External search
Google (images)
Wine Advocate
Wine Spectator
Burghound
Wine-Searcher
Vintages
2002
2001
2000
From this producer
Show all wines
All tasting notes
|
| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.5 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 20 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by RichEB1 on 3/2/2024: This was ok, but basically all eucalyptus and not much fruit. Bottle was leaking a bit so let's chalk it up to poor storage. One left and fingers crossed it hits the high of the bottle a couple years ago (313 views) | | | Tasted by RichEB1 on 11/24/2021 & rated 94 points: This is one of my all time favorite Carlisle's so when I saw one pop up at auction, I was all in. I expected this might be a little long in the tooth, but man was I wrong ! Its been a good 5 years since I Iast opened one, and honestly it tastes almost exactly like I remember it. Black cherry fruit, pepper, plenty of acidity, and a VERY distinct eucalyptus note that I absolutley love, and that has probably become more prominent with age. Mike is a zin master and this is one of his finest. Damn shame the vineyard was ripped out and that this was the last vintage made. Pouring a little out for Gum Tree Ranch! (517 views) | | | Tasted by MotoMannequin on 10/19/2012: Opened for our 11th wedding anniversary - carried to a restaurant where it was popped-n-poured. Gorgeous translucent dark ruby color. Nose shows the characteristic eucalyptus along with some briar and raspberry. First taste this shows actually quite young with strong raspberry forward and lots of spice. This faded quickly, leaving the wine more savory on entry with eucalyptus, forest floor, and pepper, then a more subtle crushed cherry which I note often on aged zin, reverberates through the finish This wine is fading into its sunset years with these secondary notes but by no means tired (1758 views) | | | Tasted by wineguy58 on 1/29/2012 & rated 92 points: Good, smooth eucalyptus like the other notes, smooth soft berries aged well. drink now (1839 views) | | | Tasted by koflaher on 8/13/2010 & rated 90 points: I drank this on the night with a 2001 Hartford and this was slightly the lesser wine, but still delicious. The fruit had faded somewhat with time but the alcohol has also integrated better allowing the wine to come in better balance with good acidity. Red fruits, some earthy notes. Didn't scream zin to me (which is good and bad) but did scream tasty (and rapidly disappearing) wine. (2316 views) | | | Tasted by Mike Dildine on 3/29/2010 & rated 96 points: Tasted with Mike Officer, Morgan Twain-Peterson and Tegan Passalacqua at The Girl and the Fig, Sonoma. This 9-year old was still young and vibrant - to the eye, the nose and the palate! Medium dark ruby red. Complex and expressive aromas and flavors of cherries, blackberries and spice. Rich mouthfeel and a lingering aftertaste. What elevated this wine beyond that of other great, well aged zinfandels was the distinctive eucaplitis aromas, flavors and oily essence that permeated this incredible wine. According to Mike O., this magnificent vineyard no longer exists. Simply stated, we are doing the Heritage Vineyard Project to deter the further loss of treasures like the late, great "Gum Tree Ranch Vineyard." (2639 views) | | | Tasted by Outplaying on 4/20/2008: Dinner with Brian and Karen (The Scotts): Unbelievable Eucalyptus nose with mint, floral and cola notes. Not as thick and heavy in the mouth as i would have expected - more medium bodied. A lttle hot - the 16.2% alcohol is a little noticable. Nice fruit but a little one dimensional. If you like eucalyptus notes this wine is for you. Not my favorite Carlisle, but good. (2584 views) | | | Tasted by hudamang on 11/12/2007 & rated 93 points: Eucalyptus, mint, and dark berries. Sooo delicious. I love this wine. My favorite Zin. (1427 views) | | | Tasted by hudamang on 5/15/2007 & rated 94 points: Whoa nelly! I actually preferred this over the Carlisle vineyard bottle. The wine is so unique with its eucalyptus/mint taste along with the strong backbone of dark fruits. This is drinking really well now and is an awesome bottle of Zin. I can see this thing aging for much longer but why wait? The fruits still there and tannins are well integrated. Where can I get more of these? (1621 views) | | | Tasted by redforlife on 4/3/2007 & rated 92 points: I just can't imagine this wine getting any better. Lush, spicy intense black fruit aroma of that brambly/zinny resin that the some of the best zinfandels have. Just a wonderfull example of what great zinfandel shoud be. (1853 views) | | | Tasted by redforlife on 9/4/2006 & rated 91 points: Wow! This is really drinking well now. The color was really intense red almost black with no signs of aging. Lush and powerfull just dripping with fruit. Sure the alcohol is high at 16+ but there's no heat - just a superbly balanced wine. I've only one left I'm afraid. (1950 views) | | | Tasted by Screameagle on 7/30/2006 & rated 92 points: A beautiful meritage of zin, petite, and alicante bouschet. The Gum Tree is always a distinctive blend that I love. Seems to be at it prime drinking window now but should drink well for several years. Glad I've got a couple of bottles left in my cellar. An incredible qpr at $25. Kudos Mike for making such a great wine. (1714 views) | | | Tasted by pgordon62 on 1/17/2006 & rated 91 points: Intense jammy, spicy zinberry and creamy black cherry aromas with a hint of vanilla and minerals. Creamy vanilla laden dark fruits on the palate with a crisp, focused finish. No evidence of the 16% alcohol. Another beauty from Mike. Ready now. (2105 views) | | | Tasted by jamiekutch on 3/21/2005: Brilliant dark ruby red bordering on purple haze. Plums jump from the rim of this beastly 16.2% alc, 140 case, Zinfandel. The alcohol never even raises a hand to me; instead I am hit with perfectly integrated creamy oak flavors like vanilla and mocha. The fruit is ripe and loaded to the gills like succulent cherries and those delicious plums mom brought to the beach in the summer. The legs dangle from the side glass slowly hanging down like glass of port would. The finish is smooth and clean. I am very thankful that Alan Rath was kind enough to give me a bottle of this limited, no longer produced wine so I could experience its beauty. Thanks Alan - you are one of the great ones. (4887 views) | | | Tasted by RussW on 3/16/2005: Goodbye to an old friend. This was my last bottle and it delivered as much pleasure as the first. This wine continues to be all about balance, lush rich creamy fruit, and a seamless finish. I still cannot believe this vineyard was plowed under for a housing development. At least I was able to take my last sip as the clock wound down on Vandy's win over Indiana (at Indiana no less) in the NIT tournament. Go Dores!!! (1996 views) | | | Tasted by OneLastSyrah on 3/5/2005: ($28) WOW! Nose. Just screams out, "Look at me! Eucalyptus!" I love smelling this wine. Rich red and black berry fruits with a ton of richness and no hard edges. The alcohol (16%+) is not apparent at all. Lovely, luscious stuff. I can't believe this vineyard was torn up. I think this is my last bottle… (1202 views) | | | Tasted by RussW on 11/9/2004: Deep dark purple in color with no fading along the rim. The nose is full of dark berry fruit. The mid-palate follows the nose with rich creamy dark berry fruit, mostly raspberry, blackberry, and a touch of cherry. There is also some subtle eucalyptus and a hint of chocolate. The finish is long with a continuation of the creamy zinberry and pretty spiciness. This wine is all about rich fruit and seamless balance which makes this wine a joy to drink. I saved half the bottle in a 375ml air tight carafe overnight in the fridge and it was drinking just as well as day 1. I do not see this wine improving from here so if you have some I would enjoy them this winter. There is a simple reason why Mike's wines make up the largest percentage of my cellar. Bravo Mr. Officer!!!! (2161 views) | | | Tasted by RussW on 4/5/2004: C - Translucent ruby.
N - Beautiful rich zinberry.
MP - Eucalyptus, mint, clean and pure blackberry/raspberry fruit.
F - Long, smooth, balanced, spicey zinberry with a touch of mint. With air subtle dark chocolate becomes present. Not a trace of heat which, as usual with Mike's wines, is amazing given it's 16% abv.
Stunning zinfandel and the best Gum Tree Mike has made and certainly one of his top three zins to date. The purity of fruit is what makes this wine stand out. The '01 Carlisle Vineyard will surpass the Gum Tree with another 6-12 months of bottle age and will certainly last longer, but right now the Gum Tree is simply awesome. Drink these while waiting on the Carlisle. I am still in mourning over the fact this vineyard was destroyed to build some type of residential or commercial development. (2019 views) | | | Tasted by OneLastSyrah on 12/3/2003: ($30) 16.2% alcohol…a big spicy Zinfandel with eucalyptus, clove, and other baking spices. Sweet smell of alcohol and loads of blackberry fruit. Slightly hot, but with sweet zinberry fruit that is well-delineated across the palate. The last wine to be made from this vineyard before it was plowed under for housing. (1207 views) | | | Tasted by OneLastSyrah on 8/3/2003: ($27) 16.1% alcohol. Yummy wine. We had intended to enjoy this with homemade hamburgers, but alas, the meat didn't make it home from the store with us. Mona was livid. The wine however, was wonderful. Lots of Eucalyptus on the nose with molasses, briar fruit. The alcohol is fairly well hidden, in that the wine doesn't burn, but it does lend sweetness to it. Jazzy red fruits. Nicely done Mike. (1237 views) |
| Carlisle Producer website
Zinfandel ZAP: Zinfandel Advocates & Producers | Varietal character (Appellation America) | Wikipedia-ZinfandelUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountyRussian River Valley Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia |
|
