Turley Fredericks Zinfandel

Turley Fredericks Zinfandel is a single-vineyard, 100% Zinfandel from old vines in Sonoma Valley's Moon Mountain District, bottled at 15.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Sourced from head-trained vines planted in 1937 on red volcanic soils at elevations between 800 and 1,200 feet, this bottling earned 96 points from Vinous for the 2021 vintage and 94+ points from Wine Advocate for the 2022 vintage — placing it among California's most acclaimed Zinfandels.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.5%  |  Origin: Moon Mountain District, Sonoma Valley, California  |  Old Vine (Planted 1937)  |  Producer: Turley Wine Cellars

Production & Heritage

Turley Wine Cellars was founded in 1993 by Larry Turley, a former emergency-room physician who co-founded Frog's Leap Winery before dedicating himself to preserving California's oldest Zinfandel and Petite Sirah vineyards. Fredericks Vineyard sits on steep terraces of uplifted volcanic seabed soil in the Moon Mountain District — a rare site where hillside, head-trained old vines are dry-farmed without irrigation, concentrating fruit intensity naturally. The grapes are hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts, then aged for 15 months in barrel (80% French oak, 20% American; 80% used, 20% new) before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The vineyard is certified organic, and the combination of elevation, volcanic soil, and nearly nine decades of vine age gives Fredericks a mineral-driven character that distinguishes it sharply from valley-floor Zinfandels.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens slowly and builds with layers of preserved peach, dried red berries, and boysenberry, followed by cinnamon toast, warm baking spice, and a lifted floral perfume. Cooling botanical notes and a rocky mineral thread add complexity beneath the fruit.

Taste: Full-bodied on entry, the palate is suave and concentrated, with a core of black cherry liqueur, baked blackberries, and blueberry. Mid-palate, dark spice and licorice notes emerge alongside polished but rustic tannins. Seamless, mineral-tinged acidity provides structure without hard edges, keeping the wine focused despite its generous fruit weight.

Finish: Long and perfumed, with lingering notes of dark fruit, warm spice, and a stony minerality that speaks directly to the volcanic terroir. The tannins resolve gently, leaving a clean yet persistent impression.

How to Drink Fredericks Zinfandel

This wine is best served slightly below room temperature — around 60–65°F — in a large-bowled glass that allows the complex aromatics to develop. Decanting for 30 to 45 minutes will help the nose open fully, particularly in younger vintages. While Fredericks is built for contemplative sipping, its bold fruit and structured tannins also lend themselves to food-centric settings. A Zinfandel Sangria built around seasonal stone fruit would honor the wine's peach and berry character. In a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola), the Fredericks' dark spice and body hold up with surprising sophistication. For a refined twist, try it in a Red Wine Spritz with sparkling water and a strip of orange peel to amplify its floral lift.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Zinfandel collector who values single-vineyard provenance
• Pairing with a wood-fired steak or barbecue dinner
• Adding age-worthy depth to a California old-vine wine cellar
• Anchoring a comparative tasting of Moon Mountain District wines

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fredericks Zinfandel taste like? It delivers a full-bodied palate of black cherry, boysenberry, and baked blackberry layered with cinnamon, licorice, and dark baking spices. A stony, mineral-tinged acidity runs through the wine, balancing the ripe fruit with focus and length.

How does Fredericks Zinfandel compare to Ridge Lytton Springs? Both are premium, old-vine Sonoma County Zinfandels, but Fredericks is 100% Zinfandel from a single certified-organic vineyard at high elevation on volcanic soil, while Ridge Lytton Springs is typically a field blend incorporating Petite Sirah and Carignane from benchland vineyards. Fredericks tends toward a more mineral-driven, perfumed profile, whereas Lytton Springs often emphasizes structural depth from its blended components.

Is Fredericks Zinfandel good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its layered aromatics, polished tannins, and long finish make it an ideal wine for unhurried, contemplative drinking. A brief decant helps unlock the full aromatic range, especially in younger releases.

Where is Fredericks Zinfandel made? It is produced by Turley Wine Cellars from Fredericks Vineyard in the Moon Mountain District, a sub-appellation of Sonoma Valley in Northern California. The vineyard sits on steep terraces at 800 to 1,200 feet elevation on red volcanic soils.

What foods pair well with Fredericks Zinfandel? Smoked beef brisket complements the wine's dark fruit and spice intensity. Lamb chops with a rosemary-garlic crust mirror its herbal and savory undertones. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego or aged Gouda match its tannic structure. Grilled portobello mushrooms with balsamic echo the earthy, mineral character. Dark chocolate with dried cherries ties into the wine's berry core and spice finish.

What sizes does Fredericks Zinfandel come in? Turley Fredericks Zinfandel is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Fredericks Zinfandel worth the price? Fredericks positions firmly in the premium tier of single-vineyard California Zinfandel, and its consistent critical acclaim — including 96 points from Vinous and 94+ from Wine Advocate — reflects the rarity of certified-organic, 1937-planted hillside vines. For collectors and enthusiasts seeking terroir-driven Zinfandel with proven age-worthiness, it represents strong value relative to its quality pedigree.

Why Fredericks Zinfandel?

What separates Fredericks from the broader Turley portfolio — and from most California Zinfandels — is the vineyard itself: nearly ninety-year-old, head-trained, dry-farmed organic vines clinging to volcanic terraces above 800 feet in the Moon Mountain District. That combination of extreme vine age, elevation, and soil type is genuinely rare in Zinfandel production. The wine's critical track record backs this up, with scores reaching 96 points from Vinous and 94+ from Wine Advocate across recent vintages. Bottled unfined and unfiltered after native-yeast fermentation and restrained oak aging, Fredericks delivers a transparent window into one of Sonoma's most distinctive old-vine sites.