2020 Turley Wine Cellars Judge Bell Vineyard Zinfandel, Amador County, USA

Press
Rated 95 Points Robert Parker
"Pale ruby, the Turley Zinfandel Judge Bell is bright and fresh, with a nose of red berries, apricots, citrus peel and amaro spices. The medium-bodied palate surprises with its depth and purity of flavor and is seamlessly structured, finishing very long and perfumed. It's a gorgeous expression of Judge Bell that deserves another year or two in bottle. 1,010 cases produced.

One of California's great wineries, Larry Turley's Turley Wine Cellars continues to play a critical role in safeguarding the Golden State's viticultural heritage, saving old, head-trained and sometimes own-rooted vineyards from destruction. With fully 29 different bottlings, Zinfandel (often complemented by small amounts of other co-planted varieties, such as Carignan and Grenache) is the standard-bearer here, though Turley also does a fantastic job with other varieties, most obviously Petite Syrah. Given how distinctive each of the single-vineyard bottlings is, it's tempting to suggest (though some will no doubt think it heretical) that Zinfandel might be the variety best adapted to expressing "terroir" in California."