TN: Turley 02 Juvenile Zin - How'd it hide all that alcohol?

WINE TALK
1

In the on-going debate over alcohol, I’m definitely at the please-spare-me-the-16%-monsters end of the scale. It never fails to fascinate me, though, how some wines with moderate alcohol can taste hot and others that are pushing it when measured by the instruments can wear their alcohol surprisingly well. The 02 Turley Juvenile is an example of the latter.

I should say at the outset that Turley wines are usually too over the top for me. But, tasted blindly, this was remarkably smooth and balanced. It was clearly Californian, but there was no varietal signature (common with very ripe wines, in my experience). A trace of mint, a touch of sweetness, but nothing cloying or candied. No real personality, but a pleasant tipple. I gave it 84/85.

Imagine the surprise when we unveiled it. Who would have thought it a Turley? Or that is labeled as 15.5%. (I have to assume that’s not an overstatement, given the excise tax or whatever it is you pay at that level.)

By contrast, a 2004 Miner “Oracle” cab/merlot etc. blend seemed markedly hot, though I’m sure it was nowhere near 15.5%.

2

One word: Balance.

3

That’s the funny thing: That’s not a word I would normally use for a Turley.

4

I drank, (or rather tried to drink), an '05 Turkey ueberroth last night. It was most assuredly not balanced. It was all alcohol on the finish and was poured down the drain after 3 sips. Perhaps it was nicer on release before the primary fruit began to fade. I have an '06 juvenile in the cellar. It’s highly unlikely that I will ever pop the cork on it.