96 Points - new                                                                            
One of Paso Roble's up-and-coming Superstars. Turtle Rock  is a new label from Don Burns, assistant winemaker at SAXUM. Limited.

95 Points Robert Parker:  "The 2021 Plum Orchard is composed of 74% Grenache and 26% Mataro grown on decomposed sandstone. It was vinified with stems and matured for 22 months in 50% new French oak. "We do more stem inclusion versus whole cluster," proprietor and winemaker Don Burns explains. "I destem everything, look for rot, see inside the clusters and hand pick my stems. Then I layer stems, whole berries, stems, whole berries." The nose is bursting with pure raspberry, pomegranate and blood orange perfume, plus nuances of charcuterie, autumn leaves and Angostura bitters. The medium-bodied palate is weightless, yet it's packed with complex layers of berry, spice and earth. It is reminiscent, to me, of the style of Château Rayas. It has a lacy frame of tannins, a focused spine of acidity and an elegant, layered finish. 273 cases were made."

Jeb Dunnuck:  "...There are few estates in California today that are more exciting than Don Burns’ Turtle Rock. Pulling from some of the top vineyards on the westside of Paso Robles and making the wines as Justin Smith’s Saxum estate, Burns has consistently produced some of the wines of the vintage since his first releases in 2014. As I wrote in the past, readers interested in finding the next up and coming superstar in Paso Robles need to put Don and Claudia Burns’ Turtle Rock estate at the top of their list."

The Turtle Rock Plum Orchard is a very pleasing Grenache based blend. Both the Grenache and Mataro are grown in decomposed sandstone that gives way to elegant red fruit and spice. We fermented with 50% whole cluster then aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. This wine is handsomely full bodied but with fine, soft tannin and a lasting finish. Cases produced 188. Enjoy now until 2029."