Turley Pesenti Vineyard Zinfandel Paso Robles 2021

Despite the overwhelming number of Zinfandel producers in the U.S., the MVP of carrying the varietal’s reputation may very well belong to Larry Turley,who has spent the last thirty years in California dedicating his days to preserving and furthering Zinfandel’s cause. So much so that since the co-founder of Frog’s Leap Winery first left to start his own winery in 1993, he has built a portfolio that includes 47 wines across 50 vineyards with 29 of them dedicated to the Zin varietal!

Today, his protege, winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, (a noted Zinfandel and Petite Sirah specialist in his own regard), is the man tasked with overseeing the entire winemaking operation. On top of that, Tegan and his wife started their own brand, Sandlands concentrating on making lesser championed wines. Sound like a lot? You don’t even know. Wine Spectator pointed out that in the 2017 vintage alone, Tegan made 49 different wines from 13 different counties in California under the Turley label, and another dozen wines for Sandlands. Somehow, it seems like everything he makes comes with a big, fat score next to it too. He’s that good at what he does.

The Willow Creek District in Paso Robles, a stone’s throw from the Pacific, boasts a classic Mediterranean climate marked by scorching days and frigid nights. This extreme temperature fluctuation, a hallmark of the region, translates directly into the wines—bold, vibrant, and undeniably exciting. The Pesenti Vineyard, a relic from 1922, stands as a testament to pioneering viticulture. Its founder, Frank Pesenti, revolutionized grape growing by strategically orienting vineyard blocks to maximize sun exposure. This innovative approach resulted in grapes ripening at different rates, necessitating multiple harvest days and ultimately yielding Zinfandel wines that set the gold standard for balance in Paso Robles.