THE STORY
This is the second of a two-part series highlighting my recommendations of standout wineries and wines based on our November visit to Amador County. Today’s post focuses on Turley Wine Cellars, Andis Wines, Deaver Vineyards, and PleinAir Vineyards. I have been a Turley member forever – yet had not visited their Amador winery. Andis showed us that the region is much more than Zinfandel and Barbera. Deaver is one of the oldest vineyards and original wineries boasting exceptional Zinfandels and more. And PleinAir not only focused on Rhône varietals but also had a Central Coast connection!
We started our second day, touring the historic gold mining town of Jackson, shopping at The Biggest Little Kitchen Store (awesome!) and hunting down the original courthouse building (art deco!) before heading to the wineries. We again were able to drop in on the wineries without reservations – because it was mid-November. Reservations would otherwise be highly recommended!
THE SIERRA FOOTHILLS WINE REGION
For the full story and more about the Amador County Wine Region, please check out this Wine Enthusiast article and last week’s post: Sierra Foothills Wine Country: Getting Off the Monterey Peninsula!
THE WINERIES & WINES
Today I am bringing you 9 wines from our second day of tasting in Amador County. Any errors are mine and mine alone. As a matter of practice, I do not correct any typo’s from winery websites. Let’s go!!
Turley Wine Cellars
About Turley: “Turley Wine Cellars was founded in Napa Valley by former emergency room physician Larry Turley in 1993. Under the direction of winemaker Tegan Passalacqua, Turley now makes 50 different wines from over 50 vineyards across California, primarily Zinfandel and Petite Syrah, with many vines dating back to the late 1800s. By farming organically and focusing on old vine vineyards of these varieties, Turley aims to both create and preserve California’s unique winemaking culture.”
As a longtime member of Turley, I’ve written about their wines many times, including a visit to their Paso Robles Tasting Room in 2023. Just type “Turley” into the search bar on the Decanting Monterey website. The “Whitney Tennessee” was tasted at the Amador Tasting Room. The “Dusi” came from our home collection and was served with our Thanksgiving turkey! Everyone else drank a nice Burgundy. I prefer a Turley!
2022 Turley Whitney Tennessee Zinfandel, Alexander Valley AVA, Sonoma County (#1501)
Winery Notes: “This small, estate-owned, pre-Prohibition vineyard in Sonoma County was purchased by the winery in 2009, and we’ve since converted all to organic farming. Planted on loam and various gravel soils, the Whitney Tennessee vineyard—named for one of Larry’s four daughters—is a mixed planting as well, with small amounts of Petite Syrah and Carignane vines sprinkled throughout.
“Organically farmed pre-Prohibition vines planted head-trained and dry-farmed in the loam & gravel of Sonoma County. Garrigue, red and dark fruits, herbs de Provence and dried flowers. Some savory sweetness with a spiced finish on makes this heady wine easy to enjoy.”
My Review: Warm jam on the nose. SweetTart on the palate. Quite a contrast. Give this one a couple of years in the bottle – it will be terrific. November 2024
2020 Turley Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles AVA, San Luis Obispo County, $43 (#1502)
Winery Notes: “The Dusi vineyard was planted by Dante Dusi in 1945 and it is farmed by his family to this day. The vines are head-trained and dry-farmed, planted in soil that is mostly alluvial with some very large rocks. Like our other vineyards in the area, Dusi is on the west side of Paso Robles, in the cool Templeton Gap sub-AVA.
“The darker, more hedonistic cousin to the Pesenti Zinfandel, with plenty of fruits that run the full gamut from berry to stone and everything in between. Supple, juicy, and mouthwatering on the palate with a mineral zip. Drink now.”
My Review: Earth and crushed strawberries on the nose. Sweet palate of dark berry wine and cassis. This is a Sharon kind of wine. November 2024
Andis Wines
We noticed the sleek and modern Andis Tasting Room right off the main Shenandoah Road and decided to stop in. We caught them in the middle of a member pickup party with light food pairings with the tastings. It was a walking tour of the winery, with different stations in different parts, including local small businesses showing their wares. All in all, a fun experience. Here we tried both Bordeaux and Rhône varietals. For a moment, based on the wines alone, I felt like I was back in Monterey!
About Andis Wines: “…As an avid wine enthusiast and Napa frequenter, to discover such a secretive wine region inspired founder, Janis Akuna. It gave her a vision to share a different kind of experience with other wine enthusiasts. But even more than that, it was the rural wine region of Amador County that struck her the most; reminiscent of the early days of Napa she so dearly missed.
“In 2009, Janis and her husband, Andy Friedlander, found their own stretch of land to replant portions of the vineyard originally planted in the 1970s, while seeking out the highest quality vineyards to buy additional fruit. Working closely with Sage Architecture and Sunseri Construction, they built a state of the art winemaking facility with two tenets; design a sustainable winery to produce world class wines that is attractive, but different from all others…” I encourage you to click the “About” link above for much more to their story.
2021 Painted Fields Curse of Knowledge, Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, 14.5% ABV, $33 (#1503) 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot
Winery Notes: “Curse of Knowledge is our Cabernet Sauvignon made in the Bordeaux style by carefully blending Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a hint of Petit Verdot. We aim to showcase a new dimension of flawlessly balanced, well-structured, and quality wine that will shift people’s views of the Sierra Foothills. You’ll be captivated by the intense ruby color and the sensational bouquet of dried violet, black cherry, fresh herbs, and cocoa powder. The velvety tannins create a generous and round, balanced mid-palate, with a lingering finish of dark berries and black licorice. Enjoy it now to taste the brightness of our fruits, or age it in your cellar for the next decade.”
My Notes: There was a lot going on in the room where these big reds were tasted, so my notes are lacking. The curse is people only think of Zinfandel and Barbera when they think of Amador. I was impressed enough to take one of these wines home. November 2024
2021 Andis Petite Sirah, Sierra Foothills AVA, Amador County, 14.5% ABV, $40 (#1504)
Winery Notes: “Andis Petite Sirah, sourced from the best vineyards across the Sierra Foothills, is a true expression of a robust, full-bodied, and firmly tannic wine with deep dark color, giving it a rustic appeal. Expect aromas of blackberry, blueberry, and black pepper, along with notes of vanilla from oak aging.
It offers an extraordinary concentration that will serve it well as it ages.”
My Review: Purple in the glass and chocolate on the palate. Yum. I took one home. November 2024
Deaver Vineyards
Deaver is one of the original, old-school wineries in the region. They have been around since the 1850’s. They have 350 acres planted to mostly Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, with some Alicante Bouchet. Their basic tasting menu is free! We, of course, opted for their Zinfandel tasting for a whopping $10! Here we tried several fantastic Zinfandels and ended up buying a case of wine!
About Deaver Vineyards: “In 1848 young John James Davis began his journey across the plains to California from Ripley County, Indiana. In the midst of his journey, he stopped in Iowa to learn the cooper trade before continuing his journey to California. By 1852, John James had completed his journey and settled in Placerville. The first few years that John James (known as JJ) was in California were marked by mining and the promise of gold and cooperage. In 1854, JJ planted his first vines, Mission grapes. By 1869 he had his own cooper shop, own vineyards, produced limited quantities of wine – marking some of the first documentation of Davis grapes in the area. According to family stories, by 1870 JJ had 117 acres; 6 acres of his original Mission grapes still remain in production in the Deaver family today. Following the advice of his good friend Uhlinger, he began to plant Zinfandel….”
“…In 1968 Sutter Home purchased several tons of Zinfandel grapes from Ken Deaver and made a wine that caught the eye of many wine enthusiasts. This marked the beginning of selling grapes to commercial wineries.
“In 1986, Ken Deaver bottled his first Zinfandel with the trademark Deaver label. Following this bottling, Ken began his dream of opening a Tasting Room where guests would be able to taste the fruits of his labor. On January 18, 1989 Ken Deaver passed away due to a heart attack. Though Ken was gone, his dream continued to persevere and the tasting room opened in 1990…” You can read their whole history here.
2019 Deaver Henry’s House Zinfandel, Amador County, 15.4% ABV, $35 (#1505)
Winery Notes: “A tasting room favorite! Medium-bodied with a deep rich palate of spice and dark berries with a silky smooth finish…This solid and well-stated Zin is full with manageable tannins and ample fruit working to buffer its minor finishing heat. It is built to last but is still very nice with braises and stews.”
My Review: All of their Zins were quite impressive but notetaking was minimal. This wine was dark in the glass and elicited a “wow” from me. November 2024
2019 Deaver Signature Zinfandel, Amador County, 15% ABV, $35 (#1506)
Winery Notes: “Ample, well-extracted, fully ripe, blackberry fruit is teamed with a savory streak of dried herbs in both the aromas and flavors of this substantial and somewhat sinewy young Zin, and, while most definitely a hearty wine, just as all of the Deaver bottlings, it is solidly structured and built for age. It is a bit ragged at the finish just now, but its fruit persists and does not get pushed aside by excessive tannin or heat, and a little more time, say three or four years, will see it round into fine drinking shape as a partner to rich and well-seasoned fare.”
My Review: Made from the top 4-5 barrels another “wow” wine – this one is very rich. I just hope we can resist opening it for the recommended timeframe. November 2024
2019 Deaver Vineyards Circa 1860’s Old Vine Zinfandel, Amador County, 15.1% ABV, $55 (#1507)
I don’t have winery notes for this wine – perhaps it is a club-only selection. I presented it to my virtual wine group in December.
My Notes: Medium purple in color. Rich plum and blackberry on the nose with saddle leather, cinnamon and a hint of bubblegum. Full palate of ripe plum and dark berries and black cherry in an elegant composure, followed by tart berries and a lot of cassis. This is not bombastic, but a true reflection of its old vines’ heritage. December 2024
PleinAir Vineyards
We had never heard of PleinAir Vineyards – but it was highly recommended by one of the wineries hosting the Rest hotel’s daily wine tastings. We drove over to Fiddletown and stumbled upon a French farmhouse surrounded by vineyards and quite the crowd in their tasting room. I, of course, presented my Decanting Monterey business card, which led to a whole conversation with owners Tom and Sarah Malone. As you can read on their website, they previously lived in Pebble Beach and, before that, Pacific Grove – in a house on our own street! Such a small world.
About PleinAir Vineyards: “We are a creative couple who honed our style renovating homes over our 40 year history together and we bring our own skill set to any project we undertake. While I focus on the overall design and creative direction, Tom specializes in all aspects of construction, development and is equally skilled in handling almost any DIY task required. While nearing completion on our last project in Pebble Beach, we turned our sites toward the Sierra Foothills and Amador’s wine valley. We bought 21.5 acres with a tiny home in dire need of renovation which had room to plant vineyards and build a winery and tasting venue. We thought it was the perfect opportunity to expand our knack for creating casual environments with touches of European charm into a business influenced by the romance of rolling vineyards and quaint wine tasting venues. PleinAir is truly a reflection of all the things we love – we call it “casual rustic elegance” and we look forward to sharing our wines and our venue with you!”
“Our estate vineyards are located in the Fiddletown AVA (American Viticultural Area) in Amador County, CA. The region was first settled in 1849 during the California gold rush and is known for its old growth Zinfandel and other Rhone varietals. The property sits between 1850 and 1950 feet elevation on 21.5 acres of rolling slopes. The soils are well drained sandy loams and decomposed granite. We currently have Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre, Petite Sirah and Viognier planted.” Yep, no Zinfandel or Barbera planted here!
2023 PleinAir Oblique Grenache Saignée, Fiddletown AVA, Amador County, $38 (#1508)
Winery Notes: “Dark ruby in color, our 2023 Oblique captures the personality of our Estate Grenache- effusive red plum, grenadine, and cranberries. The decidedly opulent and voluminous palate remains elegant and lively. Completely dry of sugar, the mid palate boasts a round and supple feel, derived from our vineyard focused approach. No fining or filtration!”
My Notes: I have only had a rose saignée previously, not a red wine. This may have been the best Grenache I have ever tasted due to the unique winemaking method – a nice, dry wine with excellent flavor. November 2024
2021 PleinAir Syrah, Fiddletown AVA, Amador County, $44 (#1509)
Winery Notes: “From our estate marked by its sandy loam and decomposed granite soils nested with gently rolling slopes, our Syrah boasts aromas of boysenberry, graphite and smoked charcuterie with a rich and dense palate that reinforces briar berries and black spice” GOLD MEDAL 2024 FOOTHILL WINE FEST
My Notes: This wine was a keeper – big, dark fruit. It was the last wine of the day. Sorry I don’t have better notes. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOMS
Due to the length of today’s post, please check each winery’s website for details on how to taste their wines.
© Decanting Monterey 2025
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