From a single sustainably farmed vineyard in Lodi comes this super bang for your buck. It’s earthy Cab that’s perfumed inside and out, with wafts of cedar burning on an open fire, as well as brick, black cherry and clove. It’s balanced and structured to boot.
— V.B.
(5/1/2012)
A nicely done wine, especially at the price. It’s very pretty aromatically, boasting pear and vanilla notes, full in the mouth and lemony with minerality. “Jam” of Jam’s Blend is a commingling of the names of the two Tortoise Creek founders, Janie and Mel Master, who source the grapes for this wine out of a Lodi Rules vineyard.
— V.B.
(5/1/2012)
Full of flavors and aromas of grapefruit and pear, this delightful Chardonnay is super-crisp, with restrained barrel influence. Like a freshly baked pie, it’s bright and satisfying.
— V.B.
(12/31/2012)
Medium-weight, with just enough supple tannins to provide a modicum of structure, this soft, easygoing Merlot boasts plummy fruit and notes of coffee and brown sugar. Finishes with hints of dried herbs and tea leaves.
— J.C.
(12/1/2004)
Name checking an old stretch of Lodi highway, this Cab has more red cherry fruit than black as well as a noticeable trace of cedar, lacking in structure and acidity perhaps but decent enough—and very fairly priced—to pop open with a midweek steak. The grapes used are Lodi Rules certified green sustainable.
— V.B.
(11/1/2011)
Clements Hills is an up and coming subregion within Lodi and the grapes for this wine have been sourced from three Clements Hills vineyards. The wine has its rustic side but is also savory, with dark plum and berry fruit flavors and a toasty note at the end. The Chelonian Research Foundation, for which this wine is named, is devoted to the conservation of turtles…
— V.B.
(5/1/2012)
A fresh, fragrant and herbaceous wine, this dances lightly and brightly on the palate. Flavors of grapefruit and lime come with crisp acidity, lending a mouth-tingling finish.
— R.V.
(3/1/2013)
Plum and blackberry aromas, accented by black pepper give this a sense of varietal identity, backed by more pepper and plum on the palate. Tannins are ripe, imparting a silky mouthfeel, while the finish turns a bit rough, though not unfriendly. Good burger wine.
— J.C.
(12/1/2004)