Dark red, no fading. Rich aromas of raspberry and plum on the nose. Ripe, dark fruit on the palate, blackberry, black cherries, anise. Nicely resolved tannins, bright acidity, excellent balance. Finishes long with anise notes. Excellent but probably better 4 to 5 years ago. Should drink well for 3 to 4 years more. Threw a fine sediment.
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No formal notes. It was one of our Easter wines and really drinking nicely. In fact it was really a beautiful bottle that everyone enjoyed along with a Turley and an Epoch.
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The wine was past it's drinking window so I did not know what to expect, but my experience with old Carlisle zins has been very good. I would agree that it's past it's drinking peak but still pretty good with lively acidity. Fruit has faded some. time to drink up.
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Still fresh in late 2017, having been stored in a wine refrigerator for over 6 years since purchasing. Would've been good for a least another full year stored properly. Great example of a smooth, lush Zinfandel. Dark fruit.
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Always sad to drink the last bottle of a Carlisle wine. i always feel like the last bottle is the best so that I should have been more patient. Oh well this bottle was singing last night with Labor Day mooseburgers and fixings. Beautiful balance, big zin-berry flavors. Delicious
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry, black currant (cassis), blackberry, blueberry, strawberry jam, plum and black pepper. It tastes like red currant, black currant (cassis), raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and black pepper. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Well balance mix of red and purple fruit, deep garnet in color-edges are not purple consistent with some age. Love brambly fruit mix, nice balance, medium long finish.
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Just wonderful. Virtually zero breathing time. A hint of sweetness. Rich, without being at all heavy. Plush texture and a terrific finish. Great with or without food. Still may not have peaked.
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Big hit at a wine-centric party. Dark color, somewhat closed. Nice "zinny" fruit. Surprisingly rich, with a solid finish. Heavy, old-school zin, it probably needs another year or two. Terrific value and unexpectedly good for a generic wine. Can't wait to taste the '09 Papera, Montafi, etc.
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Right up the middle zin. Displayed more purple fruit and a lushness that I wasn't expecting vs. some of that DCV's "rust" I like in zins from there. A good wine, just less distinctive than past bottlings of this. Fresh berry, medium weight, smooth finish. Given this, would say enjoy sooner than later.
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A little plummy and muddled in its fruit, but this is still the classic Carlisle Dry Creek Zinfandel. "Brooding" it says on Mike's website, and that's what strikes me, along with its earthiness. Boisterous, brambly, big and lip-smacking delicious, especially for the price. This is longer than I normally notice from this bottling, and has the beautiful balance of ripe bright fruit and tasty oak, in just the right proportions. Another winner!
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Let breathe for an hour. Deep ruby. Nice integrated complex fruit. Very good finish. Still with a bit of zing to it. Kudos to Mike - raising the bar on CA zins. More than giving Ridge a run for their money.
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Pours a medium/deep purple. Nose of sweet purple fruits, bramble, raisin, and brown sugar.
A bushel full of dark purple fruit dances on the tongue with a peppery bite and a touch of heat (15.2% abv) on the finish. A bit of chocolate and oak add complexity. A well made wine, but definitely a bit of a bruiser -- will overpower many foods.
Stylistically this is bigger than what I prefer. I opened this because a new Carlisle offer hit my inbox and now have a dilemma on my hands. Overall, I prefer Carlisle Syrah to their Zin.
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I really like what Mike does with dry creek fruit and this wine is no exception. I like to wait a few years to drink my carlisle Zins and this wine appears to be at its prime. Count me as a huge fan of this wine even with a pop and pour. Just wish I had more than one bottle of this wine left in my cellar
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Dark purple ink hue. Muted blackberry, little tree bark on nose, lingering alcohol. Dark bramble fruit, stewed pomegranate, some white oak, hint of coca and green cinnamon. Finish is a bit hot even 2+ hours, long fine tannins, brown spices and leather. 50/5/11/8/8/8
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Drunk under challenging conditions so I won't rate this, but this was really chunky for me and it never opened up or showed any Zin perfume. Could be that it was too windy and needed an hour in the decanter. An outlier in any case.
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My expectations for this wine have increased through the past couple vintages and this did not disappoint. Very rich, with dark berries dominant and a silky streak.
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Zins, Syrahs, and Saxums from Spring/Summer 2012: Fresh, exhibiting some trademark Carlisle raciness and crowd pleasing tendencies, but didn't ever catch me with exuberant flavors or aromas. Red berries and earth on the profile.
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Pop n pour. This is pitch black. Can't recall the last time I saw a wine so dark. No nose to speak of + some heat for the next 2 hours. I couldn't taste any fruit. On Day 2, the wine smoothed out a bit. No heat, and not as dark and inky. Drinking better on the third day than many others on the first.
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As our tastes have changed we don't drink as much zin anymore but this one sure hit the spot tonight. Loaded with dark fruits but not over the top or jammy. Some briary spices and balanced acidity keep it fresh. Drinking really well.
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Big, beautiful aroma of flowers and blue & red fruits. Perfect, Dry Creek purple in color. The 7% Petite Sirah is noticeable and add to the tannins on the finish. Delicious, easy drinking wine. Will likely get better in the next 8-16 months. Drink now thru late 2016.
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Rock'in Zin juice!! Year in the cellar mellowed the pepper bite. This has a beautiful purple color, mostly opaque. Silky smooth on the palate, with loads of blackberry, and some cocoa on the finish. Very nice!!
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Nose of raw meat with tenderizer & cigar box. Reminds me of a Northern Rhone (Cote Rotie). Blackberry and elderberry, with hint of white pepper on mid-palate. Finish is long and silky with dark chocolate dipped in ripe strawberry, concentration of fruit & acidity is amazing. Typical, superior Carlisle.
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Consumed with prime rib at Hawksmoor after quitting on a dissapoining burg. decanted.
Bullseye zin nose of mixed fruit and briar. Viscous, lovely texture. Still a little primary, as the dark fruit dominated. Long finish. Excellent, but better in a year.
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With these big zins, balance is also of utmost importance, this wine has it. Not as complex as the last, but still very enjoyable, red fruit on the palate, slight brambles on the nose, long finish.
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Medium body - decent tannins - restrained fruit with some spice and earthy notes - very tasty!! Will get better with a little more bottle time but easy drinking now!
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A very nice zin but not up to previous efforts on dry creek zin. Perhaps it's a little young? I'm waiting another six months before trying another bottle.
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Rich, full-bodied dark raspberry/blueberry fruit with a little spice flavors, excellent structure, ample acid, needs a day after opening to open up, medium finish, old vine style
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I'm a big fan of the dry creek blend. Complex nose of brambly fruits, roasted tree bark and a blueberry/cassis blend. In the mouth rich cassis, raspberry and a nice spicy finish. One detractor was the touch of heat on the finish. This is one zin I never pass up when ordering comes around. Mike does a great job blending here.
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Brambly dark berries with a little booze on the nose. The palate is very fresh with some blackberries and a great dose of acid. A bit hollow in the middle and the finish is tannic and a little clipped. Needs some time to loosen up.
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Not as overbearing as I was expecting. Light in color for a Zin but with deep flavors of blackberries and a slight tobacco aftertaste. Definitely works well will a rare steak. Can likely last in the cellar, but not sure how much this will change over time.
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Didnt think this was quite ready yet, but really enjoyed. Decanted for 2 hours. nice fruit but as the nose was bigger than I found the palate, I think it was still tight. Nice pepper, slightly thin finish... far from a jammy zin. Beautiful food wine.
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very smooth. Typical pepper, no real heat to speak off. A dry finish. Very nice, I really enjoyed this. Its a 90+ wine. Very happy to have 3 more. Enjoy!!!
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pop'n'pour but should have decanted. Either way a truely outstanding zin delivering everything you could hope for. A bit spicy at first, then an hour later it really started to get lush.
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Pop 'n pour. Another Carlisle that delivers. Rich and brambly Zin with great mouthfeel and excellent balance. Very enjoyable with pan-seared flank steak.
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Popped and poured through aerator. Rich, with typical Zin fruit. A little jammy, but not too much for me. Nicely done and, as always with this producer, an enjoyable wine for the price. Short term aging will be beneficial. 90+
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Opened, decanted, and poured back into the bottle. Served some two hours later. Tasted it first upon opening and then again some four hours later. Nice, rich wine, without much in the way of spice and pepper I would expect from a Zinfandel. Has good fruit and some savory aspects. Rich and full bodied. Lacks the X-factor to make it a "wow" wine, though.
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15.2% alcohol. An old vine Zin from vines planted between 1885 and 1952. 375 cases produced.
Dark, but clear and transparent ruby red. Expressive red and black fruit aromas. Black cherry is the dominant palate impression, with a bit of pepper and chocolate. Deep and rich. Excellent balance and a lengthy aftertaste. A delicious wine and an amazing value. Well done Mike O!
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2 hr. decant. Red berries, blackberry, and spice on the nose. Noticable heat on the palate but evened out a bit with time and displayed nicely concentrated red and blackberries. Finishes hot but leaves a distinct berry oak note that lingers. Another year in the bottle will help.
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Smokey, creamy nose with wild berry fruit. Palate is smooth and focused, with brambly fruit and finishing with coffee and vanilla. Impressive balance, as there is no hint of alcohol and plenty of acidity. Really nice Zin.
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10/31/2023 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark red, no fading. Rich aromas of raspberry and plum on the nose. Ripe, dark fruit on the palate, blackberry, black cherries, anise. Nicely resolved tannins, bright acidity, excellent balance. Finishes long with anise notes. Excellent but probably better 4 to 5 years ago. Should drink well for 3 to 4 years more. Threw a fine sediment.
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1/8/2022 - djjagdish Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really smooth and mellow at this point, with the blue fruits mingling with hibiscus tea and loam. No reason to sit on these much longer.
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9/20/2019 - Castle Peak wrote: 87 Points
Good but not great. Not my favorite Carlisle Zin.
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6/1/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful bottle of wine. Proves once again that Carloisles age with grace.
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4/24/2019 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
No formal notes. It was one of our Easter wines and really drinking nicely. In fact it was really a beautiful bottle that everyone enjoyed along with a Turley and an Epoch.
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3/3/2019 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine was past it's drinking window so I did not know what to expect, but my experience with old Carlisle zins has been very good. I would agree that it's past it's drinking peak but still pretty good with lively acidity. Fruit has faded some. time to drink up.
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11/27/2017 - DStone Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still fresh in late 2017, having been stored in a wine refrigerator for over 6 years since purchasing. Would've been good for a least another full year stored properly. Great example of a smooth, lush Zinfandel. Dark fruit.
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9/6/2016 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Always sad to drink the last bottle of a Carlisle wine. i always feel like the last bottle is the best so that I should have been more patient. Oh well this bottle was singing last night with Labor Day mooseburgers and fixings. Beautiful balance, big zin-berry flavors. Delicious
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11/19/2015 - buckeye76 wrote: 91 Points
CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH.
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11/19/2015 - DStone Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raspberry, black currant (cassis), blackberry, blueberry, strawberry jam, plum and black pepper. It tastes like red currant, black currant (cassis), raspberry, cranberry, blackberry and black pepper. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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11/14/2015 - jfkwines wrote: flawed
Corked
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9/27/2015 - sma Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well balance mix of red and purple fruit, deep garnet in color-edges are not purple consistent with some age. Love brambly fruit mix, nice balance, medium long finish.
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9/25/2015 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just wonderful. Virtually zero breathing time. A hint of sweetness. Rich, without being at all heavy. Plush texture and a terrific finish. Great with or without food. Still may not have peaked.
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7/4/2015 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big hit at a wine-centric party. Dark color, somewhat closed. Nice "zinny" fruit. Surprisingly rich, with a solid finish. Heavy, old-school zin, it probably needs another year or two. Terrific value and unexpectedly good for a generic wine. Can't wait to taste the '09 Papera, Montafi, etc.
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5/11/2015 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Right up the middle zin. Displayed more purple fruit and a lushness that I wasn't expecting vs. some of that DCV's "rust" I like in zins from there. A good wine, just less distinctive than past bottlings of this. Fresh berry, medium weight, smooth finish. Given this, would say enjoy sooner than later.
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4/3/2015 - sawira wrote: 90 Points
A little tight, and especially thin next to the 09 Papera. More detailed, chiseled and has more time ahead of it, but less generous and tasty.
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3/17/2015 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
A little plummy and muddled in its fruit, but this is still the classic Carlisle Dry Creek Zinfandel. "Brooding" it says on Mike's website, and that's what strikes me, along with its earthiness. Boisterous, brambly, big and lip-smacking delicious, especially for the price. This is longer than I normally notice from this bottling, and has the beautiful balance of ripe bright fruit and tasty oak, in just the right proportions. Another winner!
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3/13/2015 - marka wrote: 91 Points
This was consumed too long ago to remember anything other than I really liked it.
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1/18/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 88 Points
Not as fruit forward as I like. Heated and tannic. A big bruiser.
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7/6/2014 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 92 Points
berry and chocolate notes to the nose, some spice, acid holds up the high alcohol content for the finish. great finish.
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6/26/2014 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine is just getting going. Tight purple fruit core, dusty tannins. Great structure, could use 1-2 years to really open up.
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4/24/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Let breathe for an hour. Deep ruby. Nice integrated complex fruit. Very good finish. Still with a bit of zing to it. Kudos to Mike - raising the bar on CA zins. More than giving Ridge a run for their money.
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3/7/2014 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 86 Points
Too young still, or just too full bodied and too rich?
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1/19/2014 - CMN wrote: 87 Points
Pours a medium/deep purple. Nose of sweet purple fruits, bramble, raisin, and brown sugar.
A bushel full of dark purple fruit dances on the tongue with a peppery bite and a touch of heat (15.2% abv) on the finish. A bit of chocolate and oak add complexity. A well made wine, but definitely a bit of a bruiser -- will overpower many foods.
Stylistically this is bigger than what I prefer. I opened this because a new Carlisle offer hit my inbox and now have a dilemma on my hands. Overall, I prefer Carlisle Syrah to their Zin.
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12/27/2013 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really like what Mike does with dry creek fruit and this wine is no exception. I like to wait a few years to drink my carlisle Zins and this wine appears to be at its prime. Count me as a huge fan of this wine even with a pop and pour. Just wish I had more than one bottle of this wine left in my cellar
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12/7/2013 - Blcmdpa@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
chewey, chocolate, tobacco, really wonderful
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9/24/2013 - Xfactor wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple ink hue. Muted blackberry, little tree bark on nose, lingering alcohol. Dark bramble fruit, stewed pomegranate, some white oak, hint of coca and green cinnamon. Finish is a bit hot even 2+ hours, long fine tannins, brown spices and leather. 50/5/11/8/8/8
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7/30/2013 - silton wrote:
Drunk under challenging conditions so I won't rate this, but this was really chunky for me and it never opened up or showed any Zin perfume. Could be that it was too windy and needed an hour in the decanter. An outlier in any case.
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7/22/2013 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice wine. Had with marinated skirt steak. Full bodied, lots of fruit. Stood up to the food. Go Mike!
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6/22/2013 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
This paired well with a skirt steak marinated in a lime-garlic marinade.
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4/1/2013 - kenthargis wrote:
Big and rich. K didn't like as much as I did. Settled down a little, but still a big wine.
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2/17/2013 - tthorn Likes this wine:
45 minutes of air really opened this one up. Peppery.
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11/4/2012 - awise45 wrote: 92 Points
My expectations for this wine have increased through the past couple vintages and this did not disappoint. Very rich, with dark berries dominant and a silky streak.
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8/8/2012 - pgb67 wrote: 89 Points
Zins, Syrahs, and Saxums from Spring/Summer 2012: Fresh, exhibiting some trademark Carlisle raciness and crowd pleasing tendencies, but didn't ever catch me with exuberant flavors or aromas. Red berries and earth on the profile.
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7/30/2012 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
Pop n pour. This is pitch black. Can't recall the last time I saw a wine so dark. No nose to speak of + some heat for the next 2 hours. I couldn't taste any fruit. On Day 2, the wine smoothed out a bit. No heat, and not as dark and inky. Drinking better on the third day than many others on the first.
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7/24/2012 - Grape_ape wrote: 90 Points
bug wine, 15.2% alc, but very balanced.
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6/1/2012 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with my prior notes. Held up beautifully during the course of three days!
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5/30/2012 - lolo66 wrote: 86 Points
just too over the top ripe fruit here. Not the carlisle's I used to remember.
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3/23/2012 - michigan dogs wrote: 91 Points
great dry creek zin
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3/19/2012 - nectar14 wrote: 91 Points
Nice red and dark fruit. Good balance.
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3/5/2012 - Outplaying wrote:
As our tastes have changed we don't drink as much zin anymore but this one sure hit the spot tonight. Loaded with dark fruits but not over the top or jammy. Some briary spices and balanced acidity keep it fresh. Drinking really well.
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2/12/2012 - Oakjeff wrote: 91 Points
Big, beautiful aroma of flowers and blue & red fruits. Perfect, Dry Creek purple in color. The 7% Petite Sirah is noticeable and add to the tannins on the finish. Delicious, easy drinking wine. Will likely get better in the next 8-16 months. Drink now thru late 2016.
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2/11/2012 - mpricher wrote: 92 Points
Rock'in Zin juice!! Year in the cellar mellowed the pepper bite. This has a beautiful purple color, mostly opaque. Silky smooth on the palate, with loads of blackberry, and some cocoa on the finish. Very nice!!
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1/25/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Nice depth and round mouth feel. Great overall zin but not as full as the single vineyard offerings.
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1/13/2012 - raydawgone wrote: 94 Points
Nose of raw meat with tenderizer & cigar box. Reminds me of a Northern Rhone (Cote Rotie). Blackberry and elderberry, with hint of white pepper on mid-palate. Finish is long and silky with dark chocolate dipped in ripe strawberry, concentration of fruit & acidity is amazing. Typical, superior Carlisle.
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1/9/2012 - Brady D Likes this wine:
Consumed with prime rib at Hawksmoor after quitting on a dissapoining burg. decanted.
Bullseye zin nose of mixed fruit and briar. Viscous, lovely texture. Still a little primary, as the dark fruit dominated. Long finish. Excellent, but better in a year.
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1/5/2012 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Definitely needs time to open.
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12/19/2011 - BrianMc wrote: 92 Points
needs another year or so but expect seamless integration of fruit, finish and weight.
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12/11/2011 - grubmanda wrote: 92 Points
A very nice, well balanced Zin. Very drinkable right now and will probably get better with age.
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11/27/2011 - DavidDay wrote: 92 Points
With these big zins, balance is also of utmost importance, this wine has it. Not as complex as the last, but still very enjoyable, red fruit on the palate, slight brambles on the nose, long finish.
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11/20/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
Red and black berry fruits, some vanilla and briary notes. Pretty rich and fruity but balanced with good acidity. Drinking fine now.
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11/16/2011 - Levinsb wrote: 91 Points
full bodied spicy dark red fruits, great for bolognese or pizza! very enjoyable right now.
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11/13/2011 - haldolugr wrote: 90 Points
Medium body - decent tannins - restrained fruit with some spice and earthy notes - very tasty!! Will get better with a little more bottle time but easy drinking now!
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11/6/2011 - gzim wrote: 88 Points
nice, big, maybe too young? I got a fair amount of barrel toast... towards vanilla
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11/6/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
A very nice zin but not up to previous efforts on dry creek zin. Perhaps it's a little young? I'm waiting another six months before trying another bottle.
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11/5/2011 - DavidDay wrote: 94 Points
Consistently great, perfect for current headonistic drinking. Big rich berry fruit, full-bodied, but balances the alcohol perfectly
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10/24/2011 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Rich, full-bodied dark raspberry/blueberry fruit with a little spice flavors, excellent structure, ample acid, needs a day after opening to open up, medium finish, old vine style
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10/9/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
Powerful and delicious! No formal notes taken.
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10/6/2011 - Lessthanzero wrote: 91 Points
Deep, big fruit. Quality made.
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10/5/2011 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Very nice effort. Terrific nose of dusty black fruit. A real depth of fruit on the palate but super-focused and not flabby in any way.
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9/28/2011 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
I'm a big fan of the dry creek blend. Complex nose of brambly fruits, roasted tree bark and a blueberry/cassis blend. In the mouth rich cassis, raspberry and a nice spicy finish. One detractor was the touch of heat on the finish. This is one zin I never pass up when ordering comes around. Mike does a great job blending here.
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9/4/2011 - shadow wrote: 91 Points
lite on the palate, fruity but with a touch of acid on the finish, like a Zin-Burg
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9/2/2011 - DavidDay wrote: 95 Points
I am not sure where there wine will develope, but for hedonistic enjoy today, it can't be equaled.
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8/24/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
Brambly dark berries with a little booze on the nose. The palate is very fresh with some blackberries and a great dose of acid. A bit hollow in the middle and the finish is tannic and a little clipped. Needs some time to loosen up.
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8/20/2011 - mreinhard74@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Not as overbearing as I was expecting. Light in color for a Zin but with deep flavors of blackberries and a slight tobacco aftertaste. Definitely works well will a rare steak. Can likely last in the cellar, but not sure how much this will change over time.
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8/12/2011 - gzim wrote:
Didnt think this was quite ready yet, but really enjoyed. Decanted for 2 hours. nice fruit but as the nose was bigger than I found the palate, I think it was still tight. Nice pepper, slightly thin finish... far from a jammy zin. Beautiful food wine.
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7/29/2011 - IAMVLAD wrote: 90 Points
young but quite accessible. well balanced. the 15.2% alcohol not noticable.
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7/23/2011 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
very smooth. Typical pepper, no real heat to speak off. A dry finish. Very nice, I really enjoyed this. Its a 90+ wine. Very happy to have 3 more. Enjoy!!!
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6/26/2011 - huberww wrote:
Pop 'n pour after a fine 2005 Hendry Block 7 ; an excellent young zin by comparison, brambly Dry Creek zin - yummmm!!
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6/26/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 92 Points
pop'n'pour but should have decanted. Either way a truely outstanding zin delivering everything you could hope for. A bit spicy at first, then an hour later it really started to get lush.
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6/19/2011 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Pop 'n pour. Another Carlisle that delivers. Rich and brambly Zin with great mouthfeel and excellent balance. Very enjoyable with pan-seared flank steak.
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6/15/2011 - B Paul wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured through aerator. Rich, with typical Zin fruit. A little jammy, but not too much for me. Nicely done and, as always with this producer, an enjoyable wine for the price. Short term aging will be beneficial. 90+
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6/4/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 91 Points
Description consisent with a prior note. A very enjoyable wine!
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5/31/2011 - pete s. wrote:
See previous note - same experience. I'd like to try this in a year or so.
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5/21/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 88 Points
Opened, decanted, and poured back into the bottle. Served some two hours later. Tasted it first upon opening and then again some four hours later. Nice, rich wine, without much in the way of spice and pepper I would expect from a Zinfandel. Has good fruit and some savory aspects. Rich and full bodied. Lacks the X-factor to make it a "wow" wine, though.
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5/11/2011 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
15.2% alcohol. An old vine Zin from vines planted between 1885 and 1952. 375 cases produced.
Dark, but clear and transparent ruby red. Expressive red and black fruit aromas. Black cherry is the dominant palate impression, with a bit of pepper and chocolate. Deep and rich. Excellent balance and a lengthy aftertaste. A delicious wine and an amazing value. Well done Mike O!
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5/7/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 91 Points
Amazingly soft and balanced. Very approachable now and again an incredible zin.
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4/19/2011 - pete s. wrote:
2 hr. decant. Red berries, blackberry, and spice on the nose. Noticable heat on the palate but evened out a bit with time and displayed nicely concentrated red and blackberries. Finishes hot but leaves a distinct berry oak note that lingers. Another year in the bottle will help.
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4/14/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 90 Points
Outstanding balance.
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4/2/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
Smokey, creamy nose with wild berry fruit. Palate is smooth and focused, with brambly fruit and finishing with coffee and vanilla. Impressive balance, as there is no hint of alcohol and plenty of acidity. Really nice Zin.
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