The 2022 Turley Cellars Cedarman Howell Mountain Zinfandel is a notable red wine hailing from the esteemed Howell Mountain sub-appellation in Napa, California. This Zinfandel, blended with 22% Petite Sirah, presents a striking profile that has garnered high praise from professional reviewers.
Wine Spectator awarded this wine a score of 93, highlighting its keen structure and briary nature. The reviewer, T.F., notes that the wine is "loaded with jammy blackberry, roasted anise, and licorice flavors that build toward broad-shouldered tannins." This description underscores the wine's robust character and its potential for aging, with a recommended drinking window extending through 2032.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provided an even higher rating of 94+, emphasizing the wine's origins from Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon Vineyards, both situated high atop Howell Mountain. According to the review dated June 13, 2024, the wine exhibits a "medium to deep ruby" color and offers a complex nose combining "extremely ripe black fruits and loamy earth with botanical, herbal notes" that evolve with time in the glass. The palate follows suit with "massive saturation and intensity," transitioning to a "chewy, sinewy finish lined with juicy acidity" and leading into a "long, detailed finish." The Advocate suggests that while the wine is sumptuous upon release, it could benefit from a few years in the cellar to develop additional nuances.
Overall, the 2022 Turley Cellars Cedarman Howell Mountain Zinfandel is a well-structured, intensely flavored wine that showcases the distinctive characteristics of its high-altitude vineyards. It is an excellent choice for those who appreciate a rich, fruit-forward Zinfandel with the potential for further complexity over time.