It’s brother vs. brother and east vs. west in this battle of iconic and historic California Zinfandels from the 2012 vintage (you thought you were reading a wine tasting note and not copy from a cheesy ESPN promo script)?
Dusi Vineyard was planted by the Dusi family in 1945. The vineyard is now split into two sections divided by highway 101. On the east side, Benito Dusi Ranch, fruit has been going to Ridge’s “Paso Robles” bottling since 1967. On the west side of the highway, Dante Dusi Vineyard, fruit going for many years to Turley. Both sections are 100% Zinfandel, head-trained, dry farmed and sit on gravelly alluvial soils.
The Ridge weighs in at 14.8% alcohol, the Turley a robust 16.3%.
Visually the two wines were completely indistinguishable to me – a bright and pretty medium ruby red.
Aromatically, the wines were both expressive and somewhat similar – the Ridge showed somewhat more of a brambly, spice element and the Turley more red fruit.
On the palate, the Ridge shows bright red and black fruit with a bit of a brambly, herbal edge. Energetic and well balanced on the palate – the wine has medium depth and good length.
The Turley is bigger, rounder and deeper with raspberry and cherry highlights. No trace of the high alcohol level. This is a big wine that avoids ponderousness with good acidic structure. Somewhat longer than the Ridge.
These are young Zins, but I usually drink my Dusi’s young. Ridge has even talked about an aging progression in their lineup from the Paso Robles up through Pagani Ranch, Lytton Springs and finally to the Geyserville, a famously long ager.
I’ve bought, stored and tasted these two wines for years, picking one would be like asking me to chose a favorite from my two children. I will say that the Ridge seems to carry more flavor complexity and the Turley more hedonistic power. They are both classics!
