11/29/2023 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Light and vegetal, fall leaves, sycamore, pool float. Not much fruit but a surprisingly long finish. Old world wine from NY.

6/30/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

No formal notes. Great right out of the bottle. Excellent on day 2. Day 3 there was an abundance of oak which was not perceptible earlier.

6/30/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

No formal notes but was delicious. Excellent sparkling wine and in a great spot right now.

5/8/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

No formal notes on this. It was quite enjoyable and noticeably Malbec. I would not buy it I had the choice as there are much better ports for the same price, however it provides an interesting interpretation of the style.

4/4/2015 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Drank to assess the vintage and potential drinking windows of other Carlisle wines. Decanted 3 hours and drank over the next 4. Poured into the decanter a dark almost opaque red. Nose was tight at first but opened up beautifully after decanting to show dark berry fruit, dried herbs, dried leaves and earth. Palate was consist and with the nose. There was a slight funkiness which was very intriguing. The balance was supurb and alcohol was just perceptible, though we know better. The wine is drinking beautifully now though all the parts seem to be there to indicate this could last a while in the cellar. Drink now - 2022?

1/27/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

No acidity and flat. Oxidized I presume. Hope my other bottles are okay.

1/25/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Bright and clear. Fully sparking. Nose was apple, yeast, candied lemon and dried apricots. Palate was apple, tropical fruit and finishing with tangerine. Nice toasty yeasty goodness you expect from Schramsberg. Great acidity and long finish. I wish I had more bottles of this to see how it progresses. Drink now or over the next 15 years. It's that well structured.

1/25/2015 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

This is one of my house wines. Well made. Very pleasant with good fruit but not at all jammy. Always a crowd pleaser and much better than anything else in this price range.

1/25/2015 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Loads of currants on the nose however this wine needed much more time in the cellar. It was too highly acidic and tannic. Saved most of it for the next day where it mellowed out and was more pleasurable. Suggest to cellar for another 2-8 years.

1/19/2015 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Clear yellow and star bright. Nose was lemon, green apple, wet slate and a bit of forest floor. Much of the same on the palate with the addition of a slight caramel note. Very tight and focused. Teeth stinging acidity and medium body. Medium plus finish that leaves you salivating for the next sip.

Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Got better with time. Drink now if you like the acidity or wait 5-8 years.

1/13/2015 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

No formal notes. This was lighter and prettier than any Lodi zinfandel I have ever had. Very restrained and elegant, almost pinot noir like. Got better over the 3 hours it was open. It will probably last a lot longer than people are saying.

1/7/2015 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Clear and bright straw color. Nose was grapefruit skin, lemon, melon and slight hint of oak. Medium body with crisp acidity. Palate was lemon, grapefruit, unripe melon and a touch of marzipan. Med minus finish.

Nothing wrong here, clean and simple Chablis. Just what I want in a $20 bottle of Chardonnay.

12/8/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

No formal notes but very tasty with notes of toasty yeasty goodness. Showing a touch of age but very well put together. Drink now.

9/13/2014 - aaronl3182 Does not like this wine:

Splash decanted and drank over 3 hours. Light red and clear. Alcoholic nose with tart strawberry charred earth. Strawberry, tar and cherry candy. Med body, high acidity and light tannins. Rather short finish.

I think you can find the same quality in a Cotes du Rhone for about half the cost. Maybe the cool vintage didn't suit this wine well.

8/16/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Great up front with a killer nose and initial pallet of red fruits, then it falls off a bit.

8/14/2014 - aaronl3182 Does not like this wine:

No formal notes. This was a bit fat and lacked the stuffing to justify it's price.

8/13/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour and drank over the next 3. This was signing at hour 3 so a decant is definitely in order.

Poured a dark mahogany and with nice aromatics. Nose was blackberry, bicycle inner tube and sweet earth. On the palate was blue fruit compote, baking spice, compost and wet forest. Med + body with balanced acidity and tannins. The mouth feel on this was amazing: soft, round and luscious.

This is definitely in its prime. Drink now and enjoy.

8/10/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Opened this bottle with little expectations. Completely compressed cork opened with little gas escape. Poured with large bubbles at first then reduced to a very small but steady stream of extremely fine bubbles. The color was very honey and golden. Nose was expressive and filled the room with cognac and sherry, burnt orange. When poured into a white wine glass some Meyer lemon notes emerged.

Heavy weight and mouth filling but balanced by bracing acidity. Palate was cognac, lemon (quite like a good sidecar). Strong minerality and a touch of yeast near the finish. Finish was long and lingering, greater than one minute.

Overall, quite suppressed to see this wine still alive and kicking. What great acidity from a wine of this age. Proof positive Iron Horse can make a wine for the long haul.

Note, most of this was drank from a white wine glass as it showed better from it. Drank over 3 hours with minimal change.

8/2/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Just wow. Splash decanted and drank over 2 hours. Deep red and unable to see though it. A little tight on the nose - it should have been allowed time to open. Nose was blackberry, burnt toast, peppered jerky and a bit of pine. Med + body with well integrated tannin and good acidity. Palate was bramble, blackberry, herb garden, venison and anise. Amazingly focused mid palate. Long finish which was a touch too hot.

Defenitly decant if drinking now. This has the focus and drive to last a while. I'll give the next 2 more years at least.

8/1/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Not quite as hot as the last bottle. Still a huge wine that needs the right occasion.

7/31/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

What a balanced wine and stunning for the price.

Decanted one hour and drank over the next 2. Crimson red. Nose of plum, baking spices, compost, bicycle tire and slight mint. Round, medium bodied and well balanced. More plum, bruised blackberry, clove, earth and chocolate. Finish was a bit short but you have to remind yourself of the price. Sightly acidic finish leads me to believe it could use a bit more time.

7/28/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Decanted 1 hr with massive sediment for such a young wine. Drank over the next 4.

Quite a perfumed nose. Plum and blue fruit, slight leather and menthol. Smells acidic.

Palate was tight and acidic with plum, licorice, grape stems, and menthol. Medium bodied. Acidic and disjointed. Bracing tannins.

Needs time but not sure it will get much better, just softer.

7/25/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Pleasent. Salty. Lacking a mid palate and finish.

7/19/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

No oxidation here. Oak and acid were in line. Overall, a nice bottle for the price I paid.

7/16/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Decanted with a small amount of sediment. Tight nose. Deep and concentrated crimson red. Nose was rich with currants, vanilla and pencil lead. Lush, silky, sexy wine on the palette. Minute grippy tannins and medium acidity. Currants, oak, graphite, eucalyptus and mint.

This wine was either in a dumb phase or just needs more time in the decanter. All the parts are there but it's just a little flabby. Only one left and I've giving it at least 5 more years.

7/16/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Light and refreshing with enough fruit and mineralality to be interesting. Great value at $16. Looking forward to drinking these all summer long.

12/2/2013 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Brownish red in color. Nose was dominated my leather, smoke and licorice with red fruit backing it. On the palette dark cherry and blackberry, leather, wet forest and tobacco. Med+ body and balancing acidity. Med finish.

I will save a bottle as I see this one improving still. Drink now - 2018.

5/21/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Same notes as previous. Still too young but oh so good.

4/19/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

No formal notes but this was probably the best American sparkling wine I have ever had. Delicious!

4/16/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, red currant, plum, petrol, forest floor, cedar, pine, bark, black pepper, rose, oregano, meaty and tar. It tastes like blackberry, blueberry, red currant, cherry, forest floor, mineral, pine, bark, black pepper, stoniness, violet, garrigue and tar. The body is medium. The wine has bright texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.

4/16/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

The wine looks straw colored. The legs are fast. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like lemon, grapefruit, apple, stoniness, hay/straw and acetic acid. It tastes like lemon, lime, apple, hay/straw and cut green grass. The body is light. The wine has bright texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has high acidity.

4/16/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

No formal notes but this was good juice and is drinking really well right now.

3/9/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Too hot to start so I put it back for about 2 hours. After a decant, the heat dissipated to leave light blue fruit aromas with leather and coco. Medium light on the palate with good acidity. Not at all jammy which was very nice. Light blue fruits, mocha, indian spice, and mountain earth. Nice zin that was not too jammy which I always appreciate.

3/9/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

No formal notes but boy was this delicious!

3/6/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

During a 2 hour decant I could smell this all over house. It perfumed everything. Poured into the glass a brilliant deep ruby. Nose was cassis, blackberry, distinct cacao, and a nice summer forest smell. Slight oak and well in check. Refreshing on the palate with good acidity, tannin and alcohol balance. Much of the same as the nose with the addition of slight rubberiness: you can make up words in a tasting, right? Medium body and good finish. Elegant. Overall a beautiful wine, just what I want of a Napa mountain wine. Enjoy!

3/2/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Poured thick as oil and very dark brown. Glass staining. Nose was raisin, burnt sugar, creme brûlée, mocha, bicycle tire and wet grass. The palate was much of the same: dominated by tangy raisin, brown sugar, praline pecan, and Madagascar vanilla. Mouth filling and surprisingly acidic for the much oxidation. Very little heat. The finish will probably last until tomorrow. Very nice PX, particularly the acid. I will be looking for more. If you have some, drink up and enjoy!

2/26/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Exceptionally bitter. Possibly flawed. I'll see how it does tomorrow after a bit more air.

2/21/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Decanted for an hour and drank over the next 2. Beautiful light garnet color. Nose was cherry coke, cola, fresh mushroom, sage and thyme. Soft and sexy palate. Mouth watering with good acidity. Same palate as the nose with a bit more fresh cherry and slight vanilla. Lasting finish. I quite like the lower alcohol style of this wine. Too expensive for me but quite nice. If you have some of the 230 cases let them set for 2 more years and enjoy.

2/20/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Opened the screw cap an hour before tasting. Poured into the glass an inky purple. The nose was grape jolly rancher, blueberry, wet earth, smoke, oak and tar. The pallet was full and slightly acidic with fine tannins. Blueberry, cherry, smoke, pepper and new car tire. There is some oak treatment but it's not overdone. Overall, a nice drinking wine. I can see this could be pleasing to a crowd.

1/16/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Decanted for an hour before first trying and drank over the next 4 hours. Poured a dark garnet with a ting of age around the rim. The nose bursts from the glass with wild berry and currents, potting soil and a very nice menthol and eucalyptus. Medium plus body and mouth filling. More of the same on the pallet with some cedar and very well integrated oak. Hits all the right spots, particularly the mid pallet.
Great acidity and the tannins are in perfect balance. 60 sec finish. Stellar effort. I will purchase more at this price and look for similar wines from this local.

1/10/2014 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Way too much oak for me. Too bad, there are a lot of nice things going on in the background.

1/3/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Deep red with tinges of brown and orange around the rim. Beautiful well defined legs. Nose was amazingly deep: cooked cherry and raspberry, poop(!), blood, iron, bicycle inter tube, cut grass and herbs de Provence. Pallet was medium to full body, round and mouth filling. Pretty fruit shows through, baked strawberry and raspberry, mulberry, wild boar sausage comes to mind, mud, herbs de Provence and fresh cut lilac. The most beautiful tannins. Perfect fruit and not at all too ripe. Perfect balance between acidity, alcohol and tannins. Finish will probably last until tomorrow.

This wine is absolutely stunning. My only regret is I can't afford a case!

Edit: I decanted this for about 3 hours and drank over the next 3-4 hours.

1/2/2014 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Poured into the decanter a beautiful deep purple and red with the funkiness of a wet dog. After an hour in the decanter funkiness, regretfully, blow off and the nose was dark cherry, venison jerky, lilac and lavender. Medium plus body with great acidity. Very round with great mouthfeel. Bright cherry fruit comes first quickly followed by wild game, tellecherry pepper, espresso and lavender. Great finish. The 14.5% alcohol is perfectly in balance with the acidity and very fine, soft mouth filling tannins.

This wine is phenomenal and for $38 is a bargain. I think the 3 I bought was not enough. I will be heading back for more.

12/30/2013 - aaronl3182 Does not like this wine:

Poured a light redish brown. Nose was cinnamon candy, cough syrup, cherry and vegetal stems. Light bodied and lacking a mid pallet. Lots of acidity still. Light cherry, bell pepper and slight red peppercorns. Very fine tannins. Not much going on here.

12/29/2013 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Poured a cloudy brick red. Nose was funky, wet horse and barnyard. This never blew off with decanting. Cassis, cherry white pepper and spice come through as well. Medium body. Old cherry and cassis on the pallet with some wet leather and cigar box. More funk, in all the best ways. Nice acidity still and fine mouth filling tannins. Nice aged wine and for $20 it can't be beat. Enjoy!

12/27/2013 - aaronl3182 wrote:

First, this is a BIG wine. Big fruit, big acidity, big alcohol. This is a magnum worth of wine squeezed down into a 750 bottle.

Deep purple color. Decanted for about an hour. Nose of blueberry pie with slight cherry. There is some leather and coffee aromas starting to come through. Medium body and mouth filling. Baked fruit hits first with blueberry compote and sour cherry. Black tea, herb and wet leather follow. High acidity and grippy tannins. Decent finish.

I would not have guessed Grenache. Or France! This wine is more akin to a Cali zen the a French Grenache. This wine definitely has it's place. Drink it with barbecue. Enjoy!

12/19/2013 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Deep color and starting to show just a little age around the rim. Dark, rich, black currant dominates the nose with vegetal aromas of rutabaga and bell pepper showing though. There is also a slight wild game aroma coming through. Full bodied. This wine fills your mouth. It's like wrapping a fire cracker with currants, bruised raspberries and espresso, lighting it, and placing it in your mouth. It just explodes. There is also some herbal notes coming through, as well as graphite and a very slight vanilla. The tannins are huge but so is the rest of the wine and they don't feel out of place. The finish lingers on for well over a minute and the flavors continue to develop. This is phenomenal. Enjoy!

12/18/2013 - aaronl3182 Likes this wine:

Bourbon brown in color. Nose o candied walnuts, creme brûlée and orange creamsicle. Full bodied and mouth coating but complete and round. Campfire roasted marshmallow, the top of the creme brûlée and dried apricots come first. This is followed by praline pecans, dried sage and orange pith. Pleasent acidity and sweetness balance the alcohol. The finish goes on and on. And on. Excellent wine. The only drawback is I didn't buy more. Enjoy!

12/18/2013 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Garnet brick in color. Nose was bell pepper, grape bubble yum gum, cigar box and blood. Medium body. The spice dominates followed by vegital flavors of red bell peppers. Dark current, ripe plum and bruised cherry fruit. Crazy grippy tannins and slight acidity. Medium finish that lacks a mid palet. This was a nice wine but for $20 I think you could better.

12/15/2013 - aaronl3182 wrote:

Medium ruby color with slow legs. Nose was menthol, cedar, cassis and slight vanilla. Medium body. Cassis and blackberry, cedar, and petrol. Fine grippy tannins that were well integrated. Medium finish. This was a pretty decent easy drinking wine. Considering the price tag, it's pretty good drink.