Regarding the bottles, I believe there is an interesting story here. Bedrock Wine Co. uses heavy, expensive bottles for their Zins and Heritage wines, more common bottles for their Syrah and other varieties. Turley utilizes one of the industry’s most distinctive bottles for Zin and Petite. Have you ever seen the garden variety bottles they use for Napa Cab?
This may be a perception thing - perhaps Turley and Bedrock are going an extra step to demonstrate the value they place on this noble, but overlooked, snubbed and abused (for decades) variety - Zinfandel.
Mike, I specified pickup in Amador for my order. I was going to suggest we plan on meeting there in early November, but then it occurred to me I’ve never actually made one of these pickup parties. Something more important has always come up.
I think it’s a stretch, but let me say the bottle thing doesn’t bother me.
I built custom racking in my cellar and designed the bottom half to fit the old Pax bottles. This didn’t coast me any space, since I squeezed the top half so they only fit Bordeaux-style bottles. The bottom 10 rows or so handle Turley no problem, and takes all my syrah & burgundy style bottles which don’t fit the top half either.
I am serious, but let’s keep it open. I mean quite literally that any time I’ve ever signed up for Turley pickup party, something comes up and I’m e-mailing Fiona asking her to ship. Then again, you guys and gals can party, even if I’m not there.
Received allocation yesterday afternoon and ordered up 17 bottles plus 3 on wish list, all zins…would’ve liked more but trying to cut back. Similar size order for Carlisle.
Can’t say I like the Turley bottles. I don’t see any allure to them and doubt they help the flavor of the wine. Wish Turley would move to Bordeaux style bottles.
Still drinking my way through a few remaining 2009 Turleys before getting started on the 2010s. Haven’t had any corked bottles, but have experienced a number of broken corks with the '09 Turleys…enough to wonder if the quality of cork they are using is sub-standard. Then again, it could just be operator error pulling the cork out of those d*amn bottles!
I actually see the appeal just aesthetically and marketing-wise. They look interesting and unique. I know you’re not supposed to say that, but I do get it. And it’s kind of hard to picture Turley in a Bordeaux bottle at this point.
But, like everyone else, I hate the impracticality for fitting them in storage, and I think that rounded top edge makes them harder to open. Whatcha gonna do?