Opened and poured. Very dark, purples and deep reds. On the nose, very muted...not a lot going on, and this carries over to the palate as well. Very neutral, with no lively acidity or fruit to make this interesting. Tastes like a mediocre appellation blend of inferior fruit trying to masquerade as something else. Some fruit pastes, past their expiration dates. On day two, a little sweetness came out to make this a little more interesting. Overall ok, but definitely not my favorite Carlisle. On day two + under vac-u-vin this has turned to olive juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Plummy, cherry nose. Pleasant cherry fruit, roast meats, black pepper. Fine tannins, nice acidity and balance. Finishes long and dark fruited with some spicy notes. A tad hotter than I prefer, but not a big problem. Nice enough at this point but a bit further along than I would have hoped for at 11 years after vintage. Throwing a lot of sediment. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My next to last bottle drunk with leftover braised pork shoulder. Still going strong with plenty of concentrated fruit flavors and very nice balance. Drink or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 90 minutes. Much more mature than last TN. Still lots of dark fruit with some interesting spices and herbs. Seems to be at peak - so we'd better get going and finish off our remaining bottles!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quite as blown away by this as I was with a bottle about a month ago. Same desireable components on the nose this time, but they seemed a little muted. Maybe it was the setting, the weather, and/or the food, but the most noticeable thing on the palate was a little too much acidity. Still a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was a little apprehensive, given CellarTracker's 2020 "drink by" date. No problem. It was fresh and vibrant, with plenty of structure. The nose just screamed Syrah! Minerals, baconfat, pepper, and herbs. Plenty of dark fruits and pepper on the palate. Fairly lean, but it had a solid finish. At less than $28, it's a terrific value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of briar-patch, white pepper and boysenberries. Flavors of Bing cherries, boysenberries and plum. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
MEH just seemed a bit flat. Nothing wrong, but nothing exciting. I think it needs more acid to balance the strong ripe fruit. Not one of my favorite Carlisle Syrahs... Still seems very young, but was not tight
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Eucalyptus and black cherry on the nose, a bit of beef blood and bacon fat with aeration. Despite its age, this is still very primary, and required a lot of air to open up. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. Needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious mature syrah drank with instant pot pork roast. Lots of elegant fruit, earthiness, and good acid balance. My third of five and the best so far. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Carlisle's 2010 Bennett Valley Syrah is an opaque crimson, full-bodied wine that is packed with dark bramble fruits, damson plums, baking spices and black pepper. Ripe yet freshly acidic, it is layered in the middle, wrapping the fruit with sweet tannins and creamy oak while hiding its 13.8% alcohol well. Finishing with impressive length, this is still quite youthful. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. Drink now-2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind - many thought this was a northern Rhone because of the tannin and acid structure. slightly purple rim. Excellent syrah fruit. Long complex finish. One of the more elegant and complex Carlisle's with lots of years left!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Reminded me that I need to be drinking more (and ordering more) Carlisle syrahs. More earthy and rustic than the Carlisle zins. with leather and bacon character coming through. At the same time, you have good Carlisle balance with still lithe acidity keeping the fruity boozy side in check. Impressed that it was so vibrant after these years. And a good bargain to boot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I didn’t take formal notes but this is drinking well now and a nice syrah. Dark fruits, a bit smokey. Integrated structural elements, drinking well now but should drink well for several more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple color with pale pink rim. The nose was not terribly complex with plummy fruit, floral notes, and light pepper. On the palate, this is packed with plum, cherry, chocolate, olive, and pepper on the finish. Surprisingly, this was medium-bodied with good acidity and a plush mouthfeel. Overall, I liked this wine’s medium weight and its mouthfeel, and while it wasn’t terribly complex, it paired beautifully with pepposo, which is chunks of peppered top sirloin cooked in a chianti and tomato sauce. The wine’s peppery profile matched the meat, and since the stew was served over mashed potatoes, the mouthfeel was perfect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decent Syrah, but a little disjointed. I think it is in an odd stretch and would hold off drinking it for several years as I believe it will come together. However it appears there’ are some cork issues. Mine was fine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sadly, this bottle seems to be slightly corked. Both the nose and the palate are dialed down significantly. There are some plum and lavender on the palate and the nose but everything was muted.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was similar to the last bottle, except that when it was first popped and poured, there was this delicious funk on the nose. I loved it. It was earthy and smokey, with truffle and chanterelle mushrooms. Unfortunately, that funk blew off about an hour later, and the remainder, while still nice, felt ordinary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and enjoyed over two nights. This wine was surprisingly primary and shut down on night one. There were no objectionable tannins. The wine was just soft and simple. On the second night the wine actually stiffened up structurally and added classic Carlisle fruit and spice notes. I would recommend holding bottles for at least 3 years to let them develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hilarious that I drank this only *three months ago* and didn't remember how disappointed I was in it. Well, I cracked another one open tonight and had exactly the same reaction, down to the rating, and was quite surprised to find a near-duplicate entry from just three months earlier. Must be getting old.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still young but starting to open and show more signs of development. 2010 is slow for Syrahs. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, some black pepper, and a bit of roasted meats and herbs. On the palate, sort of middle of the road (climate wise in profile). Some ripe black raspberry fruit but also some cooler notes. Great acidity. Slight tannins. Long finish. Really a very nice Syrah. No hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not terrible, but not *good*. Just seems dead in the mouth. Admittedly, we drank this a little warmer than I would have ordinarily (66 degrees), but still, unexpected from Carlisle, and disappointing given that Bennett valley is a favorite region for Norcal Syrah.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was really excited to try this, as this was a vintage where the syrah fruit from Cardiac Hill (which I love) was declassified into the Bennett Valley Syrah. But, I was left a bit disappointed. Not that it wasn't a nice wine, but I've come to expect Mike Officer's wines to be such overachievers, and this merely delivered on its price point. A little more thin and less aromatic than other syrahs, and it lacked a sense of place and varietal character. None of the bacon fat, meatiness, minerality, or pepperiness I enjoy in my Cali syrahs.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well, it looks like this one is finally starting to put itself in the "winner" camp. It only took almost four years in bottle to finally settle down and flesh out. Really dark syrah fruit still dominates, and the tannins are very supportive of the fruit, but as the grip loosens the midpalate shows great blackberry flavor with some crushed rock and white pepper undertones. Yes, it's still a brute but it's becoming a lovable pit bull of a wine. The finish was really awesome, with a nice long forest and berry bush ride to the end. Still would continue to hold it a wee bit longer, but it definitely has 10+ years to go, and I think that Mike might have a real winner with this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty close to my previous notes from May but only decanted for 1 hour before it started opening up. Having it tonight with pork ribs with an Asian hoisin cranberry sauce. Wonderful match. I still have another bottle that I will try in another 6 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet/purple. Ripe red plum nose and a smoky meat with spice. Spicy red fruit, jerky, and crunchy tannins. Nice chalk mid palate and medium plus acid. This improves with an hour of airtime and held up the next day.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like my last bottle a couple years ago, this showed better on day two when it was more balanced. On night one, it was a bit big, surprisingly even too much for Ann.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stunning old-school syrah. looked really pretty with a communion nose. I could've been fooled for an 80's Cabernet. Savory goodness, properly stored it cold age gracefully for 20+ more years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tremendous contrast to most of the Carlisle line-up. Savory, with a pronounced salinity-fruit is off in the background, which isn't the norm for this label. That said, is does have the ability to please, but not so much that you'd want to rush back and buy more. Hey, you can't hit home runs every time, right?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd Day, still drinking well, smoother overall, but the flavor is not something I love, it's all meat and oak so the fruit is missing somehow. It's good and different but not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP, kinda like a steak with blackberry and a bunch of cherry rubbed on it, finishes off with medium tannins and a good amount of oak that is kept in check by the fruit. Could use a little more acidity but the palate is silky smooth which I like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, faint aromas of purple fruit and an initial whiff of alcohol. On the palate, very subtle (almost fragile) blue and purple fruit flavors. Especially light and lithe for a Carlisle Syrah. It was definitely missing some of the olive, bay leaf, and forest floor complexities I have found characteristic of Mike Officer's other Syrahs (e.g.: Papa's Block or Rosella's).
I made the mistake of decanting this wine; after an hour, what fruit had been there was virtually undetectable, instead replaced by strong cedar and wood notes. Tannins had subsided to the point that the wine offered very little by the final sips. I would suggest not only drinking now, but also limiting service to a PnP with immediate consumption. I do not recommend decanting or letting O2 get the best of what fruit is left in this wine.
Very nice, and drinking beautifully right now. Dark purple-red. Raspberry, a little strawberry twizzler, some basil, smoke. Full bodied, not too heavy, nice balance. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
3 hour decant. Nice blue/black fruit, tea flavor and mild tannins. Had it with grilled beef steak but I think a pork tenderloin with Asian spices would have been a better match. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is starting to come around. It still needs some time or air. After a few hours it was singing though. The nose has boysenberries, some charred wood, and floral notes. This drinks cooler climate with more earthiness and minerals, but still plenty of fruit. With air, more fruit emerges. nice texture. Nice finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of dark fruit, beef jerky and a bit of pepper. The palate largely matches: fruit initially, then a spicy/peppery midpalate than a somewhat lengthy beef jerky/soy sauce finish. Quite tasty, light+ acid/tannins. Drinkable now but I look forward to seeing where it goes the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured which did not work for this wine on this night. Some dark fruit, but more white pepper and sharpish tannins than I would have liked. It felt a bit disjointed to me, and did not improve in the hour I followed it. It felt flat and a little hollow in the mid-palate - the fruit just didn't expand. I am hoping the 2nd half of this bottle will show better (which was gently poured immediately into a 375 and re-corked with the original cork).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Make my funk the "C" funk! That's the first thought that came into my mind when I opened this outstanding cool-climate Syrah. It's nearly opaque purple color. With some air that "funk (which I personally dig) is replaced with black fruits, violets, and graphite aromas that leap from the glass. On the palate it's lighter-bodied, and polished with a harmonious character that shows blackberry, black raspberry, and a bit of boysenberry flavors. Long mineral laced finish. #keepsyrahweird
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark color with a Northern Rhone-like flavor profile and some dusty tannins. A bit lighter and less intense than some of the other Sonoma syrahs (ie, Papa's Block). Food friendly and enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
very good overall, needs more delineation of fruit, some of the flavors are muddled together, but it has very good balance. Good overall and enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple. little light passes thru. Nose of blue fruit, some menthol, and saddle leather. lots of alcohol up front, this blew off over an hour and this opened to a very nice Syrah. Not mind blowing like some others but very good. some veggie black olive or truffle notes with the fruit make this food flexible.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unlike the last bottle (notes on 4/5/13) this one was dead with little acid or tannin. Nose was still ok but not as good. Judgement reserved...no score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple and garnet color. Nose shows dark berries and red fruit. Palate is very complex but no single element is dominate. Light red berries, sage, black olive, medium toast, limestone, and garrigue. Tannins are present but very fine. Medium finish. Very similar to my previous note 1 1/2 years ago. This is holding up very well, no rush to drink and I still have four bottles left so I'll slow roll them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
There is a funk on the nose that isn't in the wine, but throws you off as you go in for a drink. Dark black and blue fruit with a solid finish. More of a medium bodied Syrah, not as big and expressive as other syrahs but still really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
blueberry and raspberry on the nose, with spice and leather, and some smoke and meat juice at the end. Leather and meat on the palate, with spice and smoke on the mid-palate, and a slight red fruit finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smoky, with some chalky tannins reminiscent of cocoa powder. Oak is a little strong for my tastes. Fruit is there but masked by all of the other stuff going on in this wine. I liked it, but it's definitely not one of my favorites from Carlisle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Filled with deep blue fruit, rougher tannins and solid acids. For this vintage, I think it shows promise but needs more time to sit, probably another year at the least. Its roughness did smooth out somewhat after being open for two days. Wish is had more of a tertiary taste component, for now it seems more jumbled and disjointed. Still, an enjoyable wine indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not much progress since the bottle about 10 months ago. There is not a lot to dislike, but there is also not a lot to like. More earth and tar than fruit. Really flat. Opens with air and adds mint/licorice tones. Just no memorable elements.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding syrah, as great as my first bottle a year ago was disappointing. Another year in bottle or a bad first bottle? Anythehoo, a brilliant northern Rhone-esque rendering this time, with all elements in balance, and I knew it from the first sniff, before even tasting. Bravo!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour decant. Had more of a Grenache feel than Syrah. Luscious red fruits (raspberry, cherry), along with some peach/apricot nectar. A great QPR that goes well with any meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Olive, white pepper, sanguine notes mixed with tart fruits, mostly red in tone but also some darker fruits. Terrific acidity and medium weight. Didn't wow us this time but there is a half a bottle left so we will see how a day of air affects it. Day 2: I like this better today. The fruit is more blue in tone and the wine feels more balanced. Not as big as many of Carlisle's syrahs. I'll decant for a while next time. Day 3: this has held up very well and now shows lots of blue fruit and better balance. I rarely like a wine on the third day, but this is the exception.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fruit is still pretty restrained at the moment with some cocoa flavors with fine, cottony tannins that reminds of cocoa powder. I can see how some may not like this so much, but I found it to be enjoyable and interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank over 2 days -- improved throughout. This is still very young but improving. Cocoa and tannins at the forefront with some dark fruit. Oak has integrated a bit, but I'll wait a little longer on the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After receiving the offer for the new releases yesterday, I thought I'd open a Carlisle. Decided on this one since I have a few, hadn't tried it yet and the comments were all over the place. Popped and poured and tasted over about 2 hours. Initially this showed pure red fruits, with some spice, cinnamon-red hot candies, and a little licorice. Lighter in body than I expected, with light-medium acidity and tannin. It reminded me of some Clos Du Mont Olivet Cotes du Rhone bottlings. I can see why there are some dissenters on this one as it is not what you might normally expect from a Carlisle syrah, however we enjoyed it for its pretty red fruits and more elegant style. As it opened and warmed to room temp, the fruit started to take on some darker tones. Have about 1/3 left sitting in the fridge that I'll try tonight. Day 2: the fruit as turned more blue and darker in tone. A little bit of mocha, coffee. Some fine tannins and dry acidity. This wine has changed quite a bit over the last 24 hours. I think I liked it best yesterday but after about two hours of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very northern Rhone in the smell, bright cherry, earth and rocky soil, palate is well balanced although would do well with a bit more acidity. Still a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stewed fruit nose. Sweet/tart blues and blacks. Light pepper spice, earth. Medium to low acidity, drying tannins. Not bad, but I just don't see enough stuffing for this wine to be much more than a good daily drinker down the road. Well made, but good, not great. Day 2 not much different than day 1. A little more smoked meat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is in a weird place right now, some green is coming through with smokey dark fruit. It gets better with air so I'm hoping if I lay off them for a while they will get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like the previous bottles I've opened, this was reticent and showing a lot of oak spice the first day opened. Unlike the previous bottles, leaving it overnight did not really open it up at all. Overall, it was enjoyable, but not up to the usual great experience I get from Carlisle syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Fascinating aromas of tar and creosote at first. After aeration complex aromas of assorted herbs, moss, sweet plum, and cassis. Palate: Dark and red fruits together with soft tannins, good acidity and a light to medium length finish. While I would agree with a previous reviewer that this is light and un-Carlisle-like I really like this wine as it is elegant and balanced. Also like the 13.8% alc levels. Nice to see Carlisle diversify their style and make a finesse driven wine...shows just how great they are at winemaking. If there is one fault it is not the best QPR at $27.50/btl but other than that this is a really good effort. 91+ points. SO glad I have been on their list for years. These guys rock!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted vs. Stoplman Hillstop Syray 2009, both were good. This was my first Carlisle I found it balanced, dark fruits with mild pepper on the mid palate, firm but approachable tannins. Drank well for two days
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The first Carlisle I have not liked. Cloying fruitiness, tutti fruitti. Will wait a long time before trying another because this probably is far too young.
Decanted for one hour. Interesting wine. Roses, peaches, mulled spice, blueberries, and smoke combine for an unusual (not in a bad way) tasting experience. Looking forward to following this ones evolution.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I must say, as much as I love both Carlisle AND Bennett Valley Syrah, this wasn't working for me tonight. Didn't go so far as KIDSMURF2000 and pour it down the drain, but well below my expectations. I'm hoping it's just too young, so I will wait for at least a year before cracking another.
I opened this just over a day ago and it's sat in the bottle through that time, no decant. Listed alc of 13.8%. Really dark, classic Carlisle color. Aromatic of cracker pepper and light smoke, dried purple flower. This is just over medium weight, soft in intensity of blue /black fruit. Licorice, some crushed rock, tarry with decent acidity but overall, this is pretty gentle. I'd say the drink window on this would be now through say 2015. This is not a big wine or one with stuffing so accordingly, a good early drinker.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I intended to taste this after a long decant, but my brother broke the decanter and got glass in it, so we dumped it. I did manage a taste after about an hour of decanting (before the accident) and it was still quite tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tight at first open, needs a good three hour decant to show its potential. Very rich and full of big gripping blackberry flavors, with some sweetness and vanilla from the oak. It starts to develop some decent tertiary flavors by day two, with a decent meatiness and some white pepper. It's on the bigger side for a coastal syrah, with solid yet yielding tannins and has a good long finish as well. Hold for another year at a minimum.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Absolutely awful, reminded me of two buck chuck. Tasted like sour grape juice. Was poured down the sink. I detected no common flaw, just a bad wine. Very odd from Carlisle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted over 2 days. The first day, this was very tight, tannic, and was dominated by the spicy oak. On the second day, this opened up and gained considerable weight, showing a lot of very young and primary fruit, but still retaining the tannins and in good balance. This one's gonna need some time to show its best, but it's pretty darn good now with lots of air.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Killed another '10 Carlisle. Needed a couple hours of air. Nose of pepper, iodine, violets and currants. Palate has tons of tannins, is fresh, and has a delightful purple fruit and meaty core. Moderate finish with repaying pepper, meat, purple fruit and a little mocha. Drinking well, but has plenty of structure to age.
Big ripe blackberry puree, slight pepper and volcanic ash kind of minerality; grippy tannins, very big and plush in the mouth; excellent quality, but monolithic: it's all about the fruit at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark color. Nose of dark cherry and dirty tobacco with a splash of oak. Palate is soft with round tannin and tart cherry. This is young and needs time to round out, but I like it. So happy I finally made the list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit tight but showing some spicy notes and dark fruit character. A little oak showing but not overdone. On the light side for Carlisle, which I appreciate, but I guess that is expected from a cool vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK Carlisle fans, I took one for the team by opening this the day after it was delivered since so many before had done the deed. I was assuming this wine was full of stuffing and needed a big decant, wrong my friends, surprisingly open for business right from the start. I did drop it through a vinturi and decanted for a hour before writing the note. The color was really dependent on the amount of light; crimson, garnet, to ruby as the light intensified. Nose was fruit forward with a slight whiff of jerky, jasmine flower, blue and red fruit. Palate was a surprise, thought I'd be hit with big sweet fruit and tongue clearing tannins as this stage, nope. The fruit is slightly unripe blackberry and tart raspberry with a significant dollop of acid mid palate surrounded by wet stone and light toast. Tannins are rounded and noticeable chalkiness. Finish is nice and the complexity is a bonus at such an early stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/10/2023 - kzkpt Likes this wine: 89 Points
Much better than the last. Fresh black fruits and black olives. No pepper. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2022 - KaupCava wrote: 87 Points
Definitely showing it’s age. Missing vibrant fruit and mostly notes of prunes and a bit of pepper. Still enjoyable with dinner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2022 - Senso-beak wrote: 84 Points
Opened and poured. Very dark, purples and deep reds. On the nose, very muted...not a lot going on, and this carries over to the palate as well. Very neutral, with no lively acidity or fruit to make this interesting. Tastes like a mediocre appellation blend of inferior fruit trying to masquerade as something else. Some fruit pastes, past their expiration dates. On day two, a little sweetness came out to make this a little more interesting. Overall ok, but definitely not my favorite Carlisle. On day two + under vac-u-vin this has turned to olive juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2022 - kzkpt wrote: flawed
On retaste today, the bottle was corked and awful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2022 - kzkpt wrote: 85 Points
At first taste, buried in green pepper taste. Nose almost dirty. Short finish, and not much acid there. Nowhere near as good as when I bought it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2021 - dhammer53 wrote:
Sorry. No notes. Housekeeping.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 86 Points
Plummy, cherry nose. Pleasant cherry fruit, roast meats, black pepper. Fine tannins, nice acidity and balance. Finishes long and dark fruited with some spicy notes. A tad hotter than I prefer, but not a big problem. Nice enough at this point but a bit further along than I would have hoped for at 11 years after vintage. Throwing a lot of sediment. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2021 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
My next to last bottle drunk with leftover braised pork shoulder. Still going strong with plenty of concentrated fruit flavors and very nice balance. Drink or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2021 - BHRH Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Much more mature than last TN. Still lots of dark fruit with some interesting spices and herbs. Seems to be at peak - so we'd better get going and finish off our remaining bottles!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2020 - Night Train Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not quite as blown away by this as I was with a bottle about a month ago. Same desireable components on the nose this time, but they seemed a little muted. Maybe it was the setting, the weather, and/or the food, but the most noticeable thing on the palate was a little too much acidity. Still a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2020 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was a little apprehensive, given CellarTracker's 2020 "drink by" date. No problem. It was fresh and vibrant, with plenty of structure. The nose just screamed Syrah! Minerals, baconfat, pepper, and herbs. Plenty of dark fruits and pepper on the palate. Fairly lean, but it had a solid finish. At less than $28, it's a terrific value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2020 - David_T wrote:
At peak. Flavors unchanged from my previous notes and all of the structural elements fully integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2020 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Followed over about 3 hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of briar-patch, white pepper and boysenberries. Flavors of Bing cherries, boysenberries and plum. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2019 - gzim wrote: 87 Points
MEH just seemed a bit flat. Nothing wrong, but nothing exciting.
I think it needs more acid to balance the strong ripe fruit.
Not one of my favorite Carlisle Syrahs... Still seems very young, but was not tight
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2019 - GrapeScott wrote: 88 Points
Eucalyptus and black cherry on the nose, a bit of beef blood and bacon fat with aeration. Despite its age, this is still very primary, and required a lot of air to open up. Medium-bodied with firm tannins. Needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious mature syrah drank with instant pot pork roast. Lots of elegant fruit, earthiness, and good acid balance. My third of five and the best so far. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 91 Points
Carlisle's 2010 Bennett Valley Syrah is an opaque crimson, full-bodied wine that is packed with dark bramble fruits, damson plums, baking spices and black pepper. Ripe yet freshly acidic, it is layered in the middle, wrapping the fruit with sweet tannins and creamy oak while hiding its 13.8% alcohol well. Finishing with impressive length, this is still quite youthful. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years. Drink now-2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2019 - BHRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind - many thought this was a northern Rhone because of the tannin and acid structure. slightly purple rim. Excellent syrah fruit. Long complex finish. One of the more elegant and complex Carlisle's with lots of years left!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking well. Lots of fruit. Good balance. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2018 - pgb67 wrote: 93 Points
Reminded me that I need to be drinking more (and ordering more) Carlisle syrahs. More earthy and rustic than the Carlisle zins. with leather and bacon character coming through. At the same time, you have good Carlisle balance with still lithe acidity keeping the fruity boozy side in check. Impressed that it was so vibrant after these years. And a good bargain to boot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2018 - David_T wrote:
I didn’t take formal notes but this is drinking well now and a nice syrah. Dark fruits, a bit smokey. Integrated structural elements, drinking well now but should drink well for several more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2018 - Meerlust wrote: 89 Points
Purple color with pale pink rim. The nose was not terribly complex with plummy fruit, floral notes, and light pepper. On the palate, this is packed with plum, cherry, chocolate, olive, and pepper on the finish. Surprisingly, this was medium-bodied with good acidity and a plush mouthfeel. Overall, I liked this wine’s medium weight and its mouthfeel, and while it wasn’t terribly complex, it paired beautifully with pepposo, which is chunks of peppered top sirloin cooked in a chianti and tomato sauce. The wine’s peppery profile matched the meat, and since the stew was served over mashed potatoes, the mouthfeel was perfect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2018 - GLum Likes this wine: 91 Points
dark berries, , nice balance of fruit and alcohol, soft tannins w/ long finish w/ black berries, black currant,clove, notes..drink now
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2018 - djpo wrote: 90 Points
Maybe this could use more time, yet I'd vote open now for some brooding, delicious wine. Drink now-2020
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2018 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 87 Points
Decent Syrah, but a little disjointed. I think it is in an odd stretch and would hold off drinking it for several years as I believe it will come together. However it appears there’ are some cork issues. Mine was fine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - Meerlust wrote: flawed
Sadly, this bottle seems to be slightly corked. Both the nose and the palate are dialed down significantly. There are some plum and lavender on the palate and the nose but everything was muted.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2017 - Jman14 wrote:
Chuck says nom nom nom nom!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2017 - Jonathan T wrote: 89 Points
This bottle was similar to the last bottle, except that when it was first popped and poured, there was this delicious funk on the nose. I loved it. It was earthy and smokey, with truffle and chanterelle mushrooms. Unfortunately, that funk blew off about an hour later, and the remainder, while still nice, felt ordinary.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2017 - snarfglk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Filled out and better fruit and finish day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2017 - EhrlichDY wrote:
Popped and enjoyed over two nights. This wine was surprisingly primary and shut down on night one. There were no objectionable tannins. The wine was just soft and simple. On the second night the wine actually stiffened up structurally and added classic Carlisle fruit and spice notes. I would recommend holding bottles for at least 3 years to let them develop.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2017 - alpha_ori wrote: 87 Points
Hilarious that I drank this only *three months ago* and didn't remember how disappointed I was in it. Well, I cracked another one open tonight and had exactly the same reaction, down to the rating, and was quite surprised to find a near-duplicate entry from just three months earlier. Must be getting old.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Still young but starting to open and show more signs of development. 2010 is slow for Syrahs. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, some black pepper, and a bit of roasted meats and herbs. On the palate, sort of middle of the road (climate wise in profile). Some ripe black raspberry fruit but also some cooler notes. Great acidity. Slight tannins. Long finish. Really a very nice Syrah. No hurry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
similar to previous notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2017 - snarfglk wrote: 90 Points
Coming around, better day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2017 - alpha_ori wrote: 87 Points
Not terrible, but not *good*. Just seems dead in the mouth. Admittedly, we drank this a little warmer than I would have ordinarily (66 degrees), but still, unexpected from Carlisle, and disappointing given that Bennett valley is a favorite region for Norcal Syrah.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2017 - Jonathan T wrote: 88 Points
I was really excited to try this, as this was a vintage where the syrah fruit from Cardiac Hill (which I love) was declassified into the Bennett Valley Syrah. But, I was left a bit disappointed. Not that it wasn't a nice wine, but I've come to expect Mike Officer's wines to be such overachievers, and this merely delivered on its price point. A little more thin and less aromatic than other syrahs, and it lacked a sense of place and varietal character. None of the bacon fat, meatiness, minerality, or pepperiness I enjoy in my Cali syrahs.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2016 - ToddS wrote:
Two bad bottles in a row. Not good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2016 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good syrah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2016 - Mr.Overhill Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well, it looks like this one is finally starting to put itself in the "winner" camp. It only took almost four years in bottle to finally settle down and flesh out. Really dark syrah fruit still dominates, and the tannins are very supportive of the fruit, but as the grip loosens the midpalate shows great blackberry flavor with some crushed rock and white pepper undertones. Yes, it's still a brute but it's becoming a lovable pit bull of a wine. The finish was really awesome, with a nice long forest and berry bush ride to the end. Still would continue to hold it a wee bit longer, but it definitely has 10+ years to go, and I think that Mike might have a real winner with this one.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Pop n pour. OK day 1, day 2 a little better but not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2016 - DeadheadKurt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty close to my previous notes from May but only decanted for 1 hour before it started opening up. Having it tonight with pork ribs with an Asian hoisin cranberry sauce. Wonderful match. I still have another bottle that I will try in another 6 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Dark garnet/purple. Ripe red plum nose and a smoky meat with spice. Spicy red fruit, jerky, and crunchy tannins. Nice chalk mid palate and medium plus acid. This improves with an hour of airtime and held up the next day.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2015 - Outplaying wrote:
Like my last bottle a couple years ago, this showed better on day two when it was more balanced. On night one, it was a bit big, surprisingly even too much for Ann.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2015 - dougie Likes this wine: 90 Points
Almost dessert like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2015 - Drankthewholebottle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Stunning old-school syrah. looked really pretty with a communion nose. I could've been fooled for an 80's Cabernet. Savory goodness, properly stored it cold age gracefully for 20+ more years.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2015 - greekwineaux wrote: 89 Points
Tremendous contrast to most of the Carlisle line-up. Savory, with a pronounced salinity-fruit is off in the background, which isn't the norm for this label. That said, is does have the ability to please, but not so much that you'd want to rush back and buy more. Hey, you can't hit home runs every time, right?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2015 - pakabear wrote: 89 Points
2nd Day, still drinking well, smoother overall, but the flavor is not something I love, it's all meat and oak so the fruit is missing somehow. It's good and different but not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 90 Points
PnP, kinda like a steak with blackberry and a bunch of cherry rubbed on it, finishes off with medium tannins and a good amount of oak that is kept in check by the fruit. Could use a little more acidity but the palate is silky smooth which I like.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2015 - csimm wrote: 87 Points
On the nose, faint aromas of purple fruit and an initial whiff of alcohol. On the palate, very subtle (almost fragile) blue and purple fruit flavors. Especially light and lithe for a Carlisle Syrah. It was definitely missing some of the olive, bay leaf, and forest floor complexities I have found characteristic of Mike Officer's other Syrahs (e.g.: Papa's Block or Rosella's).
I made the mistake of decanting this wine; after an hour, what fruit had been there was virtually undetectable, instead replaced by strong cedar and wood notes. Tannins had subsided to the point that the wine offered very little by the final sips. I would suggest not only drinking now, but also limiting service to a PnP with immediate consumption. I do not recommend decanting or letting O2 get the best of what fruit is left in this wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
7/11/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark, cool climate syrah with North Rhone sensibilities. Somewhat rustic structure with dusty tannins and savory notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2015 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice, and drinking beautifully right now. Dark purple-red. Raspberry, a little strawberry twizzler, some basil, smoke. Full bodied, not too heavy, nice balance. Delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2015 - cmr wrote: 89 Points
Nice syrah, not a great qpr but enjoyable. The body came across as a little thin but overall on the palate it was quite tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2015 - DeadheadKurt Likes this wine: 90 Points
3 hour decant. Nice blue/black fruit, tea flavor and mild tannins. Had it with grilled beef steak but I think a pork tenderloin with Asian spices would have been a better match. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 89 Points
Very easy to drink; I would prefer a little more complexity but this wine is well balanced and flavorful; dark red fruit; no spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
This is starting to come around. It still needs some time or air. After a few hours it was singing though. The nose has boysenberries, some charred wood, and floral notes. This drinks cooler climate with more earthiness and minerals, but still plenty of fruit. With air, more fruit emerges. nice texture. Nice finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2015 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 88 Points
This has varied greatly, bottle to bottle
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2015 - David_T wrote: 90 Points
Aromas of dark fruit, beef jerky and a bit of pepper. The palate largely matches: fruit initially, then a spicy/peppery midpalate than a somewhat lengthy beef jerky/soy sauce finish. Quite tasty, light+ acid/tannins. Drinkable now but I look forward to seeing where it goes the next few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 88 Points
Enjoyable with reasonable fruit and balance; modest finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2015 - gzim wrote: 86 Points
Popped and poured which did not work for this wine on this night.
Some dark fruit, but more white pepper and sharpish tannins than I would have liked. It felt a bit disjointed to me, and did not improve in the hour I followed it. It felt flat and a little hollow in the mid-palate - the fruit just didn't expand.
I am hoping the 2nd half of this bottle will show better (which was gently poured immediately into a 375 and re-corked with the original cork).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2015 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderfully well balanced and made cool climate Syrah. This is the style of Syrah for me, not over the top at all...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2014 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Make my funk the "C" funk! That's the first thought that came into my mind when I opened this outstanding cool-climate Syrah. It's nearly opaque purple color. With some air that "funk (which I personally dig) is replaced with black fruits, violets, and graphite aromas that leap from the glass. On the palate it's lighter-bodied, and polished with a harmonious character that shows blackberry, black raspberry, and a bit of boysenberry flavors. Long mineral laced finish. #keepsyrahweird
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2014 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Enjoyed on PNP. Medium body, dark. Good fruit, good finish all the way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2014 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very dark color with a Northern Rhone-like flavor profile and some dusty tannins. A bit lighter and less intense than some of the other Sonoma syrahs (ie, Papa's Block). Food friendly and enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2014 - cstir Likes this wine: 88 Points
Enjoyable but not memorable; has balanced flavor of modest depth; pleasant finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
very good overall, needs more delineation of fruit, some of the flavors are muddled together, but it has very good balance. Good overall and enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2014 - dougie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rustic. Needs a couple of more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - mpricher wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple. little light passes thru. Nose of blue fruit, some menthol, and saddle leather. lots of alcohol up front, this blew off over an hour and this opened to a very nice Syrah. Not mind blowing like some others but very good. some veggie black olive or truffle notes with the fruit make this food flexible.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2014 - 97edwardc wrote: 92 Points
A year and a half ago this was a disappointment. Now it is a delicious revelation. Enjoy!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2014 - Mattshank wrote:
Unlike the last bottle (notes on 4/5/13) this one was dead with little acid or tannin. Nose was still ok but not as good. Judgement reserved...no score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2014 - haldolugr wrote: 87 Points
A very solid Syrah. Drank a few days ago so the flavor notes aren't fresh in my mind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Dark purple and garnet color. Nose shows dark berries and red fruit. Palate is very complex but no single element is dominate. Light red berries, sage, black olive, medium toast, limestone, and garrigue. Tannins are present but very fine. Medium finish. Very similar to my previous note 1 1/2 years ago. This is holding up very well, no rush to drink and I still have four bottles left so I'll slow roll them.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2014 - haldolugr wrote: 88 Points
There is a funk on the nose that isn't in the wine, but throws you off as you go in for a drink. Dark black and blue fruit with a solid finish. More of a medium bodied Syrah, not as big and expressive as other syrahs but still really good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2014 - mmurry Likes this wine: 90 Points
blueberry and raspberry on the nose, with spice and leather, and some smoke and meat juice at the end. Leather and meat on the palate, with spice and smoke on the mid-palate, and a slight red fruit finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2014 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Smoky, with some chalky tannins reminiscent of cocoa powder. Oak is a little strong for my tastes. Fruit is there but masked by all of the other stuff going on in this wine. I liked it, but it's definitely not one of my favorites from Carlisle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2014 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 91 Points
Filled with deep blue fruit, rougher tannins and solid acids. For this vintage, I think it shows promise but needs more time to sit, probably another year at the least. Its roughness did smooth out somewhat after being open for two days. Wish is had more of a tertiary taste component, for now it seems more jumbled and disjointed. Still, an enjoyable wine indeed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2014 - Mootsie wrote: 87 Points
Not much progress since the bottle about 10 months ago. There is not a lot to dislike, but there is also not a lot to like. More earth and tar than fruit. Really flat. Opens with air and adds mint/licorice tones. Just no memorable elements.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2014 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs air, smooth, balanced, very good wine but the wow factor missing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2014 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding syrah, as great as my first bottle a year ago was disappointing. Another year in bottle or a bad first bottle? Anythehoo, a brilliant northern Rhone-esque rendering this time, with all elements in balance, and I knew it from the first sniff, before even tasting. Bravo!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2014 - leadpencil wrote: 90 Points
Roasted meat, raspbery
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2014 - fredman wrote: 90 Points
One hour decant. Had more of a Grenache feel than Syrah. Luscious red fruits (raspberry, cherry), along with some peach/apricot nectar. A great QPR that goes well with any meal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2014 - Outplaying wrote:
Popped and poured. Olive, white pepper, sanguine notes mixed with tart fruits, mostly red in tone but also some darker fruits. Terrific acidity and medium weight. Didn't wow us this time but there is a half a bottle left so we will see how a day of air affects it. Day 2: I like this better today. The fruit is more blue in tone and the wine feels more balanced. Not as big as many of Carlisle's syrahs. I'll decant for a while next time. Day 3: this has held up very well and now shows lots of blue fruit and better balance. I rarely like a wine on the third day, but this is the exception.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2013 - shadow wrote: 92 Points
Easy to like, leather, dark fruit, pleasant finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2013 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
In balance, smooth, just right fruit and tannins. A little monolithic, but a very pleasing wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2013 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Went very well with BBQ ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2013 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Fruit is still pretty restrained at the moment with some cocoa flavors with fine, cottony tannins that reminds of cocoa powder. I can see how some may not like this so much, but I found it to be enjoyable and interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2013 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, full-bodied blackberry/blueberry fruit, excellent structure, floral, spice and black tea flavors, long finish, very round
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2013 - PIntag wrote: 89 Points
Drank over 2 days -- improved throughout. This is still very young but improving. Cocoa and tannins at the forefront with some dark fruit. Oak has integrated a bit, but I'll wait a little longer on the next bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2013 - Outplaying wrote:
After receiving the offer for the new releases yesterday, I thought I'd open a Carlisle. Decided on this one since I have a few, hadn't tried it yet and the comments were all over the place. Popped and poured and tasted over about 2 hours. Initially this showed pure red fruits, with some spice, cinnamon-red hot candies, and a little licorice. Lighter in body than I expected, with light-medium acidity and tannin. It reminded me of some Clos Du Mont Olivet Cotes du Rhone bottlings. I can see why there are some dissenters on this one as it is not what you might normally expect from a Carlisle syrah, however we enjoyed it for its pretty red fruits and more elegant style. As it opened and warmed to room temp, the fruit started to take on some darker tones. Have about 1/3 left sitting in the fridge that I'll try tonight. Day 2: the fruit as turned more blue and darker in tone. A little bit of mocha, coffee. Some fine tannins and dry acidity. This wine has changed quite a bit over the last 24 hours. I think I liked it best yesterday but after about two hours of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2013 - pakabear wrote: 90 Points
Very northern Rhone in the smell, bright cherry, earth and rocky soil, palate is well balanced although would do well with a bit more acidity. Still a nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2013 - The Wine Write wrote: 90 Points
Red plums and cherries on the nose. Red fruit on the palate, with a peppery finish. Smooth and solid drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2013 - Mootsie wrote: 87 Points
Stewed fruit nose. Sweet/tart blues and blacks. Light pepper spice, earth. Medium to low acidity, drying tannins. Not bad, but I just don't see enough stuffing for this wine to be much more than a good daily drinker down the road. Well made, but good, not great.
Day 2 not much different than day 1. A little more smoked meat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2013 - pakabear wrote: 89 Points
This is in a weird place right now, some green is coming through with smokey dark fruit. It gets better with air so I'm hoping if I lay off them for a while they will get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2013 - PIntag wrote: 88 Points
Like the previous bottles I've opened, this was reticent and showing a lot of oak spice the first day opened. Unlike the previous bottles, leaving it overnight did not really open it up at all. Overall, it was enjoyable, but not up to the usual great experience I get from Carlisle syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2013 - The Vinsider Likes this wine: 92 Points
No notes. Yummy, full and complete, with good complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2013 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Fascinating aromas of tar and creosote at first. After aeration complex aromas of assorted herbs, moss, sweet plum, and cassis. Palate: Dark and red fruits together with soft tannins, good acidity and a light to medium length finish. While I would agree with a previous reviewer that this is light and un-Carlisle-like I really like this wine as it is elegant and balanced. Also like the 13.8% alc levels. Nice to see Carlisle diversify their style and make a finesse driven wine...shows just how great they are at winemaking. If there is one fault it is not the best QPR at $27.50/btl but other than that this is a really good effort. 91+ points. SO glad I have been on their list for years. These guys rock!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2013 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nervy with serious black and blue fruits, ground pepper, smoked game, violets, medium bodied with a medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2013 - CelebrateLife! wrote: 90 Points
Tasted vs. Stoplman Hillstop Syray 2009, both were good. This was my first Carlisle I found it balanced, dark fruits with mild pepper on the mid palate, firm but approachable tannins. Drank well for two days
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2013 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 84 Points
The first Carlisle I have not liked. Cloying fruitiness, tutti fruitti. Will wait a long time before trying another because this probably is far too young.
2 on the AF scale.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/19/2013 - fredman wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for one hour. Interesting wine. Roses, peaches, mulled spice, blueberries, and smoke combine for an unusual (not in a bad way) tasting experience. Looking forward to following this ones evolution.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2013 - 97edwardc wrote:
I must say, as much as I love both Carlisle AND Bennett Valley Syrah, this wasn't working for me tonight. Didn't go so far as KIDSMURF2000 and pour it down the drain, but well below my expectations. I'm hoping it's just too young, so I will wait for at least a year before cracking another.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/13/2013 - Frank Murray III Likes this wine:
I opened this just over a day ago and it's sat in the bottle through that time, no decant. Listed alc of 13.8%. Really dark, classic Carlisle color. Aromatic of cracker pepper and light smoke, dried purple flower. This is just over medium weight, soft in intensity of blue /black fruit. Licorice, some crushed rock, tarry with decent acidity but overall, this is pretty gentle. I'd say the drink window on this would be now through say 2015. This is not a big wine or one with stuffing so accordingly, a good early drinker.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2013 - PIntag wrote:
I intended to taste this after a long decant, but my brother broke the decanter and got glass in it, so we dumped it. I did manage a taste after about an hour of decanting (before the accident) and it was still quite tight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2012 - Mr.Overhill wrote: 90 Points
Very tight at first open, needs a good three hour decant to show its potential. Very rich and full of big gripping blackberry flavors, with some sweetness and vanilla from the oak. It starts to develop some decent tertiary flavors by day two, with a decent meatiness and some white pepper. It's on the bigger side for a coastal syrah, with solid yet yielding tannins and has a good long finish as well. Hold for another year at a minimum.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - kidsmurf2000 Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Absolutely awful, reminded me of two buck chuck. Tasted like sour grape juice. Was poured down the sink. I detected no common flaw, just a bad wine. Very odd from Carlisle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2012 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over 2 days. The first day, this was very tight, tannic, and was dominated by the spicy oak. On the second day, this opened up and gained considerable weight, showing a lot of very young and primary fruit, but still retaining the tannins and in good balance. This one's gonna need some time to show its best, but it's pretty darn good now with lots of air.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2012 - Nutty08 wrote: 91 Points
Killed another '10 Carlisle. Needed a couple hours of air. Nose of pepper, iodine, violets and currants. Palate has tons of tannins, is fresh, and has a delightful purple fruit and meaty core. Moderate finish with repaying pepper, meat, purple fruit and a little mocha. Drinking well, but has plenty of structure to age.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/20/2012 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Big ripe blackberry puree, slight pepper and volcanic ash kind of minerality; grippy tannins, very big and plush in the mouth; excellent quality, but monolithic: it's all about the fruit at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2012 - Rayburn Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark color. Nose of dark cherry and dirty tobacco with a splash of oak. Palate is soft with round tannin and tart cherry. This is young and needs time to round out, but I like it. So happy I finally made the list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2012 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
A bit tight but showing some spicy notes and dark fruit character. A little oak showing but not overdone. On the light side for Carlisle, which I appreciate, but I guess that is expected from a cool vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - brigcampbell wrote:
OK Carlisle fans, I took one for the team by opening this the day after it was delivered since so many before had done the deed. I was assuming this wine was full of stuffing and needed a big decant, wrong my friends, surprisingly open for business right from the start. I did drop it through a vinturi and decanted for a hour before writing the note. The color was really dependent on the amount of light; crimson, garnet, to ruby as the light intensified. Nose was fruit forward with a slight whiff of jerky, jasmine flower, blue and red fruit. Palate was a surprise, thought I'd be hit with big sweet fruit and tongue clearing tannins as this stage, nope. The fruit is slightly unripe blackberry and tart raspberry with a significant dollop of acid mid palate surrounded by wet stone and light toast. Tannins are rounded and noticeable chalkiness. Finish is nice and the complexity is a bonus at such an early stage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2012 - Baggio wrote: 89 Points
I didn't find much going on here. It was a little on the thin side. 6 months before I try it again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment