August 30, 2021 - Opaque color. Nose revealed with swirl. Powerful front end attack on palate, very energetic! Quite balanced as far as alcohol goes, sometimes an issue with this producer. Corn husk nuance but otherwise not very complex. Fairly long finish with little heat. Medium tannins are well integrated. Probably one of their best Sonoma Syrah bottlings but not deserving the super high WS score in my opinion. Really held together well over the years. Drink now or hold another 5 yrs.
March 19, 2021 - I'm thinking this is an off bottle because it doesn't reflect what I've come to expect from a Carlisle Syrah. Earthy notes on the nose. Sharp red fruits and spice on the palate. Bitter tannins, harsh acidity, poor balance. Finishes short and without distinction. I couldn't detect any specific flaw, but I'm chalking this up to a bad bottle. I've got 5 more bottles and I'll return to them to see if that's the case.
February 7, 2021 - Delicious.
September 18, 2019 - PnP before and during dinner. No detailed notes. Even at 10 years took 30 minutes to open up. Big, tart, full bodied. Dark fruit and earthy. Plenty of time left. Excellent wine.
May 14, 2019 - Nice - holding up well, still has life left.
March 12, 2019 - This records a late Nov 2018 tasting. The Carlisle Syrahs have always suit my tastes. This is a riper, more fruit forward and rich Syrah than I'm accustomed to. That might turn others off. It appeals to me.
February 17, 2019 - I drank my last of 7 bottles of this amazing wine last evening with braised pork shoulder chops. What an amazing QPR this has been. And to tell you the truth I believe this bottle may have been the best bottle. Beautiful balance of fruit, spice, licorice. Sweet tannin and lasting finish. Certainly drinking at or near peak but seem to have plenty of life left. Drink or hold.
June 9, 2018 - Really wonderful fruit of nose with red and blue fruit. Black raspberry, blueberry and mulberry mix on palate. Beautifully integrated fruit, soft ripe tannin, and a long smooth finish. Flavors evolve over 30-45 seconds in the mouth.
March 27, 2018 - Tasty red and blue fruit. Long finish. Soft tannins. Yummy!
February 17, 2018 - Decanted for 30 minutes. Aromas of lavender, game, raspberry, cherry and mulberry. Flavors of cherry, raspberry, meat, herbs and an iron note. Ends with a 35+ second finish with iron and dark fruits. All the papa’s block went into this in 2009 and it really shows. Better then the last time I had it.