Turley Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel 2019

Turley Kirschenmann Vineyard Zinfandel 2019 is a field-blend Zinfandel from century-old vines in Lodi's Mokelumne River AVA, bottled at 15.2% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 94 points by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, this bottling stands apart in the Turley portfolio as the only vineyard personally owned and farmed by winemaker Tegan Passalacqua.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15.2%  |  Origin: Mokelumne River AVA, Lodi, California  |  Vintage: 2019  |  Producer: Turley Wine Cellars

Production & Heritage

Turley Wine Cellars has built its reputation on single-vineyard Zinfandels sourced from California's oldest and most distinctive sites. Kirschenmann Vineyard is planted on ungrafted, own-rooted vines dating to 1915 in silica-rich sandy soils — conditions that helped these vines survive phylloxera and produce intensely concentrated fruit more than a century later. The wine is a traditional old-vine field blend dominated by Zinfandel with small plantings of Mondeuse, Cinsault, and Carignane interspersed throughout the vineyard. Fermentations rely entirely on native yeasts, and the vineyard is certified organic.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with an initial hint of tarry reduction that gives way to striking red raspberry, blueberry, and dried flowers. A deeper inhale reveals gorgeous purity of fruit and a perfumed, floral complexity.

Taste: The entry is soft and immediate, with ripe blue fruits and zesty red raspberry arriving on a medium-bodied frame. At mid-palate, sweet baking spice and blood orange mingle with rustic blackberry, while minty undertones add a cooling counterpoint to the generous fruit. Despite 15.2% alcohol, the wine stays balanced and remarkably fresh.

Finish: The finish is earthy and moderately long, with lingering dried spice and dark fruit. A subtle mineral quality — likely a signature of those sandy, silica-laden soils — keeps the conclusion grounded and dry.

How to Drink Kirschenmann Zinfandel

This wine is most rewarding at cellar temperature (60–65°F) in a large-bowled glass that allows the aromatics to develop fully. The concentration and structure also make it a strong candidate for decanting 30 minutes before serving. In a Zinfandel Smash, the wine's dark berry fruit amplifies fresh blackberry muddled with lemon and mint. A bold Sangria Roja benefits from the wine's spice and blue-fruit core, standing up to citrus and brandy without losing identity. For a simple warm-weather red cocktail, the Kalimotxo works well with a robust Zinfandel like this, where the wine's depth keeps it from being overwhelmed.

Best For

• Gifting a serious Zinfandel collector or old-vine enthusiast
• Anchoring a California heritage wine tasting alongside other pre-Prohibition vineyard bottlings
• Pairing with a backyard barbecue featuring smoked ribs or tri-tip
• Cellaring for 5–8 years to see how the 1915 vine material evolves in bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Kirschenmann Zinfandel taste like? The dominant profile is ripe blue and red berry fruit — blueberry, raspberry, blackberry — layered with sweet baking spice, minty undertones, and an earthy, slightly mineral finish. It is medium-bodied and fresh despite its 15.2% ABV.

How does Kirschenmann Zinfandel compare to Ridge Geyserville? Both are field-blend Zinfandels from historic California vineyards, but they differ in origin and feel. Ridge Geyserville comes from Sonoma County and typically shows brighter acidity with a more structured tannin profile, while Kirschenmann leans toward softer, earthier fruit from Lodi's warmer climate and sandy soils.

Is Kirschenmann Zinfandel good for sipping neat? Yes — its medium body, aromatic complexity, and balanced freshness make it an excellent wine for drinking on its own, ideally served slightly below room temperature.

Where is Kirschenmann Zinfandel made? The grapes are grown in Kirschenmann Vineyard in the Mokelumne River AVA of Lodi, California, and vinified by Turley Wine Cellars. The vineyard is personally owned and farmed by Turley winemaker Tegan Passalacqua.

What foods pair well with Kirschenmann Zinfandel? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the wine's spice echoes wood-smoke char. Hard aged cheeses like Manchego or dry Jack complement the earthy finish. Grilled lamb chops with rosemary mirror the wine's herbal-minty notes. Mushroom pizza or a rich eggplant parmigiana matches the wine's medium body and dark fruit. Dark chocolate with dried cherries amplifies the berry core.

What sizes does Kirschenmann Zinfandel come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Turley occasionally releases magnums (1.5L) for select vineyard designates, though availability varies by vintage.

Is Kirschenmann Zinfandel worth the price? Kirschenmann positions as a premium single-vineyard Zinfandel within the Turley lineup. Given the 94-point Vinous score, certified organic farming, and the rarity of ungrafted 1915 vines, it represents strong value relative to comparably scored California reds from similarly historic sites.

Why Kirschenmann Zinfandel?

The defining fact of this wine is its source: ungrafted vines planted in 1915, surviving on sandy soils that naturally resist phylloxera — a viticultural rarity in California. It is the only vineyard in the Turley portfolio personally owned and farmed by winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, lending a direct, hands-on connection between grower and bottling that few single-vineyard wines can claim. The 94-point score from Antonio Galloni at Vinous confirms the 2019 vintage as one of the stronger recent expressions. For anyone seeking a Zinfandel rooted in pre-Prohibition California history, produced organically and fermented with native yeasts, this bottling delivers a sense of place that modern plantings simply cannot replicate.