Spectacular Reviews from Robert Parker!
Posted: December 31, 2015
A Perfect Score from our 2013 Vintage
Turnbull received for a second vintage a perfect 100 point score and two nearly perfect 99 point scores for the 2013 vintage in the December 31 issue of Mr. Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate.
The 2013 Pierra, our single block Cabernet Sauvignon, scored 100 points and was noted by Mr. Parker as “a legacy wine in what is a remarkable lineup of wines from Turnbull Wine Cellars in 2013.” Our flagship offering, the 2013 Black Label, and our 2013 Fortuna Vineyard single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, both scored 99 points.
Our legacy in growing the highest quality fruit from some of the best terroir in the Napa Valley, and crafting wine with intention and reverence for place, continues and the overall 2013 vintage scores reflect this unwavering focus and commitment. The Wine Advocate and Mr. Parker scored all six of our Cabernet Sauvignons 95 points and above.
“Receiving a second 100 point score reflects our ongoing obsession with quality, both in our estate vineyards and in the cellar,” says Turnbull winemaker Peter Heitz. “It’s also affirming to receive resoundingly high scores for both our flagship and single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons. It’s no secret that around here we’re driven by the consistent pursuit of excellence each and every vintage.”
Turnbull, a small, family estate winery founded in Napa Valley’s famed Oakville region in 1979, produces world-class, collectible Cabernet Sauvignon. Our process is dirt to bottle, and our wine is made painstakingly, lot by lot, with our winemaker weaving together a narrative of place with each vintage.
“This is such an honor for our family winery, and our entire vineyard and winemaking team,” says second generation vintner and general manager Zoe Johns. “We’re incredibly grateful for the recognition of the legacy we’re building in making consistently beautiful wines of the highest quality and without compromise, and just as proud to have the support of our longtime advocates and fans.”
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Pierra – 100 points
Their most expensive wine is the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pierra, which comes from this rocky vineyard in Oakville. Nearly black/purple in color, the wine has a singular quality, profound concentration and compelling notes of blueberries, blackberries, crushed rock, chocolate, a touch of espresso–just a smorgasbord of aromas. This is truly one of the great 2013s and a masterpiece of winemaking and viticulture. The wine should last for 30-50 years and is another legacy wine in what is a remarkable lineup of wines from Turnbull Wine Cellars in 2013. It’s approachable now, but I’d wait 4-5 years, if not a decade, and drink it over the following 30 years.
2012 Available Now – Membership Only
(preferred access to 2013 members who purchase 2012 vintage)
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label – 99 points
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label flirts with perfection, with gorgeous graphite, blueberry and blackberry fruit and a full-bodied mouthfeel. The wine is light on its feet for such massive extraction. With not a hard edge to be found, this is truly brilliant winemaking from a great terroir. This is long, rich powerful and certainly seems to have 30 years of upside. Forget it for five years and drink it over the following 30+ years.
Available to Membership – Limited Allocation
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard – 99 points
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Fortuna Vineyard is another candidate for perfection with a few more years of bottle age. Inky bluish/purple with wonderfully sweet blue and black fruits and floral notes. The wood seems perfectly integrated, the wine full-bodied and multi-dimensional, extremely long and pure. This is an unbelievable effort in this great vintage and should prove to be a future legacy wine for Turnbull Wine Cellars. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the following 30+.
Release to Membership Spring 2016
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Leopoldina Vineyard – 96+ points
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Leopoldina Vineyard is showing loads of new oak, plenty of blackberry and cassis fruit, a tightly knit, coiled style that is often the case with these big, rich 2013s. Yet, it has enormous potential, a tremendous full-bodied mouthfeel, and a finish close to 45-50 seconds. This wine just needs another 7-10 years of cellaring and should last 30 or 40 years.
Release to Membership Spring 2016
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve – 96 points
The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a beauty. Gorgeous, dense purple color, loads of crème de cassis, graphite, powerfully textured and layered flavors, with ripe tannin and super extract make for a great wine in a great vintage. This should age effortlessly for 25-30+ years.
2013 Turnbull Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville – 95 points
Turnbull’s 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville, their least expensive wine in the portfolio is the most forward and precocious of the cuvées and shows what great winemaking and vineyard sources the Turnbulls are dealing with. The color is opaque purple, the wine shows slightly less tannins than its counterparts, with gorgeously intense blueberry and blackberry fruit, cedar wood, forest floor and spice box. It’s full-bodied, opulent, rich and, while still young with a good 10 years of upside, this wine will still be drinking great 20 years from now.
Available soon in your local wine shop or favorite restaurant.
Cheers friends!