| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.9 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 37 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by dsimmons on 12/11/2021 & rated 93 points: Still going strong at 13. Drunk over two days. Elegant fruitiness. (709 views) |
| | Tasted by operaboy on 5/31/2020 & rated 91 points: Jammy, hammy Zin. a perfect accompaniment to some smoked baby back ribs. (880 views) |
| | Tasted by rldixon on 5/24/2020 & rated 91 points: Consumed in a series of Carlisle Zins, these are my last bottles:
1. 2008 Lingenfelder
2. 2008 Sonoma County
3. 2007 Sonoma County
4. 2007 Papera Ranch
5. 2007 Montafi Ranch
6. 2009 Montafi Ranch
7. 2009 Gold Mine Ranch
8. 2008 Gold Mine Ranch
9. 2008 Rossi Ranch
This was delicious, albeit past its prime. Well-balanced pepper, tannins, and fruit, lacking the earthiness of the recent Gold Mine Ranch wines. I scored this at 92 a few months ago, and 91 now, but this score is in the context of the series of "last bottles" I'm having, and this wine is consistent with them. (761 views) |
| | Tasted by Charlie C on 6/16/2018 & rated 93 points: With local Virginia lamb rib chops on the grill. Plush nose of blackberries. Intense blackberry and blueberry fruit on the palate, peppery notes. Brighter raspberry notes come in on the midpalate. Tannins are firm, brilliant acidity, great balance. The tannins need another two years or so to fully resolve, but are not overbearing at all right now. Long finish of dark fruits and a bit of pepper. Great right now, but not at peak. Give it another two years and it will easily last for 5 years. (1444 views) |
| | Tasted by jfkwines on 2/23/2018 & rated 91 points: Agree with other posters this has perect integration and is at the point of drink now or soon. The berries and bramble on the mouthfeel are terrific and are delightful through finish. Drinkable all the way through a sealed glass the second night was still great. Only detraction and what kept it from a higher score s the ZIn kick has begun to fade and that is why I urge you to drink now versus hold (1393 views) |
| | Tasted by dsimmons on 12/14/2017 & rated 93 points: This 9 1/2 year old zin was delightful. Taking on that elegant character that I really like. Everything seamlessly integrated and hedonistic. Just outstanding wine. Drink now or hold. I will probably drink my last bottle in the next three years. (1197 views) |
| | Tasted by sawira on 11/8/2016: Bottle # 2 this night. No formal notes. I remember it being deep and tasty. About 91pts for me. (1142 views) |
| | Tasted by sawira on 11/8/2016: No formal notes. I remember it being deep and tasty. About 91pts for me. (1201 views) |
| | Tasted by sawira on 7/4/2016 & rated 90 points: Consistent with previous note. (1004 views) |
| | Tasted by wiscgrad on 6/25/2016 & rated 92 points: delicious well balanced zin (956 views) |
| | Tasted by sawira on 6/23/2016 & rated 90 points: Some bitter tannins at first, then softening in an hour to show a more earthy flavor profile to the big fruit than usual for a Carlisle Zin. Plenty of red and black fruits, this still has a couple years in the tank. (948 views) |
| | Tasted by dhammer53 on 1/1/2015 & rated 90 points: Raisens on the nose. Some acid. Drinkable. Some chocolate on day 2. (1457 views) |
| | Tasted by Screameagle on 12/4/2013 & rated 92 points: Killer juice even with a pop and pour into a restaurant glass. Sure wish that I was allocated more than two bottles. (2284 views) |
| | Tasted by D.Callahan on 11/6/2013 & rated 89 points: Briary, earthy, herbal and spice are what this Zin brings to the table. Very good but for those of you that are using the Coravin you need to know that the cork didn't heal quite as well as it should so that in 3 to 4 days there was a definite change in the maturation of the wine. It was still good but on the way out. If you use the Coravin drink up within 3 days. Of course I could have had a bad cork but there is no way to tell. (1794 views) |
| | Tasted by texaswinelover on 8/18/2013 & rated 91 points: Restrained briaryness, smoothed tannins, rich brambly fruit. This wine is in a nice place now. (2001 views) |
| | Tasted by EhrlichDY on 2/24/2013: Classic Carlisle dark fruit and bramble on the nose. Polished mid weight mouth feel. Dark fruit and spice on the palate. Delicious. Drink now or over the next 3-5 years. (2061 views) |
| | Tasted by Vinum Bellator on 1/19/2013 & rated 90 points: Polished tannins, nicely balanced, fruit is going. Should drink this one now. (1897 views) |
| | Tasted by greenblanket on 5/29/2012: Well defined black fruit supported by a delicious suite of spices that almost took on their own sense of texture. Balanced and very friendly with the Alaska king salmon with zinfandel reduction (no, I did not) tarragon butter sauce. (2310 views) |
| | Tasted by winecharmer on 3/20/2012 & rated 90 points: Elegant and earthy. Would not have picked this blind as a zinfandel. Fruit was muted, even after two hours. Served perhaps too cold, and it improved with air, but I don't see this as getting a whole lot better with age. Tasty for sure, with some black fruits and a hint of smoke. Poor QPR. (2403 views) |
| | Tasted by wineguy58 on 3/18/2012 & rated 91 points: cream black and blue fruits with a medium bodied feel. very good (2108 views) |
| | Tasted by pakabear on 10/31/2011 & rated 94 points: Just perfect balance!! Nice pepper nose, with a great cherry/orange rind taste, with the 15+ alcohol completely hidden. Unexpected but now I wish I had more. (2243 views) |
| | Tasted by cubswinws on 8/12/2011 & rated 89 points: Nice softness but not as much depth as I usually expect. Still a nice zin. (2366 views) |
| | Tasted by Mike Dildine on 7/19/2011 & rated 92 points: Dark ruby red with expressive, mainly black fruit aromas. Black cherry, blackberry and spice dominate a balanced palate impression. Smooth and sleek. Lingering aftertaste. Several delicious years ahead of this one.
With the Carlisle offering coming up 8/2, I just had to check in! (2109 views) |
| | Tasted by gutt22 on 7/19/2011: 15.2% alcohol. Dark red color. Lovely nose of briary black fruit, spice, and earth. In the mouth, impeccable balance. A wine of terrific size but surprisingly little weight. It does not get bogged down at all, which makes it such a fine example of excellent Zinfandel. The black fruit explodes from the glass, immediately backed up my spice and earth notes, solid acidity, and a long, tightly knit finish. Just delightful. A- (1990 views) |
| | Tasted by jdabrowski1027 on 4/25/2011 & rated 90 points: Pretty good Carlisle, but wish I had held this for 2 more years. No formal notes taken, but this seemed a little less fruit forward compared to Mike's other zins. Still very well made. (2346 views) |
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