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Glass_A_Day · 09-05-2006, 02:17 PM,

I am on the list but have not ordered any yet. I was offered a few of the middle priced bottles. ($35-45) Anyone had any experience? I know they always get great reviews but I've never tried any myslef.

dananne · 09-05-2006, 05:08 PM,

I posted on my one and only try back in June --

http://www.wines.com/ubb2/Forum16/HTML/000473.html

The thread veers way off topic, but the initial tasting note survives [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Hope it is helpful.

winoweenie · 09-05-2006, 05:50 PM,

I posted on these zins many times years ago, but like Harlan, Screaming Eagle, Bryant Family and Araujo I ceast and desisted when the price became a mortgage payment. There are so many great wines out there at sensible pricing that I declined the mailing lists of these "TROPHY WINES". Big powerful, extracted juice but Scherrer, Swan, Ridge, and many others at 1/2 to 1/3rd the price are good enough for my limited palate. WW

Glass_A_Day · 09-05-2006, 06:01 PM,

Well, like I said, the ones I was offered were in the $35-45 range. That's only a payment on my tractor.

Winosaurus · 09-13-2006, 04:06 AM,

Turley's Dogtown zinfandel is the best ever made with Lodi grapes. It's a subtle Zin, made in a style similar to a pinot noir. If it's available for $35-45, snap it up!

I've drank about five cases of Turley in the past decade. They haven't all been monster wines. Their Petite Sirahs are usually outstanding, and they will only improve with another decade, or two, of aging.

Glass_A_Day · 09-13-2006, 05:57 AM,

Thanks for the input. I think I will try a bottle of each.

wondersofwine · 09-13-2006, 06:25 AM,

I think the Dogtown is the one I had at a Zinfandel wine tasting in DC area and I rather liked it although I was more impressed with a Ridge and a Biale Black Chicken Zin.

Glass_A_Day · 09-13-2006, 06:31 AM,

My offer consisted of Dogtown, Pesenti, and Ueberroth. Haven't tried any of them, so we will have to try and find out. Maybe if I buy they will up me to the Hayne someday. Heard great things about it.

Winosaurus · 09-13-2006, 02:20 PM,

I haven't had a Biale zinfandel in years, but I've heard that the Black Chicken is excellent. Supposedly, during the Prohibition years, "black chicken" was the code word for a bottle of red wine. People would venture into the rural areas, look for a farm that had vineyards, and then ask to buy a black chicken from the farmer.

Where I live, Ridge wines can be bought in the local grocery stores. So, they just don't seem special, somehow... but, they are fine wines.

Glass_A_Day · 09-13-2006, 02:53 PM,

I know what you mean obout Ridge. They are probably one of the most consistantly good zins out there, but when something comes in the mail, it feels special. Even if it's no better than the other.

Winosaurus · 09-13-2006, 03:27 PM,

I assume that you are being offered the 2004 Turley wines. The ratings by Robert Parker and Stephen Tanzer indicate that the zinfandels are solid wines (90-96 points), and the petite sirahs are excellent (93-98 points).

My choice would be to opt for the Dogtown and / or Ueberroth, over the Pesenti. But then, I have bad memories of Pesenti wines, prior to when Turley purchased the vineyards.

Glass_A_Day · 09-14-2006, 07:28 AM,

Ordered one of each today. Will post whence popped.

wondersofwine · 09-14-2006, 08:42 AM,

I'm on the Biale mailer now. I'm interested in trying some of the others in addition to the Black Chicken (and the winery does say that the black chicken was a code name during Prohibition which demonstrates that the family have been winemakers for several generations.) The Biale Black Chicken was listed as 16.7% alcholhol by volume yet tasted balanced and fruity--not hot. I wouldn't have thought it possible.

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