We are pleased to announce a one-night-only Turley Zinfandel blow-out featuring five of their highest scoring wines. As you probably know, Turley's mailing list has been closed for years with a waiting list a mile long, so this is truly an extraordinary opportunity to taste and obtain some amazing cult status Zins that very few people are ever able to get.

We're featuring the following five Zinfandels (all 2021 vintage) in the wine flight: Juvenile (92 points) from California, Del Barba (94 points) from Contra Costa, Deaver Ranch (92 points) from Amador, Kirschenmann (94 points) from Lodi and Pesenti (94 points) from Paso Robles.

In addition to these five Zins that will be included in the wine flight, we also have a very limited amount of the 95-point Dragon Zin from Howell Mountain available by the bottle. And ... for the first time ever, we also have their brand new 2022 Rose. It’s bone dry but fruit forward ... a complex combination that you rarely see that is indescribably delicious! Unlike many Roses that are “quaffers,” this one is definitely a “sipper” that you can enjoy over the course of many hours. Unfortunately it’s also super limited so we’ll allocate it the best we can so we can “share the love” with the most amount of people!

And, because BBQ is one of the all-time best pairings with Zinfandel, we’ve prepared an awesome pulled pork slider “kit” for you to take home to enjoy with these wines. We’re offering them for a ridiculously low price of sixteen bucks for four sliders. You’ll get a half-pound of roasted pulled pork with our housemade BBQ sauce, a half-pound of Asian slaw, and four King’s Hawaiian slider buns. When you get home, simply re-heat the pulled pork (microwave or saucepan), put some on a slider bun, top with Asian slaw, and devour. If you have a really big appetite and aren’t having anything else to eat, one slider kit of four will be more than enough for one person, but most people will find that one kit will easily serve two. They’re so delicious though and will easily keep for several days so you may want to get several ... just in case! We’ll also have our pots de crème available as a delicious chocolate finale after all that Zinfandel. The pots de crème will easily keep for a week or two so don’t be afraid to order extra ... you’ll be sorry otherwise!

In the meantime, wine notes and bottle prices are listed below.

TASTING FLIGHTS

In addition to sales by the bottle, we’re also making tasting flights available. Single glass (4 oz.) servings of the first five wines below (the equivalent of over three-quarters of a bottle of wine) are available for fifty-six bucks. (We don’t have any 8 oz. bottles available so if you want a flight for two, just order two single flights.) Or you can just purchase full bottles while supplies last. Either way, we hope you enjoy this week’s offering!

Turley Wine Flight for One ~ $56

Includes one 4 oz. bottle of each of the first five Zinfandels below.

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TURLEY ZINS AVAILABLE BY THE BOTTLE

2021 Turley “Juvenile” Zinfandel ~ $35

(California) Winemaker's Notes: Hailing from over two dozen vineyards across California, Juvenile is more of a clear bellwether for a vintage than any other wine we make. Fragrant, lifted aromas of ripe dark fruits like black raspberry and blood orange on the nose. Superb balance between acidity, tannin and spice, with a succulent, profoundly satisfying texture. ~~~ Review by Wine Spectator ~ 92 points: Jammed with fresh, lively fruit, this Zinfandel abounds with black raspberry, spice and orange zest accents that linger on the long, supple finish.

2021 Turley “Del Barba” Zinfandel ~ $48

(Contra Costa County) Winemaker's Notes: New in 2021! After working with the fruit for over a decade, Turley is proud to present the first single-vineyard bottling from the Del Barba Vineyard. Contra Costa is a delta where the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers meet, and these head-trained vines are planted in deep dehli blow sand, made up of decomposed granite coming down from the Sierra Mountains. The resulting wine embodies the best the delta has to offer: silken textures, ultra fine tannin and dark saline fruits. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 94 points: Bright and punchy, with gorgeous purity, the 2021 is positively stellar. Bright red/purplish Zinfandel fruit, blood orange and exotic spice abound. This is such a compelling wine.

2021 Turley “Deaver Ranch” Zinfandel ~ $50

(Amador County) Winemaker's Notes: Hailing from several head-trained vineyards dating back to the 1920s, these vines are planted at around 1500’ in the granite and quartz-rich soils of the Shenandoah Valley AVA. Ken Deaver, who farms each of these sites, can trace his family’s history in the Foothills back to the mid-19th century. The family planted their first grapevines in 1854, selling their harvest primarily to fellow homesteaders and amateur winemakers. Now, over 150 years later, Turley is proud to participate in this long-standing family farming tradition. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 92 points: An attractive, mid-weight wine. Floral and savory accents lift a core of bright, red-fleshed fruit, with bright acids and driving tannins that add both presence and character.

2021 Turley “Kirschenmann” Zinfandel ~ $60

(Lodi) Winemaker's Notes: Organically farmed, own-rooted, head-trained and dry-farmed vines planted in 1915 in the silica-rich sandy soils of the east side of the Mokelumne River AVA. Marking the 10th vintage of this wine, bright ripe red fruits, raspberry preserves and white pepper burst forth from the glass. Precise on the palate like a perfectly seasoned piece of meat, with more red berries and a sumptuously complex texture. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 94 points: Superb. In most vintages, the Kirschenmann can be a bit light, but in 2021 it offers a beguiling mix of its typical floral qualities, but with an extra kick of depth that holds everything together so well. Bright red berry fruit, rose petal, chalk, minerals and white pepper are some of the many notes that grace this striking Zinfandel.

2021 Turley “Pesenti” Zinfandel ~ $62

(Willow Creek District, Paso Robles) Winemaker's Notes: Deeply perfumed and enthralling nose of ripe red fruits, high-toned spices, orange zest, and an almost minty crushed chalk. Palate is smooth, lush, energetic and pure, with a smack of well-toned acidity, satiating structure and a long, precise finish. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 94 points: Packed with dark fruit, candied plum, spice, lavender and leather. This opulent, flamboyant Paso Robles Zinfandel from vines planted in 1923 is a wine of extremes. Jammy, opulent fruit and searing acids are all dialed up. Then again, that is Paso.

2021 Turley “Dragon” Zinfandel ~ $76

(Howell Mountain, Napa Valley) Winemaker's Notes: Dragon Vineyard is an estate-farmed, certified organic vineyard. Planted at 2250 feet at one of the highest points on Howell Mountain, the vineyard sits well above the fog line and faces east, first to receive the soft morning sun. These important features, along with the rocky, red volcanic soil, make for a unique, full-bodied, powerful Zinfandel. This is often Larry’s favorite since it goes with what he most likes to cook: bold, flavorful, spice-laden meats laid over an open fire. There’s a reason Howell Mountain was the first designated sub-AVA in Napa Valley: the wines from this hallowed ridge are the most distinctive in the entire region. ~~~ Review by Vinous ~ 93-95 points: An intensely savory and mineral Howell Mountain Zinfandel. It packs a serious punch in its mountain tannin, and yet it also has enough mid-palate sweetness to pull it all together. Layered, vibrant and exceptionally beautiful, it's another compelling wine from Turley.

2022 Turley Zinfandel Rose ~ $32

(California) Winemaker's Notes: We select a few of our Zinfandel vines to pick early to make this vivid, dry, delightful Rose. It's fermented completely dry using only natural yeasts, and finishes fermentation in 100% used French oak barrels. Pale and delicately pink in color with soft peachy tones, akin to the rosés of Provence. The nose is subtle but alluring, with hints of hibiscus flower and salted nectarine. The palate is brisk and dry yet silky, with wild strawberry, white peach and rose petal flavors.

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RSVP

Please RSVP via email to chris@winevaultbistro.com with the following information. (Please do not telephone in your reservation as everyone is working remotely and no one will be here to answer your call and it will just go to voicemail and delay your reservation.)

1. your name

2. phone number

3. pick up time (between 3:00pm-6:00pm) June 14, 2023

4. food and wine order

LIMITED AVAILABILITY

Unfortunately, we have an extremely limited supply of these wines. Based on last years’ sales we should have enough wine to fill flight orders but at some point we may need to limit bottle sales. To that end, we will fill flight orders first and then allocate bottle sales on a first-come, first-served basis to the best of our ability.

HEAD’S UP

Under current California law we cannot sell wine flights without food. (Full bottles are exempt from this law.) So if you’re ordering a wine flight please make sure to include an order of sliders or pots de crème.

WHEN TO SHOW UP

Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 3:00 to 6:00

WHERE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upper terrace. Follow the black handrail from the sidewalk up the stairs to our front door.

Hope to see you here. Buon appetito and cheers!