HARVEST 2009
There was some frost in April during "bud break" causing some shatter in emerging grape buds, destroying some of the early crop. A slow, cool growing season progressed, with only two heat spikes during the Summer. Grapes were picked one to two weeks later than normal, all with excellent quality, good acids and "normal" sugar levels in the red grapes particularly. On Sept. 9th, we harvested 1 ton of Cabernet Franc from Stoney Springs Vineyard near St. Helena. The wine is through primary and secondary fermentations and resting in 1 year old French barrels in the winery. On Sept. 23rd, we harvested 1 1/2 tons of Chardonnay from Dutton Ranch in the Russian River area of Sonoma County. This was a higher elevation vineyard than previous years with mixed clones of Chardonnay grapes, usually sold to DuMol Winery. The wine is now through ML fermentation and is in 50% stainless steel and 50% 1 year old French oak barrels.
We bottled the 2008 red wines on November 19th, using Ultima's mobile bottling truck at the winery. There were 53 cases of 2008 Napa Cabernet blended with 12% Merlot, a lovely, very Bordeaux - like wine, with moderate tannins. We also bottled 24 cases of 2008 Napa Cabernet Franc from Stoney Springs Vineyard. Both will be released after a few months of bottle age.
We're down to the last few cases of 2007 Russian River Chardonnay and 2006 Rutherford Cabernet, which was awarded an 87 score by the Wine Spectator in November. The 2007 Napa Cabernet Franc is sold out, but the 2008 Chardonnay and 2007 Red Table Wine are in good supply.
Download our order form and note we now accept American Express as well as Visa and Master Card.
Restaurants and Wine Shops that carry Robert Turner Wines
Zinnia Restaurant - San Francisco, CA
Metropolitan Club - San Francisco, CA
Olympic Club - San Francisco, CA
Restaurant Iris - Memphis, TN
Andrew / Michael Restaurant - Memphis, TN
Napa Cafe - Memphis, TN
Great Wines and Spirits - Memphis, TN
Santa Ana Country Club - Santa Ana, CA
Wine Gallery, Coronado del Mar, CA
Wine Works for Everyone, Mission Viejo, CA
The Cellar, San Clemente, CA
Harvest Ranch Market, Del Mar, CA
Wine Sellar and Brasserie, San Diego, CA
Tastings and Events this summer and fall
Our wines were featured in a number of tastings and events this summer and fall:
- Guy Kornblum and Associates, Attorney, Summer Networking Luncheon, at Villa Taverna, San Francisco - August 27th
- Olympic Club Annual Wine Tasting, Lakeside Country Club, San Francisco, CA - October 9th
- "Miracle for Kids" Annual Fundraising Dinner, St. Regis Hotel, Monarch Bay, CA - October 10th
- West End Commons Wine Stroll, Emeryville, CA - October 3rd
- Great Wines and Spirits September Wine Club Offering, featured 2007 Turner Family Red Table Wine
- Wine Sellar and Brasserie November Wine Club Offering, featured 2006 Rutherford Cabernet
WINEMAKING NEWS
Gabriella Orlando, formerly with Antinori Wines in Florence Italy, and California, is our new sales rep for Robert Turner Wines in Southern California. We are happy she will represent us with wineshops and restaurants in Orange County and San Diego.
In an effort to create a more sustainable and organic product, we have been "recycling" our old wine barrels with San Francisco artist John Whitmarsh, to create furniture pieces and "exterior art". Note the photo and his website to see how he uses barrel staves and hoops to create the art.
We hope you continue to enjoy Robert Turner Wines and thank you for your continued interest!
Bob and Shirley Turner
January 2010
2251 WASHINGTON STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94115