To me this is more balanced and restrained than many of the higher priced single vineyards. I am not getting the hot over extracted that others have commented. What a fabulous wine. There is nothing close for the price.
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If you consider the price, it is easily a 95! If you find a Zin as good as this for the price, let all of us know. It is a typical Carlisle-full bodied, full throated and just plain delicious.
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Tried twice in a week - first was at a group tasting where this was opened along side the 2010 version. The '09 was hot, hard to delineate underlying fruit flavors. Later in the week opened up my last one of these to see if the first bottle was a fluke. Nope, unfortunately. Sat heavy again, out of balance. Would say drink up - make room for the arrving spring shipments!
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Decanted about 45 minutes and consumed over 2 hours. This is phenomenal, and another tremendous QPR from Mike O and co. Bursting with red currant, young blackberries, licorice, an almost rose hip note, and blueberry pie crust in an extremely balanced and delicious wine. Ready to go, pop 'em if you got 'em.
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Sadly my last bottle of this beautiful QPR. Pop and pour but it was best after being opened about an hour. Inky Garnet, no cloudiness. The nose is explosive with plum, rosemary spice, tobacco and licorice. This wine definitely performs. The palate is black fruits, zinberry, white pepper, and eucalyptus. Good balance with some acidity. Little tannic tingle on the medium finish. This wine is at peak, drink them.
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QPR superstar. This really opened up into a great wine. Just coming into its own. Balanced, bright. Purple fruit core, slightly tannic, tasted very young/fresh. Poured off half into a 375 and that drank better on night 2. I think the '09 Carlisles will be good agers. Trying to keep my hands off some of the single vineyards for a bit longer.
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Crazy good for this price point. Nice spicy, substantial zin that has a few more years left in the tank. Unfortunately, this is my last of the '09s. Tis' been a treat.
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PnP and drank over two hours, plus saved one glass for next day. Dark, thick almost black. Very full mouthfeel. Dark berries. Fruit forward but tart, not sweet. Finish was long, but more of the same. Given my personal tastes, had I read the bottle to see that there was 16% Petit Sirah, I might have waited another year or two for it to soften and hopefully grow more complex. If you like big, tasty wines that are not too sweet, you'll love this one.
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dark red, in the color. menthol, pepper, black fruit, potpourri, on the nose. berry, plum, clove, pepper, espresso, on the palate. medium acid, medium tannins, on this hot finish.
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Pop-n-poured, vivid purple with ruby edges, mainly fruit-driven, blackberry and boysenberry dominate the palate, borderline jammy, with some herbs in the background, mouth watering acidity and peppery finish.
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I've had this twice now and it's maybe my least favorite Carlisle Zin of all time (out of 50 or so). Just not my style, this seems very syrupy and tastes like boysenberry flavored sugar water. Sorry Mike! The 08 and 10 blow this away. Second night - this is showing more structure, restraint and earthen tones, so maybe this has some upside? Maybe I was a bit harsh? Hmmmm......
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Big nose of blueberry and blackberry jam with an undercurrent of roasted herbs. Palate has round plush fruit and with juicy acidity. Very well balanced. Flavors echo the nose. Medium fruit-filled finish. A complete and satisfying Zin.
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Decanted thru aerator and drank over two hours. Deep purple-rose, but not completely opaque. Big cherry/plum nose on opening. Big cherry/dark fruit at first, followed by anise and spice. 3 hours later, after dinner, fruit is in the background. Tart plums, with only a hint of cherry, in not-too-sweet brown sugar and cinnamon, with a hint of white pepper. Great when first opened, but so much more sophisticated after opened.
I keep saying that I have too much wine, and that too much of it is Carlisle. But, after tasting this one, how can you not keep buying all you can get. Best QPR ever?
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Splash decant and strained for sediment (had a good bit) ... Wow! I'm so sad this is my last bottle. Though our case was a tad uneven, I'm still blown away by the beauty of this one, year in and year out. Lush, plush and absolutely gorgeous nose and mouthfeel. It's like liquid cashmere. (Does that make any sense?) Berries and cream are all over this, but with a nice acid pop and firm tannic backbone to keep it from being too heavy. Medium to long finish and just about the perfect Zin ... Not to mention outstanding QPR. It's a sub-$25 wine that drinks better than many bottles at twice the price. Sooo need to get on this mailing list!! Love Carlisle.
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I love reading Mike Officer's tasting notes on their website. They are spot on. Supple beginning. Rasberry and cherry flavors followed by great spice. As always, amazing value.
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Pop and pour ... Year in, year out one of (if not THE) the best Zins out there. Lush, yet structured. Brambleberry open, with tarter fruit on the finish. Good pop of acid and very well balanced. Virtually oak-free, with a spicy, medium-long finish. Love it!
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Great value. Dark purple color. Medium to full-bodied wine that is well balanced with smooth texture. Notes of dark fruit with a touch of spice. Yummy.
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Consumed the bottle over the course of two nights.
Lovely purple nose with showing purple fruits and just a hint of sweetness.
Mixed purple fruits on the palate. A bit lean for a Zinfandel, perhaps reflecting the addition of the Petite Sirah. Not jammy or too fruity, almost a bit austere. Medium-bodied, medium acidity, medium+ finish. A little heat on the finish detracts a bit from the overall enjoyability of the wine.
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Drank with my dad as he drove down for a visit. Love this wine and so sad I don't have more. Reviewed my previous note and felt this bottle was very consistent with that note, so nothing to add - except enjoy yours and know I'm jealous.
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Deep, Denser purple in color, long legs. Red and black raspberry, bluseberry, vanilla, mocha. Medium finish but a bit hot in the end. Should be better with more bottle time.
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Seemed a touch closed on opening, last glass the best, so decant if you drink. Hints of celery salt and bay leaf type spices make the overt blackberry fruit interesting and savory. Good medium finish.
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Decanted approx. 30 min. ... Wow! This one has hit its stride. The perfect place between lush, brambleberry-vanilla jam and structured, spiced balance. Somehow both rich and lean, with a firm (but not obtrusive) tannic backbone. Really just about the prefect Cali Zin, drinking beautifully right now. Carlisle does it again.
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Loved this zin! Nice blueberry and blackberry fruit with a small bite of spice. Medium to full body but drinks easy because it is very well balanced. The 16% petite really blends well with the zin. If you find a better QPR let me know.
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Lip smacking sweet red and blue fruit, spice, pepper, and herbs. Paired very well with bbq'd pork ribs lightly sauced. Nice medium finish and smooth mouthfeel. Pop and poured and did not change much over the hour it took us to polish this off.
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First Zin I've ever liked. Not complex but so balanced. Very concentrated sweet blueberry fruit juxtaposed against refreshing acidity. And the moderate extraction makes it lightweight and not at all syrupy.
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A very tasty zin that is really a very serious wine that is enhanced by th petite that is in the blend. A great qpr that is so much better than wines in the same price range. Happy to have a few left.
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A bit unknit and syrupy for me. Not sure I'm a fan of the vintage - I'll wait until these find some definition before popping more from this rather fruit forward year.
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a significant step up form the '08. gobs of bramble, berries, and slight underbrush on the nose. so very soft in the mouth with a somewhat creamy texture. well balanced and integrated. tannins manifest on the berry, herbal finish with just a touch of ethanol. delicous and a screaming qpr.
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Very solid, dark zin - lots of plum and some spice with a bit of oak. A step up and somewhat less jammy than the Segeshio zin that preceded this bottle.
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Drank a while ago with no formal notes. Very good wine and great QPR. From what I remember, great balance with the fruit, tannins, and acidity in harmony. Full of dark cherry and plums with an undercurrent of Herbal/underbrush/Forrest floor (pine) flavor profile. This comes across as an almost menthol type sensation which I appreciate. Wish I had more.
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Good dark berry, jammy zin. A little early perhaps, but no noticeable tannins to speak of. If this is the entryway to Carlisle Zin, I think good things awaits...
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Purple. Wonderful mixed fruit and bramble nose, quintessential Zin. Med/Full bodied. Some tannins, but completely ready. Great palate, mostly fruit driven but with savory complexity. Long. Excellent.
To think I thought this was going to be a lightweight when I tried the first bottle upon release. I shared this with some Brits who wanted to try some non-Ridge Zins. I think they were impressed and one called it the wine of the night. They were also surprised by the price.
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Delicious wine from an outstanding producer. Dark purple with a glycerine rim, spicy plum and cherries on the nose and delicious, juicy peppery dark fruits on the palate. A nicely balanced wine, but very rich and deep as well. Carlisle continues to impress me with outstanding wines, at fair prices. I only wish I had bought more.
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Decanted one hour. Smokey dark fruit on the nose. In the mouth, dark fruit up front. Mid-palate was for me a bit unexpected for a zin, with de-emphasized fruit and emergence of brambles, some spice and tanins. A bit of peaty bog on the finish and nice acidity. The petite syrah is prominent. Actually for me, overall had some (big) syrah elements.
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Drank with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Paired well, did not over power, tasted good with some light to medium spice. Good quality for the $, recommend.
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Poured a big glass with a Vinturi 15 minutes before dinner. This was much more ready to go than my last bottle. Nice white pepper spice with a plummy core. Beautiful wine great QPR
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Similiar to my prior notes, but this time it needed more airtime to strut its stuff. A touch green on pop and pour. Noticeable tannin in the mouth. With a couple hours leaving the bottle open on the counter and its ready to go.
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I thought I had popped one open the other night but mistakingly grabed the syrah. I still wanted to try another zin and I'm glad I did. This was great by itself but my wife had made pulled BBQ pork sandwiches for dinner and the two just made my night. This is really improving and I hope I can keep my hands off most of them until next summer when they should be perfect. Enjoy!!!
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My first 09 and it didn't disappoint. Mikes syrahs are among my favorite wines but over the last few years Zinfandel in general has fallen down the list as far as my favorite varietals go. Ann still enjoys them though so we continue to buy Mikes but not many others. This bottle showed none of the things I tend to not like about zin. It was not over the top, not over extracted, nor a vanilla bomb. This showed rich black fruits, some chocolate and spice and nice acidity to keep it balanced. A very nice wine and as always with this bottling, a great QPR.
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It took a few minutes to open up, but this drank nicely (especially at the price point, as seems to always be the case with Carlisle). A big, fruity style, but not too over the top for me. Drink over next few years.
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Popped, drank 1 glass, cork & Fridge - day 2 notes. Pretty nice nose - raspberry, rose petal, orange rind, pepper, and light white chocolate. Upon tasting, it starts off more restrained than most CA zins today, but with pure dark fruits. A bunch of bramble comes on and trails off into a lingering pepper finish. Then this weird prune/raisin/bitter/hot aftertaste takes over, and it distracts. Never experienced this with Mike O's wines before - might be a off bottle, but no obvious VA type signs? With that I will go easy on this wine , with a "87" score.
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My first Carlisle and I really enjoyed it. Nose of spice, pepper, raspberries, plum, and light chocolate. Big fruit on the palate with tannins kicking. Meat, berries, plum, a little heat, and chocolate on the palate. A little berry cream reminded me of QC. Went well with bbq burgers. A big Zin but did not go overboard to the candied fruit realm. Will stay on this list.
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Delicious, fresh, round, chewy, full-bodied mixed berry fruit, forward on palate, very good structure and finish, very well balanced, nothing especially complex or deep about this wine, it is just classic, superbly made, Zin, unbelieveable QPR
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Reminds me of the 2005 version of this wine. Better on night two. Dark fruit, the petite was more present then the zin at this point. How did I only end up with 3 bottles of this?
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Tasted over 2 days. Deep and dark fruit, full mouthfeel - perhaps viscous, long finish with good balance throughout. The Petite Sirah component seemed to dominate at this point with more smooth subdued flavors rather than spicy and brambly zin flavors. This was quite tight at first but opened up with more air and was better on the second night. Probably best to let this one lay down for a couple of years.
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Night one nose is brambly currant with baking spices and a bit of oak. On the palate its lush dark fruits with a hint of citrus, white pepper and a slight bit of coffee. Pretty plush feel with nice balance. Plenty of sneaking tannins carry the taste for a long finish.
Night two its a pretty hot mess. Alcoholic and nondescript. Much better day one.
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15.2% ABV. My first Carlisle from 2009 and it starts on a high note. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Baking spice nose with a suggestion of earth and tangy orange. Nice ripe attack of red berry and cherry fruit. Slightly chewy but more lush and approachable than I recall from say, the 2006 and 2007 vintages. More (not unpleasant) tangy acidity mid palate. Very tasty. 92ish.
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pop and pour. medium purple. red-fruited nose with a little pepper, quite fragrant. Medium-light body, lightest Carlisle I've had. Label says 17% Pet added, which is incredible because this wine is so light red fruited.
Very enjoyable, albeit very different from expected. Everyone at the table liked it. Will let the rest sit for a while.
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Pop and pour through Vinturi ... This is a baby, as is quickly evidenced by the barely blushed cork. Still, even this young it's got some stuffing. Lacks the smooth spice, and plush overtones, that I expect to see with a bit more time, but all the raw ingredients are there and it's still a pleasant drinking exerpience. I'd advise holding off popping any more corks for a year or so, unless you've got time for a long decant.
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Pop and pour. Slightly set in its ways. Changes presentation when looked at in a new light. Good backbone and work ethic. Good to have on the team but not going to impress the clients. Keep in the back office.
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Decanted about 5 hours. Black currant and raspberry upfront, with a nice brambly background, and a slightly spicy finish. Rich and juicy on the palate, with firm tannins and a good acidic frame. The bramble and spice are more dominant, with the black fruit playing a supporting role.
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chewy crisp tannins, balanced, but a touch light on the ripe fruit for me, (which is what I look for when I reach for a zin) .. this was popped and poured, so I am hoping for me on night 2
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Really liked this wine. Nose was a little restrained at first--needed plenty of time to open up. Very well balanced wine. Layers of explosive black fruit and pepper with a nice mineral element. Yes, the fruit is big, but there is a purity of fruit here that makes it very focused with a very nice acidity. I suggest a long decant if opening soon.
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Just got in the Winter/Spring shipment. Didn't give it time to sit - went straight for it. I did, however decant. On first night, was not that impressed. But like I said, just got the bottle, so may have needed more time, air, age. Because on second night, it sang. Poured remainder on first night back into bottle, and on second night, shook in bottle, and poured. Loads of red fruit, baking spice, soft tannin, smooth. QPR-wise, this may be about the best Zin around. I would wait a few months to let it settle, but if you open now, give it a big decant. Glad I have more of these.
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Briary fruit nose with a creamy element. Palate is smooth, round ripe fruit and a little chewy tannin in the back end. plenty of dense concentrated berry flavors. Medium finish adding a little vanilla and mocha. Seamless and balanced, but not. Lot of depth. Great QPR though-- crushes other $20 Zins. Little to no heat. On night 2 this fell apart, showing lots of heat and alcohol with receding fruit. Disappointing from this producer. Dropped a point.
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3/11/2017 - Castle Peak wrote: 90 Points
This is a little more closed and less interesting than earlier bottle. Still good, but not as memorable as bottle enjoyed in 9/15.
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1/20/2017 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
drinking beautifully. This has to be the best QPR of any zin. Outstanding
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10/13/2015 - dlduchon wrote: 93 Points
My prior assessment still stands. This is one of Carlisle's best Zins. It may be the best for the vintage.
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9/12/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 93 Points
Rich, nicely textured, pleasantly spiced and well balanced. Not the least bit overheated. An elegant Zinfandel.
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8/10/2015 - dlduchon wrote: 93 Points
To me this is more balanced and restrained than many of the higher priced single vineyards. I am not getting the hot over extracted that others have commented. What a fabulous wine. There is nothing close for the price.
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7/12/2015 - depdoc Likes this wine: 90 Points
If you consider the price, it is easily a 95! If you find a Zin as good as this for the price, let all of us know. It is a typical Carlisle-full bodied, full throated and just plain delicious.
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3/17/2015 - btock wrote: 87 Points
Tried twice in a week - first was at a group tasting where this was opened along side the 2010 version. The '09 was hot, hard to delineate underlying fruit flavors. Later in the week opened up my last one of these to see if the first bottle was a fluke. Nope, unfortunately. Sat heavy again, out of balance. Would say drink up - make room for the arrving spring shipments!
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3/15/2015 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
This wasn't working for me tonight. Nowhere near the '10 . Seems to me to be OTH and showing too much heat and spice now.
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1/10/2015 - Grape Stuff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted about 45 minutes and consumed over 2 hours. This is phenomenal, and another tremendous QPR from Mike O and co. Bursting with red currant, young blackberries, licorice, an almost rose hip note, and blueberry pie crust in an extremely balanced and delicious wine. Ready to go, pop 'em if you got 'em.
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1/8/2015 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sadly my last bottle of this beautiful QPR. Pop and pour but it was best after being opened about an hour. Inky Garnet, no cloudiness. The nose is explosive with plum, rosemary spice, tobacco and licorice. This wine definitely performs. The palate is black fruits, zinberry, white pepper, and eucalyptus. Good balance with some acidity. Little tannic tingle on the medium finish. This wine is at peak, drink them.
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12/29/2014 - oropeza wrote: 84 Points
Boysenberry jam. Sadly one-dimensional.
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11/13/2014 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
I'll run with another 90; it took a little while to open, but came together nicely with air.
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7/17/2014 - Oakjeff wrote: 90 Points
Thick. Blackberries. Light spice. A little bit murky however.
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4/26/2014 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
QPR superstar. This really opened up into a great wine. Just coming into its own. Balanced, bright. Purple fruit core, slightly tannic, tasted very young/fresh. Poured off half into a 375 and that drank better on night 2. I think the '09 Carlisles will be good agers. Trying to keep my hands off some of the single vineyards for a bit longer.
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4/20/2014 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
Great solid zin.
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3/9/2014 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Crazy good for this price point. Nice spicy, substantial zin that has a few more years left in the tank. Unfortunately, this is my last of the '09s. Tis' been a treat.
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2/8/2014 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
A great zin either alone or with food.
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1/26/2014 - Ed B wrote: 91 Points
PnP and drank over two hours, plus saved one glass for next day. Dark, thick almost black. Very full mouthfeel. Dark berries. Fruit forward but tart, not sweet. Finish was long, but more of the same. Given my personal tastes, had I read the bottle to see that there was 16% Petit Sirah, I might have waited another year or two for it to soften and hopefully grow more complex. If you like big, tasty wines that are not too sweet, you'll love this one.
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1/6/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 88 Points
dark red, in the color. menthol, pepper, black fruit, potpourri, on the nose. berry, plum, clove, pepper, espresso, on the palate. medium acid, medium tannins, on this hot finish.
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1/2/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
As always great Zin from Carlisle
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11/26/2013 - MotoMannequin Likes this wine:
Pop-n-poured, vivid purple with ruby edges, mainly fruit-driven, blackberry and boysenberry dominate the palate, borderline jammy, with some herbs in the background, mouth watering acidity and peppery finish.
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8/23/2013 - sawira wrote: 84 Points
I've had this twice now and it's maybe my least favorite Carlisle Zin of all time (out of 50 or so). Just not my style, this seems very syrupy and tastes like boysenberry flavored sugar water. Sorry Mike! The 08 and 10 blow this away.
Second night - this is showing more structure, restraint and earthen tones, so maybe this has some upside? Maybe I was a bit harsh? Hmmmm......
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8/17/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking nicely.
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5/23/2013 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Big nose of blueberry and blackberry jam with an undercurrent of roasted herbs. Palate has round plush fruit and with juicy acidity. Very well balanced. Flavors echo the nose. Medium fruit-filled finish. A complete and satisfying Zin.
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5/20/2013 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
Decanted thru aerator and drank over two hours. Deep purple-rose, but not completely opaque. Big cherry/plum nose on opening. Big cherry/dark fruit at first, followed by anise and spice. 3 hours later, after dinner, fruit is in the background. Tart plums, with only a hint of cherry, in not-too-sweet brown sugar and cinnamon, with a hint of white pepper. Great when first opened, but so much more sophisticated after opened.
I keep saying that I have too much wine, and that too much of it is Carlisle. But, after tasting this one, how can you not keep buying all you can get. Best QPR ever?
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4/22/2013 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 93 Points
Splash decant and strained for sediment (had a good bit) ... Wow! I'm so sad this is my last bottle. Though our case was a tad uneven, I'm still blown away by the beauty of this one, year in and year out. Lush, plush and absolutely gorgeous nose and mouthfeel. It's like liquid cashmere. (Does that make any sense?) Berries and cream are all over this, but with a nice acid pop and firm tannic backbone to keep it from being too heavy. Medium to long finish and just about the perfect Zin ... Not to mention outstanding QPR. It's a sub-$25 wine that drinks better than many bottles at twice the price. Sooo need to get on this mailing list!! Love Carlisle.
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1/25/2013 - dougie wrote: 91 Points
I love reading Mike Officer's tasting notes on their website. They are spot on. Supple beginning. Rasberry and cherry flavors followed by great spice. As always, amazing value.
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1/24/2013 - markandsusanw wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour ... Year in, year out one of (if not THE) the best Zins out there. Lush, yet structured. Brambleberry open, with tarter fruit on the finish. Good pop of acid and very well balanced. Virtually oak-free, with a spicy, medium-long finish. Love it!
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1/18/2013 - wdb001 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great value. Dark purple color. Medium to full-bodied wine that is well balanced with smooth texture. Notes of dark fruit with a touch of spice. Yummy.
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1/13/2013 - CMN wrote: 88 Points
Consumed the bottle over the course of two nights.
Lovely purple nose with showing purple fruits and just a hint of sweetness.
Mixed purple fruits on the palate. A bit lean for a Zinfandel, perhaps reflecting the addition of the Petite Sirah. Not jammy or too fruity, almost a bit austere. Medium-bodied, medium acidity, medium+ finish. A little heat on the finish detracts a bit from the overall enjoyability of the wine.
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12/28/2012 - haldolugr wrote: 92 Points
Drank with my dad as he drove down for a visit. Love this wine and so sad I don't have more. Reviewed my previous note and felt this bottle was very consistent with that note, so nothing to add - except enjoy yours and know I'm jealous.
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12/21/2012 - sma Likes this wine: 89 Points
Deep, Denser purple in color, long legs. Red and black raspberry, bluseberry, vanilla, mocha. Medium finish but a bit hot in the end. Should be better with more bottle time.
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12/15/2012 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
This is a $20ish wine? Sign me up for more. Blue / black fruits intermingled with preserves, herbs, spice and oak. Really like the jammy spicy fruit.
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11/27/2012 - ginfizz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seemed a touch closed on opening, last glass the best, so decant if you drink. Hints of celery salt and bay leaf type spices make the overt blackberry fruit interesting and savory. Good medium finish.
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11/21/2012 - VinoDiver wrote: 91 Points
Found this hot on day one, but on day 2 and 3 the heat was gone and the lush fruit was fantastic.
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9/29/2012 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Quintessential Zin with lots of zin flavor and spice, nicely balanced with some structure underneath. Still improving, but sadly, my last bottle.
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9/10/2012 - markandsusanw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted approx. 30 min. ... Wow! This one has hit its stride. The perfect place between lush, brambleberry-vanilla jam and structured, spiced balance. Somehow both rich and lean, with a firm (but not obtrusive) tannic backbone. Really just about the prefect Cali Zin, drinking beautifully right now. Carlisle does it again.
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9/9/2012 - ravbik wrote: 90 Points
Wonderful young zin. Really opens up after one hour decant
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9/8/2012 - nectar14 wrote: 90 Points
Warm raspberry and brambly underbrush scents. Juicy and broad. Really nice balance too.
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8/26/2012 - haldolugr wrote: 93 Points
Loved this zin! Nice blueberry and blackberry fruit with a small bite of spice. Medium to full body but drinks easy because it is very well balanced. The 16% petite really blends well with the zin. If you find a better QPR let me know.
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7/7/2012 - fredman wrote: 91 Points
These wines never seem to disappoint. Nice fruit and spice up front with a touch of tar on the finish. Sadly, my last bottle.
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6/24/2012 - chapel hill wino wrote:
this turned a bit jammy for me on night 2, but excellent on night 1.
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6/18/2012 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
This was quite good, you can really tell what difference the petite sirah brings with added structure! What a QPR!
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5/29/2012 - Vinsant wrote:
Lip smacking sweet red and blue fruit, spice, pepper, and herbs. Paired very well with bbq'd pork ribs lightly sauced. Nice medium finish and smooth mouthfeel. Pop and poured and did not change much over the hour it took us to polish this off.
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5/5/2012 - cooberp wrote: 90 Points
First Zin I've ever liked. Not complex but so balanced. Very concentrated sweet blueberry fruit juxtaposed against refreshing acidity. And the moderate extraction makes it lightweight and not at all syrupy.
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4/17/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
A very tasty zin that is really a very serious wine that is enhanced by th petite that is in the blend. A great qpr that is so much better than wines in the same price range. Happy to have a few left.
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3/24/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 92 Points
Red berry fruit, nice balance, very nice zinfandel for current consumption
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2/17/2012 - sawira wrote: 87 Points
A bit unknit and syrupy for me. Not sure I'm a fan of the vintage - I'll wait until these find some definition before popping more from this rather fruit forward year.
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2/8/2012 - etherscreen wrote:
a significant step up form the '08. gobs of bramble, berries, and slight underbrush on the nose. so very soft in the mouth with a somewhat creamy texture. well balanced and integrated. tannins manifest on the berry, herbal finish with just a touch of ethanol. delicous and a screaming qpr.
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1/31/2012 - huberww wrote: 90 Points
Very solid, dark zin - lots of plum and some spice with a bit of oak. A step up and somewhat less jammy than the Segeshio zin that preceded this bottle.
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1/26/2012 - pgb67 wrote: 89 Points
Ripe and extracted, raspberry and cherry jam flavor profile. Probably not as long and flavorful as some of the other Carlisles I've enjoyed.
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1/15/2012 - leftylevi wrote: 92 Points
Drank a while ago with no formal notes. Very good wine and great QPR. From what I remember, great balance with the fruit, tannins, and acidity in harmony. Full of dark cherry and plums with an undercurrent of Herbal/underbrush/Forrest floor (pine) flavor profile. This comes across as an almost menthol type sensation which I appreciate. Wish I had more.
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1/9/2012 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Drinking really well right now. Enjoyed with Pasta and stuffed peppers. Love these Carlisles!
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1/2/2012 - mreinhard74@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Nice zin with berry overtones and soft tannins. A bit thin for what I'm used to from Carlisle.
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1/1/2012 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Pop 'n pour. Showed very well again, though not as well as the 2008 I had last night. Perhaps another year of age will elevate this to that level.
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12/30/2011 - Lessthanzero wrote: 90 Points
Good dark berry, jammy zin. A little early perhaps, but no noticeable tannins to speak of. If this is the entryway to Carlisle Zin, I think good things awaits...
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12/23/2011 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with my prior notes, but a little better on all fronts. Delicious!
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12/7/2011 - Brady D Likes this wine:
Purple. Wonderful mixed fruit and bramble nose, quintessential Zin. Med/Full bodied. Some tannins, but completely ready. Great palate, mostly fruit driven but with savory complexity. Long. Excellent.
To think I thought this was going to be a lightweight when I tried the first bottle upon release. I shared this with some Brits who wanted to try some non-Ridge Zins. I think they were impressed and one called it the wine of the night. They were also surprised by the price.
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12/4/2011 - ETrain wrote: 90 Points
Delicious wine from an outstanding producer. Dark purple with a glycerine rim, spicy plum and cherries on the nose and delicious, juicy peppery dark fruits on the palate. A nicely balanced wine, but very rich and deep as well. Carlisle continues to impress me with outstanding wines, at fair prices. I only wish I had bought more.
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11/29/2011 - tairanosaurus wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour. Smokey dark fruit on the nose. In the mouth, dark fruit up front. Mid-palate was for me a bit unexpected for a zin, with de-emphasized fruit and emergence of brambles, some spice and tanins. A bit of peaty bog on the finish and nice acidity. The petite syrah is prominent. Actually for me, overall had some (big) syrah elements.
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11/26/2011 - WineLover007 wrote: 89 Points
Drank with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Paired well, did not over power, tasted good with some light to medium spice. Good quality for the $, recommend.
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11/25/2011 - Oakjeff wrote: 90 Points
Dusty, rustic and delicious.
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11/6/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 90 Points
Drank along with the 2008 version. Very nice jammy zin with a little spice. Drinking well at this point but no need to hurry.
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11/3/2011 - SUN-J wrote: 90 Points
Awesome QPR. Dark fruits and some pepper. Pretty classic zin.
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10/30/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote: 89 Points
Nice peppery zin at a relatively fair price. Doesn't stack up to their single vineyard bottleings, but...
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10/28/2011 - silton wrote: 92 Points
If I were forced into picking one wine under $25 to have for the rest of my life, I would pick this wine. Better on day 1.
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10/17/2011 - gzim wrote: 90 Points
Poured a big glass with a Vinturi 15 minutes before dinner. This was much more ready to go than my last bottle. Nice white pepper spice with a plummy core. Beautiful wine great QPR
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9/24/2011 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
4th Saturday Group brown bagger (Our house): Deep color. Pepper and dark fruit notes; balanced, with jammy dark fruit and pepper flavors.
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9/12/2011 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
The best QPR on the market from a boutique winery. I wish I could buy cases.
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8/26/2011 - bubbachumps wrote: 91 Points
Similiar to my prior notes, but this time it needed more airtime to strut its stuff. A touch green on pop and pour. Noticeable tannin in the mouth. With a couple hours leaving the bottle open on the counter and its ready to go.
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8/17/2011 - deltacop wrote: 91 Points
I thought I had popped one open the other night but mistakingly grabed the syrah. I still wanted to try another zin and I'm glad I did. This was great by itself but my wife had made pulled BBQ pork sandwiches for dinner and the two just made my night. This is really improving and I hope I can keep my hands off most of them until next summer when they should be perfect. Enjoy!!!
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8/14/2011 - deltacop wrote:
Just popped open. A little heat and a real nice nose. Very dark in the glass. will update later. right now it needs time in the bottle.
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8/11/2011 - dhammer53 wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful lavender/purple color. Very smooth on pop n' pour. Not tannic. Perfect with a steak.
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7/24/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
My first 09 and it didn't disappoint. Mikes syrahs are among my favorite wines but over the last few years Zinfandel in general has fallen down the list as far as my favorite varietals go. Ann still enjoys them though so we continue to buy Mikes but not many others. This bottle showed none of the things I tend to not like about zin. It was not over the top, not over extracted, nor a vanilla bomb. This showed rich black fruits, some chocolate and spice and nice acidity to keep it balanced. A very nice wine and as always with this bottling, a great QPR.
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7/22/2011 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyed this again. Solid Zin without any noticeable flaws that's an easy drinker. Another fantastic affordable Carlisle - what a surprise!
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7/16/2011 - B Paul wrote:
It took a few minutes to open up, but this drank nicely (especially at the price point, as seems to always be the case with Carlisle). A big, fruity style, but not too over the top for me. Drink over next few years.
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7/15/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 87 Points
Popped, drank 1 glass, cork & Fridge - day 2 notes. Pretty nice nose - raspberry, rose petal, orange rind, pepper, and light white chocolate. Upon tasting, it starts off more restrained than most CA zins today, but with pure dark fruits. A bunch of bramble comes on and trails off into a lingering pepper finish. Then this weird prune/raisin/bitter/hot aftertaste takes over, and it distracts. Never experienced this with Mike O's wines before - might be a off bottle, but no obvious VA type signs? With that I will go easy on this wine , with a "87" score.
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7/9/2011 - bubbachumps wrote: 91 Points
Briary notes and red raspberry. Smooth and well balanced. Another great zin from Carlisle.
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7/9/2011 - wineduggery wrote: 90 Points
Easily the best Zin I've ever had. Not so jammy. Smooth and well-balanced. A very elegant offering for the price.
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7/9/2011 - mdaniel wrote: 90 Points
Had as Zinfandel #3 at my sister's, and it was typical Carlisle goodness.
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7/4/2011 - deltacop wrote: 90 Points
Just poped 10 mins ago. Really nice so far. I'll update later.
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6/27/2011 - Vinsant wrote: 90 Points
My first Carlisle and I really enjoyed it. Nose of spice, pepper, raspberries, plum, and light chocolate. Big fruit on the palate with tannins kicking. Meat, berries, plum, a little heat, and chocolate on the palate. A little berry cream reminded me of QC. Went well with bbq burgers. A big Zin but did not go overboard to the candied fruit realm. Will stay on this list.
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6/23/2011 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Dark color. Aromas of chocolate, black fruit and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, with flavors of dark fruit, mulberry and spice/pepper.
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6/21/2011 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, fresh, round, chewy, full-bodied mixed berry fruit, forward on palate, very good structure and finish, very well balanced, nothing especially complex or deep about this wine, it is just classic, superbly made, Zin, unbelieveable QPR
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6/11/2011 - atun53 wrote: 91 Points
Reminds me of the 2005 version of this wine. Better on night two. Dark fruit, the petite was more present then the zin at this point. How did I only end up with 3 bottles of this?
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5/31/2011 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Tasted over 2 days. Deep and dark fruit, full mouthfeel - perhaps viscous, long finish with good balance throughout. The Petite Sirah component seemed to dominate at this point with more smooth subdued flavors rather than spicy and brambly zin flavors. This was quite tight at first but opened up with more air and was better on the second night. Probably best to let this one lay down for a couple of years.
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5/29/2011 - Cow Town wrote: 87 Points
Maybe the wine was too young, maybe it was too warm (both the air and the wine), but this tasted like a $15 zin from any store USA.
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5/29/2011 - Bellissimo wrote:
Popped and poured. Deep garnet color.
Night one nose is brambly currant with baking spices and a bit of oak. On the palate its lush dark fruits with a hint of citrus, white pepper and a slight bit of coffee. Pretty plush feel with nice balance. Plenty of sneaking tannins carry the taste for a long finish.
Night two its a pretty hot mess. Alcoholic and nondescript. Much better day one.
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5/18/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
15.2% ABV. My first Carlisle from 2009 and it starts on a high note. Translucent dark garnet in the glass. Baking spice nose with a suggestion of earth and tangy orange. Nice ripe attack of red berry and cherry fruit. Slightly chewy but more lush and approachable than I recall from say, the 2006 and 2007 vintages. More (not unpleasant) tangy acidity mid palate. Very tasty. 92ish.
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5/15/2011 - Brady D Likes this wine: 90 Points
pop and pour. medium purple. red-fruited nose with a little pepper, quite fragrant. Medium-light body, lightest Carlisle I've had. Label says 17% Pet added, which is incredible because this wine is so light red fruited.
Very enjoyable, albeit very different from expected. Everyone at the table liked it. Will let the rest sit for a while.
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5/9/2011 - markandsusanw wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour through Vinturi ... This is a baby, as is quickly evidenced by the barely blushed cork. Still, even this young it's got some stuffing. Lacks the smooth spice, and plush overtones, that I expect to see with a bit more time, but all the raw ingredients are there and it's still a pleasant drinking exerpience. I'd advise holding off popping any more corks for a year or so, unless you've got time for a long decant.
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5/7/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 88 Points
Rough all around the edges. Some heat but lots of fruit. I would give this a year or two before trying again.
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4/29/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour. Slightly set in its ways. Changes presentation when looked at in a new light. Good backbone and work ethic. Good to have on the team but not going to impress the clients. Keep in the back office.
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4/23/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted about 5 hours. Black currant and raspberry upfront, with a nice brambly background, and a slightly spicy finish. Rich and juicy on the palate, with firm tannins and a good acidic frame. The bramble and spice are more dominant, with the black fruit playing a supporting role.
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4/23/2011 - gzim wrote: 88 Points
chewy crisp tannins, balanced, but a touch light on the ripe fruit for me, (which is what I look for when I reach for a zin) .. this was popped and poured, so I am hoping for me on night 2
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4/21/2011 - Brsed wrote: 91 Points
Really liked this wine. Nose was a little restrained at first--needed plenty of time to open up. Very well balanced wine. Layers of explosive black fruit and pepper with a nice mineral element. Yes, the fruit is big, but there is a purity of fruit here that makes it very focused with a very nice acidity. I suggest a long decant if opening soon.
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4/20/2011 - MillerRoad wrote: 91 Points
Just got in the Winter/Spring shipment. Didn't give it time to sit - went straight for it. I did, however decant. On first night, was not that impressed. But like I said, just got the bottle, so may have needed more time, air, age. Because on second night, it sang. Poured remainder on first night back into bottle, and on second night, shook in bottle, and poured. Loads of red fruit, baking spice, soft tannin, smooth. QPR-wise, this may be about the best Zin around. I would wait a few months to let it settle, but if you open now, give it a big decant. Glad I have more of these.
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4/13/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 88 Points
Briary fruit nose with a creamy element. Palate is smooth, round ripe fruit and a little chewy tannin in the back end. plenty of dense concentrated berry flavors. Medium finish adding a little vanilla and mocha. Seamless and balanced, but not. Lot of depth. Great QPR though-- crushes other $20 Zins. Little to no heat.
On night 2 this fell apart, showing lots of heat and alcohol with receding fruit. Disappointing from this producer. Dropped a point.
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4/12/2011 - B Paul wrote: 89 Points
Good Zin with big red fruit. Seems suited for near term drinking. Good value, as always.
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3/31/2011 - tkoby11 wrote: 91 Points
Well balanced, rich, delicious. Black fruits, spice, full bodied.
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3/15/2011 - wineguy58 wrote: 90 Points
Pnp round mouthfeel, palate full of spicy blueberry cream pie with smooth tannins that finishes full of red fruit. Non fruit bomb zin.
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