Turley Zinfandel Bargain

If you are a fan of spicy foods like BBQ brisket, ribs, pepper steak or even jalapeno pepper enhanced burgers like your humble Wine Bargain Sleuth, then you need to find a bold red wine that doesn’t get overwhelmed by the entrée yet is polished enough to complement the bold flavors.   An excellent example of that wine, my friends, can be found with the terrific 2012 Turley Zinfandel California Juvenile.  I recently sampled this balanced, elegant example of the varietal on a trip to wine country, and I became a fan immediately.   Despite its relatively high alcohol of 15.5%, which is fairly typical of California Zins, one never gets the sense of  alcohol afterburn that often tags along with the varietal.   Instead, the ripe, polished red fruit balances the high alcohol, with a mouthfeel of round raspberry, followed by a smoked meats and spice, with a satisfyingly lengthy finish.  To my palate, mesquite-grilled beef with a side of fresh pico de gallo would be an ideal pairing for the 2012 Turley Juvenile.  This value wine, retailing about $20, is widely praised, receiving a healthy 90 from Wine Tracker and a very impressive 91 from Wine Spectator.  Grab several bottles of the 2012 Turley Zinfandel California Juvenile and see what the buzz about Turley wines is all about!