spice and earth. Long finish.

2012 vintage

Overripe fruit past it’s prime. Gotta drink these young to have any chance of enjoyment.

2012 vintage

Excellent nose. Lots of fruit. Long finish. Well integrated. Awesome wine.

2012 vintage

In a real good place right now, great balance - last bottle ...

2012 vintage

Popped and poured...light ruby in color...took an hour (and into the second glass) to open up...ripe cherries, brown sugar...a little heat on the short notice...on the downtrend in my opinion...time to drink up.

2012 vintage

Would agree with notes of WHODUCK before me. Good stuff and holdout nicely

2012 vintage

Spectacular cherry notes. In the sweet spot of PnP.

2012 vintage

16.4% abv. Classic full-throttle Turley-style Zin. A bit port-like with prune and raisin notes. Personally, I just don't enjoy this style any more.

2012 vintage

great fruit and great spice. Popped and poured. Remained very drinkable for three days

2012 vintage

Close to a perfect Zin - Ueberroth at its finest.

2012 vintage

Very good and powerful perfectly ripened fruit and earth!

2012 vintage

Still drinking well. The fruit now includes a bit of raisin along with cherry and cranberry. Nice earth notes and a hint of mushroom along with oak.

2012 vintage

Maybe it was just my bottle but it has turned a little to the cherry side. Needed lots of air (2hr) to get close to opening up. Faded and past prime.

2012 vintage

Really held up well, very nice finish.

2012 vintage

Great. Beautiful, candy-like cherry fruit. Pinot-like earthy funk. A hint of cinnamon. No hurry to drink. Turley zinfandels age quite well.

2012 vintage

This wine is showing its age and is a bit beyond its prime. It could be it was not treated well before I obtained it, but my recommendation is to drink it if you got it. 7 years just appears to be too old.

2012 vintage

We had this with smoked short ribs on 3/20/19. It had a soft, elegant bouquet (at least for a Turley Zin) of blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, mocha and mineral aromas. The palate was ripe, dense, elegant and dry with flavors that followed the nose.

2012 vintage

Excellent bottle. Really singing right now. Opaque purple. Full-bodied.Very pleasant and integrated interesting purple and dark blue and red fruit. Good finish. Seems to be an optimal drinking time for the '12 Turleys.

2012 vintage

Ripe fruit and raisins on the nose. Starting to get that “Port” like quality. Tannins and acidity have resolved as did the alcohol. Rich ripe fruit. Slight raisin, blackberry, spices and fairly short finish. Would drink now and over next few years. Have had other Juveniles that have aged better and think this is just a result of the vintage.

2012 vintage

At its peak! Drink now

2012 vintage

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Turley, Rattlesnake Ridge Zinfandel, Howell Mountain

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