The raspberry aromas combined with slightly overripe plums. Experimented with half the bottle decanted over 90 minutes and half remaining in the bottle to slow ox. Although my wife and I disagreed on aromatic profiles, the un-decanted version was the clear favorite. Had much fresher, zestier, sweet raspberry and brambleberry fruit - and a longer finish. A terrific zin, but likely at or slightly past peak. Drink up - and don't decant!!
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The last TN said "hot and sticky-sweet" and, though I only had a taste to see if it was fit to serve (it was, kind of), that was my impression as well. Guests at burgers 'n dogs drank about two-fifths; I'll revisit this in a couple days and see if there's any added dimension. So, yes, much better after a few hours of air (and a couple of days VV'd and refrigerated). Maybe too long open; there is the faintest whiff of oxidation. It drinks considerably cooler than on opening, and the character of the grape shows to good effect. I'm less interested in the Zinfandel grape than I once was, as I consider it burly and high-ish in ABV; whereas my tastes are running increasingly in the opposite direction. And yet, on Day Five (VV, fridge) it drinks very well. Did it just need lots of time? In which case, at least a long decant is (would have been) in order. And finally, Day 6: a very nice glass, with concentrated freshly crushed blackberries predominant.
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I tried to like this, and have enjoyed all prior Papera bottles. But this was hot, and sticky sweet. It never blew off, or worked itself out. It was unpleasant for three consecutive days. Hopefully this is just an off bottle, and not my palate preferences changing. I don’t recall any prior bottles being this hot or over the top. No rating, but if forced, it would be below 80.
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We popped and poured and felt there was a bit too much heat. 2 hrs later, it was a totally different wine. Perfectly integrated, balanced, and fruit forward. It went from pretty good to fabulous in two hours. Paired nicely with venison and duck cassoulet.
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My last 2012 Papera, still drinking great and was best the 2nd day. Papera Ranch zins are my favorite and I think these will drink well for a couple more years. wish I had more.
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Gorgeous nose, bursting with black cherry in the mouth. Smooth and delicious with gratifying spice and mineral notes on the finish. Best Zin I’ve had in a long time. No rush to drink.
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Loving these older Zins from the Russian River area. Lots of fruit left, but also quite a bit of minerality and other qualities that only come out with proper aging.
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Decanted two hours, a slight brown tinge as this is poured. Massively powerful nose, pepper, black cherries, and a ton of rich spices. I’d be content just smelling this all night if I wasn’t allowed to actually drink it. Less intense on the palate with softer notes of tobacco and chocolate. Excellent match with an eggplant pasta.
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Lush berry nose. Plush fruit, blackberry, blueberry, spicy accents. Firm but not overbearing tannins, brilliant acidity, great balance. No heat at all. Finishes long and bright with bramble fruits and spice. Lovely. May take another 2 or 3 years to peak. 15.4% ABV.
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Drank with slow cooker barbecue ribs. This is what I look for in Zin. Super concentrated dark fruits, spice and licorice. Seamless integration and excellent balance. Starting to develop the elegance I associate with good mature Zin. long finish. One bottle left and wish I had a case. Drink or hold.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of black raspberry jam, huckleberry, tangerine peel, milk chocolate and herbs. Jammy black fruit, blood orange, spice and fine tannins on the palate. Long layered finish. Full bodied. Served with pasta and sausage ragu.
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Pop and pour. Wow, this is so much better than 5 years ago. This zinfandel was downright restrained, almost claret-like. The nose is sweet fruit and spice. Berries dominate the flavor. Very silky, it's not going to get any more integrated than this, just a question of how long it will hold. Drink now.
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I liked this although it was not the unanimous favorite for the night. The dark fruit is still round and full with resolved tannins. The acidity has softened. Good finish. Not elegant but well balanced. Almost claret like in its mouth feel.
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Purple in color. 15.4% ABV. 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignane. Savory nose of dark red fruits, licorice, plums and baking spices. Medium to full bodied with exceptional acidity. Super silky and plush. Raspberry, cherry liqueur, blackberry and a hint of citrus on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. It does not get much better than Papera fruit in the hands of Mike Officer. Drink over the next year or so.
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This opened up with roaring aromatic fruit and then calmed down. Decanted for 1.5 hrs prior to drinking (I would not recommend this). Lots of bramble fruit, spice. Red, blue, purple berries. Sparkle on finish. Full bodied for a zin. Me - 92/93, Wife - 92
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As soon as this was poured into the decanter I was overwhelmed by massive raspberry jam aromas! Came across as a very pure Zin extraction with deep raspberry and some blackberry fruits. After 2+ hours some subtle spice notes emerged but this continues to be a benchmark in modern Zin. Bravo Mike Officer!!
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Consistent with a previous bottle, although it seems to have lost a little oomph. Red and black raspberries. Minimal viscosity, but the fruit produced a terrific finish. Well balanced, but it may have passed its peak.
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Very nice indeed. Pure zin, not a field blend. Group tasted in horizontal with the Saitone Ranch. The Papera is slightly sweeter and tastes like pure zin, although not a dramatic difference.
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Wow!! Glad this had a good decant (1.5hrs) because it needed it. We were rewarded with an exciting, exuberant zin that was close to the great old zins of Ravenswood and Ridge. Killer sweet black raspberry on the nose without being cloying. Maybe a touch of licorice. Long, complex boysenberry and black raspberry fruit on the palate with nice but not bracing acidity and a super finish with just a touch of heat. Best Zin i've had this year! has the structure for another 2-5 years if stored properly.
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This took an hour or so to come together but when it did it was wonderful. Drank with spaghetti and meatballs. Loads of dark fruits, licorice, chocolate. Drink or hold.
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Zin the way it ought to be. The nose shouts out it's a zin with blackberries and a dark earthy note. A burst of bramble fruit on the palate, blackberries and raspberries. A nice spice note. The fruit stays rich across the palate. Firm tannins, great acidity and balance. Finishes long, sweet (not RS) and spicy. Should drink well for another 3 or 4 years at least.
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Lovely, lush Papera. Ready now but will benefit from 2-3 more years. Deep, dark fruit profile and black pepper / spice on the finish. Really well-balanced with smooth tannins, a great mouthfeel, and a superbly long finish. We decanted for about 45 minutes before drinking, and the second glass showed more intensity. It accompanied a lamb tangine with carrots and green olives, and the wine held its own and complemented the food nicely. I'm sad I don't have any more to enjoy at a later date.
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Had alongside a 2012 Papera Heritage from Bedrock. While the Bedrock seems to need more time, the Carlisle seems to be at its peak. Darker fruit profile gave the Carlisle a lot more bottom end. Quite rich, but not too viscous. Well balanced and seamlessly integrated. Not a whole lot of "Wow" factor compared, for example, to Carlisle's 2012 Hayne zin, but it was a very nice, very solid zin.
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Deep purple. Fruity, plush plum and boysenberry fruit. A hint of black pepper spicy on the finish. The tannins are well integrated- drinking very well now.
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Popped and poured, deep purple/ruby. Exuberant nose of dark fruits, crushed black pepper, kalamata olive, black tea, barbecue spices & cocoa powder. Well-balanced, with lovely presence and just filled with blackberry, black raspberry, boysenberry and every other zin-fruit imaginable. Drinking in the zone and absolutely delicious, this is outstanding even for the vintage.
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Popped and pour. I was concerned because it hadn’t been stored properly for several months. But...upon opening....delicious blast of sweet fruit. Powerful, briary and wild. So typical of great zins. Etoh 15.4% but not noticeable at all. Truly wonderful balance. Certainly one of the better zins I’ve had this year or last.
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Oh yes, that's good zin. To me Papera delivers some of the most pure fruit expressions among the Carlisle lineup. While the Montafi and Carlisle Vineyard have more dynamic/varied, flavor nuances, including loam, etc. from Papera I enjoy the linear, magenta colored zinberry fruit. This bottle was a great example of that. Crackling crushed raspberry, boisenberry, light on its feet while still full flavored. Served with pizza and that was all good. I have been really impressed with the '12 Single Vineyard zins from Carlisle.
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An “old friend” wine - delivering exactly what I expected and wanted... A big-flavor wine, but (as with most Carlisle Zins) well inside the limits and balanced. I think 6 years is a really nice, happy place for these wines in general - definitely was for this one. Still showcasing its red and purple berry fruit, though a bit more comfortable with itself at this point.
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Dark purple. Needs a decant or air time. Needed to blow off the sulfur and funkiness. Blueberry, cherry, black raspberry, vanilla, mild oak, some chocolate and cola. Okay but not overtly acidic. Finishes big with a hint of heat. Mild menthol on the nose. Did well with cheese before dinner and good by itself afterwards.
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Briary fruit with a seamless mouthfeel. Overall, very well integrated with a silky finish. I've heard that 2012 Carlisles are ready to go, and I can confirm that that's a true statement.
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2012 Carlisle zins are absolutely crushing right now. Highly aromatic on pnp with savory red fruits and mint. On the palate this is very savory, herbal, and red fruited, with a very distinct eucalyptus note that my wife and I are really digging. Plenty of acidity in a medium++ bodied frame and a fairly long finish round out a delicious and wildly satisfying bottle of wine. Drinking incredibly well but id expect it to hold for the next 3 to 5 years and possibly even improve some. Love Carlsisle. Love Papera Ranch. Love the 2012 vintage.
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This bottle was a bit different than my first two, starting with the very intriguing bouquet that reminded me of smelling summer berry bushes - a sort of fresh, slightly herbal quality mixed with sweeter fruit scents. The palate was red and black raspberries complemented by ripe peach, mildly assertive black pepper/spice, and a cool menthol on the close. If that sounds like an unusual mix of flavors, it is. But, somehow, it all works together.
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Aromas of huckleberry, blueberry, plum, wild cherry and touch of meat. Flavors of blueberry, huckleberry, wild cherry, currant and touch of earth. Ends with a 35+ second finish or blueberry and wild cherry. Just a fabulous Zin and drinking perfect right now. Always one of my favorite bottlings.
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Consistent with last tasting November, 2015. Opaque purple in color, this wine (4% Carignane) reveals intense and linear aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, lavender and kirsch. The mouth feel is very full bodied with sweet tannins, noticeable oak and more black as well as blue fruits. The finish is complex and long with the blue fruits and lavender coming out strong, holding the 15.4% abv in check.
Purchased for $48US, this is my second tasting of this Carlisle Zin. The hype is real and justified. Wow.
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One-hour decant. This is in a good place right now but should be fine for the next 3-5 years. The problem I have with Carlisle wines is discipline. I don't have any. I probably drink them sooner than I should. I just can't help myself.
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On PnP, the nose is full of red fruit and spice. Poured through the VinTuri, the palate starts with red fruit and quickly changes to a mid palate of darker black raspberry with plenty of grip that continues on the finish which includes some coffee with some time in the glass. My overall impressions sent me looking for Mike’s release notes to see if there is Petite Sirah. There isn’t as Mike remarked how the wine shows an array of mixed blacks that aren’t there.
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Ditto my note from 5/20. Which is good, given how much fluctuation you can get from zins that are this high-octane. Nice to see this in such great/similar shape. Fresh coffee grounds are more pronounced/intoxicating than I remember. Has miles to go yet; should hold this form for another few years and hold this score for even longer.
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What a delicious Zin. Inviting expressive nose. Warm, plush, and mouth-coating as it glides across palate. Warm dark fruits of black raspberry and black cherry with ample glycerin providing a great mouthfeel. All this may sound heavy, but this wine remains lithe enough to create a wonderful balance of texture. Seamless into mid-palate and throughout the long satisfying finish. Alas, last bottle of the 2012's, but 2015's arrived this week. A new "must purchase" for us.
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Bottle #1 of 4. Laser-like focus, deep purple and black fruits, classic creosote/bramble notes, great clarity and persistence, and a walloping finish. Very bright wine, and even better after being opened a few days. Killer. Will last another 4-6 years.
Popped and poured. Nose of blackberry, raspberry, bramble and spice. Blackberry, raspberry, black tea, spice and vanilla on the palate. Finishes long. Full bodied. Served with mushroom pizza.
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Ripe dark fruit and spice on the nose, this wine is plush but with enough structure and mix of dark cherry, mocha and minerals. Good length and definitely zin.
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My tastes...they are..a'changin. This has some great raspberry fruit, a little bit of spice, not really much zin-ny bramble (I guess that's more DCV). Really thick mouthfeel, very rich, but too much heat, alcohol on the finish. Not really enough acid to cut it, or to go with food well. I think my tastes have really shifted from this sort of wine. I know Carlisles are known to age well, but I have trouble seeing how this will turn into something I choose to drink when I have other options in the cellar.
Bright juicy raspberry strawberry and hints of cherry, blackberry and bramble. Red fruits with a bit of licorice, bright acidity holds it all together. Drinks young but very delicious now. Great job Mike!
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93, maybe higher, just a great zin, so smooth, complex. Carlisle zins are just different, never the fruit bombs that so many zins are. Papera Ranch are my favorite Carlisle zin.
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Popped and poured...expressive nose of ripe dark cherries and blueberries...even better after an hour...smooth finish...one of my favorites from Carlisle...prime drinking right now.
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Great zin from a great vintage and producer. Boysenberry and raspberry and vanilla. Smooth despite the excessive alcohol. One of those wines that scream i am fermented grape juice! Just entering its window, although I had a 2009 carlisle carlisle vineyard and it was zin perfection, so perhaps this does need 3 years to really kill it.
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Last bottle of this stunning wine. Seducing nose with boysenberries, cranberries, pepper, stone, licorice some mint maybe? Seamless on the palate with great balance. Wonderful!
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This bottle is consistently a knockout and has shown little variation over the past couple of years, i.e. a good candidate for the cellar. Tonight, a wall of raspberry and mint on the nose, and beyond that, licorice, cherry, and espresso flavors. Reverberating orange peel that I've found typical of some Carlisle zins lately. One of those bottles that you can't stand to see come to an end. Drink now, hold for later, or build a shrine to it in your house.
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This one has taught me to hold my Carlisle's a few years in good vintages. This is way better than it was a couple of years ago. Ripe red fruit, great nose. Spice on the palate and the finish, but then shows a core of red fruit that just lingers. Excellent! At it's peak.
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Consistent with my notes from two years ago and using the same word; claret. Hard to believe this is zin. None of the pepper and heat. Just balanced, smooth and good-tasting. Why drink cabs when you can have this for $40?
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Wonderful balance -- full without being overbearing. Deep maroon color, nice mix of berries but not tart. Always love the Paperas, this is another in a great line.
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I guess I like this wine - 2nd time tasted this year. Better balance at this stage and the acidic sting on the tongue is not noticeable. Big, rich and intense fruit in the mouth. Again, see my notes of 4-17-2015.
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On the young side for my tastes, but already showing beautiful dark fruit and a lovely nose. I really like the Papera wines I've had from both Carlisle and Bedrock.
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I don't have much to add to the other tasting notes except to say this is a well made wine and now everything is in harmony. The tannins are resolved, the zin heat restrained, and the fruit blended into all the flavors. Not the flavor levels of a great cab but a very good wine. Perfect now and for the next 3 years. Cheers.
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I always thought the 07 Papaera Ranch zin was as good as it can get, but WOW, this is fantastic, smooth, acidic. There is no doubt that Mike makes the best zin, period . I'm not getting any particular fruit flavor, just a wonderful taste profile. Put in a new order yesterday for Mike's wine yesterday and I had a special request that he was gracious about and took care of me!
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This bottle was about as good as young zin gets. Big zinberry fruit and spice yet not over the top. This is an outstanding example even among the Carlisle family of zins. Really happy to have more to follow over the next 5 years.
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15.4% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromas. Cherry liquor, Asian spice, bramble and a touch of mint. Papera is one of my favorite vineyards and the Carlisle team works magic with this vineyard.
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Pretty much the same as my notes of 4-17-2016. Except the wine seems a little more open at this point. It still has plenty of time left fore enjoyment. Again, we had a great pairing with meat pizza.
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Red fruit with rustic spices dancing across the palate. Good structure and velvety texture make this wine enjoyable as well as intellectually pleasing.
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Very nice but still a little young - took a few hours to really open up. Beautiful "Zin" colored wine, bramble fruits, spice, and some pepper. Fine tannins, nice acidity, long finish. Another great bottle from Carlisle.
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Aromas of black pepper, flowers, raspberries and blueberries. This coats the palate with flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, cherry and blueberry. Ends with a 30 second finish echoing the blueberry theme.
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Two hour decant. Tasted this for the first time about 18 months ago and wrote then..."Dark fruits, hint of oak, vanilla, candy. Slightly spicy. Bit grabby with the tannins - cause it's young - but otherwise well balanced and smooth." Well, 18 moths later and I wouldn't change a word. While many of the other 2012 Zins we have here are starting to mellow a bit, this one is still vibrant and zippy. Looks like those who are still cellaring these are the smart ones. Solid 93-94.
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I expected more after reading most previous tasting notes. Popped and poured. Perhaps my bottle was going through a phase. The fruit was there, but it was also a touch on the bretty side. Maybe too brambly for my palate?
Juicy and spicy. This wowed me from the first sniff to the end of the bottle... but my wife not as much. A full bodied zinfandel from sip to finish -- no hollow mid-palate.
Me - 93, Wife - 91
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Generous notes of red and black fruit caress the palate with a slight touch earthiness from the carignane no doubt. Silky in texture and big in complexity. A true piece of art here!
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This is text book Zin. Great dark fruits, concentrated and a long long finish that just makes you want to sit and savor the wine. Oh yeah, the nose is just as incredible!
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Inky purple color, with rich berries and brambly pepper on the nose. The palate shows flavors of black and blue fruit preserves, blood orange, light pepper, and vanilla oak. Suave tannins and refreshing acidity make for a very nice finish.
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Opens tight exhibiting more savory dark fruits and spice. With time cocoa, red fruits and deep spice appear. Slow to unfold, tight, but showing complexity. Will hold my last bottle for at least another year.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted two hours. Aromas of blackberry, red blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, cedar and spice. A jammy red and black fruit core combines with coffee, vanilla, spice and ripe tannins on the palate. Leads to a long, fruit driven finish. Full bodied. Paired with smoked ham.
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Short decant. Classic zin nose of ripe red and black fruit, with a light floral note. Small amount of Carignane gives this a fuller and earthier feel. Bit of candied raspberry on the finish. Not a bashful zin. Drinking great now, but has the stuffing to evolve for a good 8-10 years more.
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Very consistent bottles. This is settling in nice. Ripe berry fruit with baking spice and briary notes - good varietal character. Medium acidity and soft, dusty tannins.
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Zinfandels (Red not white, per Liz) (Liz's): Pop and pour, swirled the heck out of my small pour at a tasting. In my opinion, this needs 2-3 years yet. Rich, nice black raspberry, good acidity, some tannins yet, a touch hot.
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Fantastic. P&P last night. Didn't get the usual wild, briary peppery zin notes with many Carlisle. Instead got wonderful chocolaty notes. Maybe the most I've experienced. Deep, rich and lush.
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A warm November eve in Cleveland (Our backyard): I wanted to let this age, but my wife likes young, bold wines and Carlisle may be her favorite winery at the moment. Perfect for tonight. Purple in color. The nose has kisrch, slight bramble, slight framboise hard candies (those powdered sugar kind), and licorice. Great lush, but juicy texture. Lots of black raspberry fruit, some red raspberries, slight candied note (in a good way). Some tannins left. Great balance. Delicious!
Opaque purple in color, this wine (4% Carignane) reveals intense and linear aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, lavender and kirsch. The mouth feel is very full bodied with sweet tannins, noticeable oak and more black as well as blue fruits. The finish is complex and long with the blue fruits and lavender coming out strong, holding the 15.4% abv in check.
Purchased for $48US, this is my first tasting of a Carlisle Zin. The hype is real and justified. Wow. Thankful I bought two of these. I'll drink the other one soon. Why wait?
We tasted the 2012 Paperas from Bedrock and Carlisle.
2012 Bedrock Papera: This is a dark, sleek and classy Zinfandel blend, 60/40 of co-fermented Zinfandel/Carignane according to winery notes from November 2013. It is fleshy -- the Carignane -- but with concentration, intensity, and healthy tannin as well as a characteristic Zin spiciness. The fruit is composed and suggestive, with alcoholic restraint, not overripe. One gets black raspberry, espresso, morello cherries, raspberry liqueur, some bay leaf and earth. Tannins have a pleasant grip, there is very decent finish of some length, and all of us at the table noted how well this wine paired with the grilled steak.
I like just about every Zin in its early prime, and this one is no exception. The acid and tannin should hold this wine together for a while. Best drinking window 2015 to 2020. Abv 14.7%, 92 points.
The 2012 Carlisle Papera. We drank this side by side with the 2012 Bedrock Papera Zinfandel. When both wines were first poured into the glass (after 2 hours of air), they tasted like the same juice. But over the 3 hour period of consumption, they diverged. The Carlisle is 96% Zinfandel and just 4% Carignane. The Carlisle had a abv of 15.4% and tasted like it. Very dark burgundy color. The Carlisle bouquet was more pronounced, with more black cherry character, fruity roses, and a lovely oaky vanilla backdrop. Not hot but the higher alcohol was noticeable as a discrete component of the aromas. A well made, polished, voluptuous wine, like some of the Turley Zins.
The four in our group preferred the Carlisle by itself and as we were winding up our round of various appetizers, but later when we adjourned to the dining table and started on the steak, it was a consensus that the Bedrock was a better partner.
The Carlisle tends toward being a jammy Zin. Still its perfumed aromatics and softer tannins have appeal and it paired well with foie gras and an assortment of soft French and hard Iberian cheeses.
Day 2. The Carlisle showed greater depth and more tannin and structure. Bumping this up to a 92.
Wow. This is one of the best zins I've ever had. From the gorgeous nose to the super-long finish, this was delicious (served with filet mignon, but dinner ended up being all about the wine). At least a 93. I have one more and would love to see how it progresses after cellaring, but I doubt I will keep my hands off it that long....
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The community has this one right. Definitely a cut above even among the high-end zins. More claret like, and almost no tannin. May get a little better, too with age.
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A stunner -- bold, rich nose has raspberry, blackberry, spice, pepper and dark chocolate. Palate is abundantly juicy with bright fruit, herbs, and pepper. Bright, lively acidity provides cut and lift to the fruit. A delicious and exuberant wine.
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Had this more than a week ago at Park Kitchen in Portland. Yum. One of the best Carlisles I've had in some time, luscious and fruity, deep and smooth, not trying to be Claret and not in the least bit clumsy. Not exactly a terroir wine profile but the phat boysenberry, light herb and chocolate truffle element of the somewhat riper (?) site and the early-drinking pleasure differentiate Papera from some of the other Zins in the lineup. Drink or hold. The perfect wine to hook non-wine people into wine. Stuffy europhiles stay away!
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Opened this bottle to pair with some rack of lamb. And it was amazing. After an hour decant, the nose revealed boysenberry and mint. The palette revealed loads of blackberry and black raspberry fruit with fine grain tannins and just enough acidity to balance everything out, which led to a slow powerful peppery spice finish. This is a huge powerful Zin that has the fruit to age for years to come. If anyone knows of a better Zin for $40 or less, please let me know. Carlisle wines rock for the price.
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Opened at the restaurant and sat for 30 minutes before the first pour...fruit forward and smooth...long finish...likely worthy of a higher score if not for the bottle being a bit warm.
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Wonderfully zesty and fruit-forward zin, with red fruit profile of blackberries, sour cherries and orange zest. I really enjoyed the acidity streak that flows through the finish, and the tannins have softened enough to compliment the fruit. It's drinking wonderfully now but should continue to evolve nicely over then next two-three years.
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This drank better than the last bottle I had in January. I didn't get the heat signature of that bottle and it was certainly a preferred bottle last night on the table, as it was the first to get drained of the 4-5 we had out.
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Starts out with a wonderful nose. Boysenberry, chocolate, eucalyptus, some mint? Wonderful and easy drinking on the palate - perfect alone and even better with rubbed steak. Pure pleasure. Drink now or later!
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Beautiful wine. almost floral nose with medium to full body. Lots of fruit, red and black, multidimensional, long finish. polished and sophisticated, especially for a zin. Very enjoyable.
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To me its less complex and delicious than the 2012 Montafi, but still great. very concentrated red and black berry fruit, plus that cookie dough sort of thing I notice often in carlisle zinfandels
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Nice aromas of ripe fruit and oak. Surprisingly ripe compared to the other 2012s I've tried. Rich berry and plum flavors verging on jammy. A nice bigger styled example with plenty RRV character but it lacks some of verve of other Carlisle zins.
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A dark, dark garnet body; opaque; purple rim. Initially an intense whiff of intense rose and vanillin oak; the intensity of the rose blew off in short time though. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, rose petals, forest floor, black pepper, spice and vanillin oak. A big, rich and full bodied zin. Jammy and viscous in the mouth; brambly. Tannins are not totally resolved and leave a very slight acidic sting on the tongue, but the fruit is so intense that this sting is pretty much abated; food is also a big help. I personally prefer this wine over the 2011 Papera Ranch (just a matter of style to me); however, the 2011 is still a delightful wine. This wine is probably not real balanced at this point, but time should be a help here. Excellent structure. Some more time should reward those who hold this wine. I'll try to stay away from remaining bottles for awhile (maybe). A great pairing with a meat pizza.
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Very young. The nose has a strong streak of black olives which is unusual. Lots of red fruit and bramble. On the palate, great texture. Juicy acidity. This really needs more time though.
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See previous note. She is becoming even more sassy. I love the pepper of many forms that I did not get last time and dark fruit qualities - with that lovely hay quality. Long and more developed. I would decant or wait. Drink 2017 - 2026.
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First things first - Carlisle is the pound-for-pound king of wine for the price. You'd have a tough time coming up with a more consistent quality wine from California. The 2011 Papera, which was super approachable at purchase, kind of fooled me into opening this. This, on the other hand, needs time. On day one (90), it was a big boy - drinkable, sure, but a bit disjointed. Day two (93) revealed a much different wine, with many of the aspects I've grown to love. As such, 2-3 years at a minimum, and 4-5 is probably ideal.
I can see why this could be mistaken for Syrah blind. It does have some similar characteristics in that it is lighter in body than you would guess for Zin and it carries a lot of spice and earthiness. To me those are the characteristics that make this a beautiful wine. It's an enigma; the color is dark yet the wine is light on its feet, it's mostly Zin but it tastes nothing like the overripe alcohol bombs that you usually associate with the varietal. Overall a gorgeous wine, really has me looking forward to trying the rest of Mike's 2012 lineup.
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Book Club - HB (Red Table - Huntington Beach, CA): Blind. Guessed syrah and after it was reveled as Zinfandel I'm still saying its syrah. LOL There is quite a nice big red plum note which is really the only Zin tipoff. Huge wine, pepper, sweet spicy BBQ sauce.
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I generally dislike Zinfandel, though I have recently explored several to see if I can find one I enjoy or otherwise develop a taste for the varietal. So far, this is the only one I have enjoyed. Still not a varietal I will seek out, but this wine is enjoyable. More complex than typical with the fruit not a fruit bomb, which seems typical for the varietal. I look forward to trying Saxum and Epoch next, as I really like their other wines.
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Jammy and vibrant. Initial glass consumed without a decant. Drank over the course of 3 days and held up wonderefully. Notes of rich raspberries, kirsch and some licorice. In the mouth, nice lift from the acidity. Very enjoyable and showy!
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February '15 Bookclub--Hosted by SPK (wines tasted blind) (Red Table--Huntington Beach, CA): Tasted blind. Well, after having drank the '11 Papera just last week and working through that lovely bottle, this was pretty far off from that wine. For me, this is about vintage. I really have liked Mike's '11 Zinfandels, yet if this '12 is an indication of vintage speaking, I'll have to fall to last year as a stronger preference. First, the aromatics on this really fooled me, as this '12 lacked the berry bouquet and briary RRV notes that the '11 last week did so well. Here in the '12, I was going down a syrah track, as the wine seemed to exhibit a sweet leather and bbq sauce note, much like I get in warmer years for say a Rosella's syrah from the SLH. The fruit in this '12 also seemed plummy to me, what I noted as plum sauce. There is some heat here too, and while not a lot, it does get into the aromatic, which I did not find in the '11. With more air, a lot of that syrah quality faded and some RRV berry qualities came out but in the end, this wine seems a bit much for me, lacking the definition and character of the '11. Forgive the comparison to the other vintage, but my intent here is to provide context and to express distinction between the wines.
The color is dark, almost inky with a burgundy tinge. The nose shows some chocolate, vanilla, crushed red berries, and black pepper. On the palate the sweetened crushed red berries come through, bit of menthol, along with a lesser amount of the chocolate/vanilla on the nose.
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Young but it's fantastic. Dark fruits, hint of oak, vanilla, candy. Slightly spicy. Bit grabby with the tannins - cause it's young - but otherwise well balanced and smooth. Super wine. Glad I tried this but will try to hold my remaining bottles for at least another year.
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A little disappointed that i opened this so early and it drank very young. But note of grape jelly but followed by the Carlisle fresh loam, briar patch and pepper. Just need more time to show all its complexities but still very tasty.
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Probably too young but still a great zin in what I found to be a good drinking space. Great aroma, excellent texture, long finish. Papera Ranch is always one of my favorite Carlisle zins. I'll wait a bit longer to drink my remaining bottles, but not too long.
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Great nose after being open about an hour. Begins very tight with lots of pepper, some earth, red fruits and a blood orange tinged finish. Dark, semi sweet fruit emerges after about an hour and the pepper subsides. Still overall a tart wine with cottony tannins. I think these are way too young yet. It never really comes around, remaining a bit tight. Will hold my others for awhile. I would not recommend opening these for at least another year.
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My favorite Carlisle Zin in at least the last year. Starts with an extremely expressive nose which is unusual in a zin. Drinking so great now why wait. Loved it.
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Drank over two nights. This was better on Day 1, but still good on day 2. The nose is great. Bramble, earthy, leather with lots of depth. Raspberries, slightly tart, slight camphor notes. Great texture. Long finish. On day 2, it started to show a bit more tartness and slight nail polish notes on the nose. No change on the palate though. In any event, I would plan on drinking these in the next five years although it depends on how you like them.
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What can I say? The acidity is lovely (as always from this vineyard); the colour is almost black with a sanguine rim; the nose explodes out of the glass; the palate is refined and long. Quite young and I would love to have this again in ten years, however, the Carlisle wines are usually so seductive at a young age, well, wish me luck holding onto more. Wild blackberry, sun-drenched hay, coal, pain grille and flower shop. Well-strewn tannins. Drink 2017 - 2028.
8/12/2023 - BHRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
The raspberry aromas combined with slightly overripe plums. Experimented with half the bottle decanted over 90 minutes and half remaining in the bottle to slow ox. Although my wife and I disagreed on aromatic profiles, the un-decanted version was the clear favorite. Had much fresher, zestier, sweet raspberry and brambleberry fruit - and a longer finish. A terrific zin, but likely at or slightly past peak. Drink up - and don't decant!!
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5/20/2023 - prism wrote: 93 Points
The last TN said "hot and sticky-sweet" and, though I only had a taste to see if it was fit to serve (it was, kind of), that was my impression as well. Guests at burgers 'n dogs drank about two-fifths; I'll revisit this in a couple days and see if there's any added dimension.
So, yes, much better after a few hours of air (and a couple of days VV'd and refrigerated). Maybe too long open; there is the faintest whiff of oxidation. It drinks considerably cooler than on opening, and the character of the grape shows to good effect. I'm less interested in the Zinfandel grape than I once was, as I consider it burly and high-ish in ABV; whereas my tastes are running increasingly in the opposite direction.
And yet, on Day Five (VV, fridge) it drinks very well. Did it just need lots of time? In which case, at least a long decant is (would have been) in order.
And finally, Day 6: a very nice glass, with concentrated freshly crushed blackberries predominant.
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4/2/2023 - Cow Town Does not like this wine:
I tried to like this, and have enjoyed all prior Papera bottles. But this was hot, and sticky sweet. It never blew off, or worked itself out. It was unpleasant for three consecutive days. Hopefully this is just an off bottle, and not my palate preferences changing. I don’t recall any prior bottles being this hot or over the top. No rating, but if forced, it would be below 80.
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2/1/2023 - cobystilp wrote: 94 Points
So darn good. Sweet fruit and pencil lead. It gets better with air. So darn good.
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5/17/2022 - skinut wrote: flawed
slightly corked
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1/8/2022 - IanAltman Likes this wine: 94 Points
We popped and poured and felt there was a bit too much heat. 2 hrs later, it was a totally different wine. Perfectly integrated, balanced, and fruit forward. It went from pretty good to fabulous in two hours. Paired nicely with venison and duck cassoulet.
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11/12/2021 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
In an excellent stage. No rush to drink at all. Fruit and bramble. Enjoy now or age longer
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5/26/2021 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last 2012 Papera, still drinking great and was best the 2nd day. Papera Ranch zins are my favorite and I think these will drink well for a couple more years. wish I had more.
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2/15/2021 - Hamersly wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous nose, bursting with black cherry in the mouth. Smooth and delicious with gratifying spice and mineral notes on the finish. Best Zin I’ve had in a long time. No rush to drink.
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2/15/2021 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Loving these older Zins from the Russian River area. Lots of fruit left, but also quite a bit of minerality and other qualities that only come out with proper aging.
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1/16/2021 - bavaur wrote: 93 Points
Decanted two hours, a slight brown tinge as this is poured. Massively powerful nose, pepper, black cherries, and a ton of rich spices. I’d be content just smelling this all night if I wasn’t allowed to actually drink it. Less intense on the palate with softer notes of tobacco and chocolate. Excellent match with an eggplant pasta.
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1/7/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lush berry nose. Plush fruit, blackberry, blueberry, spicy accents. Firm but not overbearing tannins, brilliant acidity, great balance. No heat at all. Finishes long and bright with bramble fruits and spice. Lovely. May take another 2 or 3 years to peak. 15.4% ABV.
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1/6/2021 - dsimmons wrote:
Last bottle of this delicious zin. It has been a great one. Drink or hold.
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6/19/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank with slow cooker barbecue ribs. This is what I look for in Zin. Super concentrated dark fruits, spice and licorice. Seamless integration and excellent balance. Starting to develop the elegance I associate with good mature Zin. long finish. One bottle left and wish I had a case. Drink or hold.
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5/31/2020 - SandNJ wrote:
More coronavirus drinking love it
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4/30/2020 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 30 minutes. Nose of black raspberry jam, huckleberry, tangerine peel, milk chocolate and herbs. Jammy black fruit, blood orange, spice and fine tannins on the palate. Long layered finish. Full bodied. Served with pasta and sausage ragu.
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3/1/2020 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour. Wow, this is so much better than 5 years ago. This zinfandel was downright restrained, almost claret-like. The nose is sweet fruit and spice. Berries dominate the flavor. Very silky, it's not going to get any more integrated than this, just a question of how long it will hold. Drink now.
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2/6/2020 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 92 Points
I liked this although it was not the unanimous favorite for the night. The dark fruit is still round and full with resolved tannins. The acidity has softened. Good finish. Not elegant but well balanced. Almost claret like in its mouth feel.
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2/2/2020 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Purple in color. 15.4% ABV. 96% Zinfandel and 4% Carignane. Savory nose of dark red fruits, licorice, plums and baking spices. Medium to full bodied with exceptional acidity. Super silky and plush. Raspberry, cherry liqueur, blackberry and a hint of citrus on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. It does not get much better than Papera fruit in the hands of Mike Officer. Drink over the next year or so.
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12/4/2019 - huberww Does not like this wine:
Not loving this one - too much for our palates tonight
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9/25/2019 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This opened up with roaring aromatic fruit and then calmed down. Decanted for 1.5 hrs prior to drinking (I would not recommend this).
Lots of bramble fruit, spice. Red, blue, purple berries. Sparkle on finish. Full bodied for a zin.
Me - 92/93, Wife - 92
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8/14/2019 - gzim wrote:
Served with some Rare Strips... big, layered lots of glycerin, olive tapenade and brambly ripe fruits.
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8/4/2019 - BHRH Likes this wine: 94 Points
As soon as this was poured into the decanter I was overwhelmed by massive raspberry jam aromas! Came across as a very pure Zin extraction with deep raspberry and some blackberry fruits. After 2+ hours some subtle spice notes emerged but this continues to be a benchmark in modern Zin. Bravo Mike Officer!!
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7/10/2019 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
See prior notes.
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6/15/2019 - Backdoctor wrote: 93 Points
just a super good Zin. Popped and poured with pizza. Was fruit forward, balanced. You would NEVER know this was 15.4 abv Great wine
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6/2/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with a previous bottle, although it seems to have lost a little oomph. Red and black raspberries. Minimal viscosity, but the fruit produced a terrific finish. Well balanced, but it may have passed its peak.
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5/20/2019 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
See prior notes.
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4/25/2019 - mac-eye Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice indeed. Pure zin, not a field blend. Group tasted in horizontal with the Saitone Ranch. The Papera is slightly sweeter and tastes like pure zin, although not a dramatic difference.
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4/14/2019 - Castle Peak wrote: 94 Points
PNP and was spectacular. Complex structure, intensity and lovely fruit in perfect harmony. Not sure how to improve on this.
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4/6/2019 - BHRH Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow!! Glad this had a good decant (1.5hrs) because it needed it. We were rewarded with an exciting, exuberant zin that was close to the great old zins of Ravenswood and Ridge. Killer sweet black raspberry on the nose without being cloying. Maybe a touch of licorice. Long, complex boysenberry and black raspberry fruit on the palate with nice but not bracing acidity and a super finish with just a touch of heat. Best Zin i've had this year! has the structure for another 2-5 years if stored properly.
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3/10/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
This took an hour or so to come together but when it did it was wonderful. Drank with spaghetti and meatballs. Loads of dark fruits, licorice, chocolate. Drink or hold.
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3/2/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Zin the way it ought to be. The nose shouts out it's a zin with blackberries and a dark earthy note. A burst of bramble fruit on the palate, blackberries and raspberries. A nice spice note. The fruit stays rich across the palate. Firm tannins, great acidity and balance. Finishes long, sweet (not RS) and spicy. Should drink well for another 3 or 4 years at least.
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2/22/2019 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
This is the 6th time I have tasted this wine. See my prior notes.
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2/2/2019 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely, lush Papera. Ready now but will benefit from 2-3 more years. Deep, dark fruit profile and black pepper / spice on the finish. Really well-balanced with smooth tannins, a great mouthfeel, and a superbly long finish. We decanted for about 45 minutes before drinking, and the second glass showed more intensity. It accompanied a lamb tangine with carrots and green olives, and the wine held its own and complemented the food nicely. I'm sad I don't have any more to enjoy at a later date.
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1/10/2019 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle of this and it’s still going strong. Wish I had more in the cellar.
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12/23/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very odd nose but tasted fine. Nice dark berries good finish. LIked it
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12/1/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had alongside a 2012 Papera Heritage from Bedrock. While the Bedrock seems to need more time, the Carlisle seems to be at its peak. Darker fruit profile gave the Carlisle a lot more bottom end. Quite rich, but not too viscous. Well balanced and seamlessly integrated. Not a whole lot of "Wow" factor compared, for example, to Carlisle's 2012 Hayne zin, but it was a very nice, very solid zin.
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9/26/2018 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
One of my favorite zinfandels. This is drinking at peak, to my palate. Delicious.
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9/13/2018 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple. Fruity, plush plum and boysenberry fruit. A hint of black pepper spicy on the finish. The tannins are well integrated- drinking very well now.
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9/5/2018 - dougie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank over 4 hours. Opened up beautifully. Last one in a year or two sounds perfect. Great Zinfandel!
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9/3/2018 - *Vine* wrote:
Popped and poured, deep purple/ruby. Exuberant nose of dark fruits, crushed black pepper, kalamata olive, black tea, barbecue spices & cocoa powder. Well-balanced, with lovely presence and just filled with blackberry, black raspberry, boysenberry and every other zin-fruit imaginable. Drinking in the zone and absolutely delicious, this is outstanding even for the vintage.
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8/22/2018 - texaswinelover wrote:
Popped and pour. I was concerned because it hadn’t been stored properly for several months. But...upon opening....delicious blast of sweet fruit. Powerful, briary and wild. So typical of great zins. Etoh 15.4% but not noticeable at all. Truly wonderful balance. Certainly one of the better zins I’ve had this year or last.
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8/3/2018 - btock Likes this wine: 93 Points
Oh yes, that's good zin. To me Papera delivers some of the most pure fruit expressions among the Carlisle lineup. While the Montafi and Carlisle Vineyard have more dynamic/varied, flavor nuances, including loam, etc. from Papera I enjoy the linear, magenta colored zinberry fruit. This bottle was a great example of that. Crackling crushed raspberry, boisenberry, light on its feet while still full flavored. Served with pizza and that was all good. I have been really impressed with the '12 Single Vineyard zins from Carlisle.
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7/9/2018 - Jahull03 wrote:
An “old friend” wine - delivering exactly what I expected and wanted... A big-flavor wine, but (as with most Carlisle Zins) well inside the limits and balanced. I think 6 years is a really nice, happy place for these wines in general - definitely was for this one. Still showcasing its red and purple berry fruit, though a bit more comfortable with itself at this point.
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7/8/2018 - budman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely stunning!!!
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6/15/2018 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright cherry note, bramble and solid but not jammy fruit. Good acidity. "Lighter" color. Excellent
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6/10/2018 - MillerRoad Likes this wine:
This was a big wine. Big. Juicy. Plump. Slutty. Lots of fruit.
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6/5/2018 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
This continues to drink very well. Carlisle’s 2012 zins have been a pleasure to drink over the last year or two.
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5/28/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark purple. Needs a decant or air time. Needed to blow off the sulfur and funkiness. Blueberry, cherry, black raspberry, vanilla, mild oak, some chocolate and cola. Okay but not overtly acidic. Finishes big with a hint of heat. Mild menthol on the nose. Did well with cheese before dinner and good by itself afterwards.
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5/25/2018 - hiltondg wrote:
Briary fruit with a seamless mouthfeel. Overall, very well integrated with a silky finish. I've heard that 2012 Carlisles are ready to go, and I can confirm that that's a true statement.
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4/25/2018 - sawira wrote: 93 Points
Bottle #4 of 4. Consistent with previous bottles.
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4/13/2018 - sawira wrote: 93 Points
Bottle # 3 of 4. Consistent with previous note. This bottle a bit more full bodied, with more raspberry and cream notes.
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3/21/2018 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Bottle #2 of 4. Earthy, tart, supremely astringent in places. Young still.
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2/17/2018 - RichEB1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
2012 Carlisle zins are absolutely crushing right now. Highly aromatic on pnp with savory red fruits and mint. On the palate this is very savory, herbal, and red fruited, with a very distinct eucalyptus note that my wife and I are really digging. Plenty of acidity in a medium++ bodied frame and a fairly long finish round out a delicious and wildly satisfying bottle of wine. Drinking incredibly well but id expect it to hold for the next 3 to 5 years and possibly even improve some. Love Carlsisle. Love Papera Ranch. Love the 2012 vintage.
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1/25/2018 - EMTAME wrote: 91 Points
This bottle was a bit different than my first two, starting with the very intriguing bouquet that reminded me of smelling summer berry bushes - a sort of fresh, slightly herbal quality mixed with sweeter fruit scents. The palate was red and black raspberries complemented by ripe peach, mildly assertive black pepper/spice, and a cool menthol on the close. If that sounds like an unusual mix of flavors, it is. But, somehow, it all works together.
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1/19/2018 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aromas of huckleberry, blueberry, plum, wild cherry and touch of meat. Flavors of blueberry, huckleberry, wild cherry, currant and touch of earth. Ends with a 35+ second finish or blueberry and wild cherry. Just a fabulous Zin and drinking perfect right now. Always one of my favorite bottlings.
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1/9/2018 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with last tasting November, 2015. Opaque purple in color, this wine (4% Carignane) reveals intense and linear aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, lavender and kirsch. The mouth feel is very full bodied with sweet tannins, noticeable oak and more black as well as blue fruits. The finish is complex and long with the blue fruits and lavender coming out strong, holding the 15.4% abv in check.
Purchased for $48US, this is my second tasting of this Carlisle Zin. The hype is real and justified. Wow.
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1/6/2018 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 94 Points
Possibly the best old vines zin. I've tasted. Wonderful wine with lots of character, purity, and enjoyment.
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12/2/2017 - fredman wrote: 92 Points
One-hour decant. This is in a good place right now but should be fine for the next 3-5 years. The problem I have with Carlisle wines is discipline. I don't have any. I probably drink them sooner than I should. I just can't help myself.
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12/2/2017 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 93 Points
On PnP, the nose is full of red fruit and spice. Poured through the VinTuri, the palate starts with red fruit and quickly changes to a mid palate of darker black raspberry with plenty of grip that continues on the finish which includes some coffee with some time in the glass. My overall impressions sent me looking for Mike’s release notes to see if there is Petite Sirah. There isn’t as Mike remarked how the wine shows an array of mixed blacks that aren’t there.
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11/24/2017 - dhammer53 wrote: 92 Points
Thanksgiving wine, so no real notes. A hint of tannins. Some spice. A really nice wine.
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11/20/2017 - tomherer Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ditto my note from 5/20. Which is good, given how much fluctuation you can get from zins that are this high-octane. Nice to see this in such great/similar shape. Fresh coffee grounds are more pronounced/intoxicating than I remember. Has miles to go yet; should hold this form for another few years and hold this score for even longer.
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11/19/2017 - Primordialsoup Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a delicious Zin. Inviting expressive nose. Warm, plush, and mouth-coating as it glides across palate. Warm dark fruits of black raspberry and black cherry with ample glycerin providing a great mouthfeel. All this may sound heavy, but this wine remains lithe enough to create a wonderful balance of texture. Seamless into mid-palate and throughout the long satisfying finish. Alas, last bottle of the 2012's, but 2015's arrived this week. A new "must purchase" for us.
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11/10/2017 - spidersva Likes this wine: 93 Points
Probably my favorite Carlisle I've had to date. Rich and lush, like...something that is very rich, and very lush.
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10/23/2017 - sawira wrote: 94 Points
Bottle #1 of 4. Laser-like focus, deep purple and black fruits, classic creosote/bramble notes, great clarity and persistence, and a walloping finish. Very bright wine, and even better after being opened a few days. Killer. Will last another 4-6 years.
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10/6/2017 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Nose of blackberry, raspberry, bramble and spice. Blackberry, raspberry, black tea, spice and vanilla on the palate. Finishes long. Full bodied. Served with mushroom pizza.
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9/30/2017 - burgbob wrote: 92 Points
Ripe dark fruit and spice on the nose, this wine is plush but with enough structure and mix of dark cherry, mocha and minerals. Good length and definitely zin.
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9/28/2017 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent
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9/28/2017 - Mr T wrote:
great juicy wine drunk over 3 nights that got better each night...not sure how it lasted so long, but terrific with octane in check
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9/24/2017 - Tubulus wrote:
My tastes...they are..a'changin.
This has some great raspberry fruit, a little bit of spice, not really much zin-ny bramble (I guess that's more DCV). Really thick mouthfeel, very rich, but too much heat, alcohol on the finish. Not really enough acid to cut it, or to go with food well. I think my tastes have really shifted from this sort of wine. I know Carlisles are known to age well, but I have trouble seeing how this will turn into something I choose to drink when I have other options in the cellar.
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8/10/2017 - scott w Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bright juicy raspberry strawberry and hints of cherry, blackberry and bramble. Red fruits with a bit of licorice, bright acidity holds it all together. Drinks young but very delicious now. Great job Mike!
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8/1/2017 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow, what a wine. Smooth, dark blackberry fruit with just the right amount of spice. Another great wine from Carlisle.
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7/31/2017 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 93 Points
93, maybe higher, just a great zin, so smooth, complex. Carlisle zins are just different, never the fruit bombs that so many zins are. Papera Ranch are my favorite Carlisle zin.
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7/9/2017 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured...expressive nose of ripe dark cherries and blueberries...even better after an hour...smooth finish...one of my favorites from Carlisle...prime drinking right now.
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6/30/2017 - jeffreylubowski Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great zin from a great vintage and producer. Boysenberry and raspberry and vanilla. Smooth despite the excessive alcohol. One of those wines that scream i am fermented grape juice! Just entering its window, although I had a 2009 carlisle carlisle vineyard and it was zin perfection, so perhaps this does need 3 years to really kill it.
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6/23/2017 - Neras Likes this wine: 95 Points
Last bottle of this stunning wine. Seducing nose with boysenberries, cranberries, pepper, stone, licorice some mint maybe? Seamless on the palate with great balance. Wonderful!
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6/11/2017 - seijaro Likes this wine: 93 Points
Liked it more than the Montafi, especially after an hour of air. Plenty of raspberry and some cherry, coming into it's sweet spot. A lovely Zin.
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6/11/2017 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 94 Points
Prime time. Opens in 30 minutes. Boom!
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6/9/2017 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
PnP. The fruit is still in the forefront here with red and black raspberry and plenty of acidity.
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6/9/2017 - jmcnewjersey wrote: 90 Points
Similar to prior notes. A decent wine, but have enjoyed other Carlisle wines SO much more.
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5/20/2017 - tomherer Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle is consistently a knockout and has shown little variation over the past couple of years, i.e. a good candidate for the cellar. Tonight, a wall of raspberry and mint on the nose, and beyond that, licorice, cherry, and espresso flavors. Reverberating orange peel that I've found typical of some Carlisle zins lately. One of those bottles that you can't stand to see come to an end. Drink now, hold for later, or build a shrine to it in your house.
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4/27/2017 - WineCPA wrote: 95 Points
This one has taught me to hold my Carlisle's a few years in good vintages. This is way better than it was a couple of years ago. Ripe red fruit, great nose. Spice on the palate and the finish, but then shows a core of red fruit that just lingers. Excellent! At it's peak.
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4/24/2017 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with my notes from two years ago and using the same word; claret. Hard to believe this is zin. None of the pepper and heat. Just balanced, smooth and good-tasting. Why drink cabs when you can have this for $40?
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4/19/2017 - awise45 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful balance -- full without being overbearing. Deep maroon color, nice mix of berries but not tart. Always love the Paperas, this is another in a great line.
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3/4/2017 - ljl203 wrote: 92 Points
Silky smooth strawberry, raspberry core. Allspice, coke, smoky finish.
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2/27/2017 - kanab ram Likes this wine:
Drinking so well right now.
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2/22/2017 - Chainthroer wrote: 94 Points
I guess I like this wine - 2nd time tasted this year. Better balance at this stage and the acidic sting on the tongue is not noticeable. Big, rich and intense fruit in the mouth. Again, see my notes of 4-17-2015.
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2/17/2017 - EMTAME wrote: 92 Points
On the young side for my tastes, but already showing beautiful dark fruit and a lovely nose. I really like the Papera wines I've had from both Carlisle and Bedrock.
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2/14/2017 - Skip4wine wrote: 93 Points
I don't have much to add to the other tasting notes except to say this is a well made wine and now everything is in harmony. The tannins are resolved, the zin heat restrained, and the fruit blended into all the flavors. Not the flavor levels of a great cab but a very good wine. Perfect now and for the next 3 years. Cheers.
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2/1/2017 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 95 Points
I always thought the 07 Papaera Ranch zin was as good as it can get, but WOW, this is fantastic, smooth, acidic. There is no doubt that Mike makes the best zin, period . I'm not getting any particular fruit flavor, just a wonderful taste profile. Put in a new order yesterday for Mike's wine yesterday and I had a special request that he was gracious about and took care of me!
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1/15/2017 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Aromas boysenberry, raspberry, pepper, cherry and plum. Flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, cherry, blueberry and earth. Classic papera.
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1/14/2017 - Chainthroer wrote: 94 Points
It seems that I have consumed this wine a lot with meat pizza, as I did this time. Again, see my notes of 4/17/15.
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1/8/2017 - Bluffan wrote: 93 Points
Huge hit!
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1/2/2017 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle was about as good as young zin gets. Big zinberry fruit and spice yet not over the top. This is an outstanding example even among the Carlisle family of zins. Really happy to have more to follow over the next 5 years.
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1/1/2017 - kchwd wrote:
Superb from pnp
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12/23/2016 - Neras Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great nose. Dark fruit...and rubber shoes. Pleasing. Seamless and very enjoyable on the palate. Great stuff!
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12/18/2016 - yayinski wrote: 94 Points
Massive nose of spice, jam, and black-blue fruits. Decadent, yet savory on the palate. Feels right in spite of the high alcohol content. Bravo Mike
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11/13/2016 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
15.4% abv. Dark ruby, expressive aromas. Cherry liquor, Asian spice, bramble and a touch of mint. Papera is one of my favorite vineyards and the Carlisle team works magic with this vineyard.
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11/1/2016 - Chainthroer wrote: 94 Points
Pretty much the same as my notes of 4-17-2016. Except the wine seems a little more open at this point. It still has plenty of time left fore enjoyment. Again, we had a great pairing with meat pizza.
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10/21/2016 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruit with rustic spices dancing across the palate. Good structure and velvety texture make this wine enjoyable as well as intellectually pleasing.
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10/20/2016 - awise45 wrote: 93 Points
Wonderfully rich, dark purple color, hint of coffee and spice. Better after 30 minutes open.
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10/15/2016 - green-steve wrote:
Very nice but still a little young - took a few hours to really open up. Beautiful "Zin" colored wine, bramble fruits, spice, and some pepper. Fine tannins, nice acidity, long finish. Another great bottle from Carlisle.
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10/10/2016 - Acohen Likes this wine:
Rich dark blueberry, blackberry and slight pepper and bramble with a medium dark finish
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8/28/2016 - jonleerhp wrote: 93 Points
Very nice zin. Dark cherry fruit and pepper notes. Big and bold but not overly sugared. Pnp and was a bit hit with the company
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8/25/2016 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aromas of black pepper, flowers, raspberries and blueberries. This coats the palate with flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, cherry and blueberry. Ends with a 30 second finish echoing the blueberry theme.
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8/20/2016 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Two hour decant. Tasted this for the first time about 18 months ago and wrote then..."Dark fruits, hint of oak, vanilla, candy. Slightly spicy. Bit grabby with the tannins - cause it's young - but otherwise well balanced and smooth." Well, 18 moths later and I wouldn't change a word. While many of the other 2012 Zins we have here are starting to mellow a bit, this one is still vibrant and zippy. Looks like those who are still cellaring these are the smart ones. Solid 93-94.
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8/4/2016 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exceptional balance and focus.
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7/26/2016 - The Wine Write wrote:
I expected more after reading most previous tasting notes. Popped and poured. Perhaps my bottle was going through a phase. The fruit was there, but it was also a touch on the bretty side. Maybe too brambly for my palate?
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7/4/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Juicy and spicy. This wowed me from the first sniff to the end of the bottle... but my wife not as much.
A full bodied zinfandel from sip to finish -- no hollow mid-palate.
Me - 93, Wife - 91
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7/2/2016 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 94 Points
Generous notes of red and black fruit caress the palate with a slight touch earthiness from the carignane no doubt. Silky in texture and big in complexity. A true piece of art here!
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6/13/2016 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is text book Zin. Great dark fruits, concentrated and a long long finish that just makes you want to sit and savor the wine. Oh yeah, the nose is just as incredible!
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5/31/2016 - bobpsi Likes this wine:
Drinking really well, lots of black fruits and spice with plenty of supporting acid and long finish.
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5/27/2016 - hanasowner wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured...good combo of spice and fruit, but not nearly as luscious as past Carlisle bottles.
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5/25/2016 - Amerique wrote: 94 Points
Rich, delicious, mixed berry fruit, licorice and blackberry flavors, great breath and depth, long finish, classic Zin
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4/26/2016 - scott davis wrote: 92 Points
Inky purple color, with rich berries and brambly pepper on the nose. The palate shows flavors of black and blue fruit preserves, blood orange, light pepper, and vanilla oak. Suave tannins and refreshing acidity make for a very nice finish.
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4/24/2016 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opens tight exhibiting more savory dark fruits and spice. With time cocoa, red fruits and deep spice appear. Slow to unfold, tight, but showing complexity. Will hold my last bottle for at least another year.
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4/4/2016 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice.
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3/14/2016 - Chainthroer wrote: 93 Points
See my notes from 4/17/2015. The wine is petty much the same. Still need some time.
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3/12/2016 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted two hours. Aromas of blackberry, red blackberry, black cherry, vanilla, cedar and spice. A jammy red and black fruit core combines with coffee, vanilla, spice and ripe tannins on the palate. Leads to a long, fruit driven finish. Full bodied. Paired with smoked ham.
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2/20/2016 - jrobs7777 wrote:
Random Notes From a Saturday Night (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): This bottle had been opened for a few days. Still, very juicy. Fruit holding up well. Nice and easy to drink. While it is unmistakably a Zin, the spice was not quite there.
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2/4/2016 - BBencz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Short decant. Classic zin nose of ripe red and black fruit, with a light floral note. Small amount of Carignane gives this a fuller and earthier feel. Bit of candied raspberry on the finish. Not a bashful zin. Drinking great now, but has the stuffing to evolve for a good 8-10 years more.
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12/23/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very consistent bottles. This is settling in nice. Ripe berry fruit with baking spice and briary notes - good varietal character. Medium acidity and soft, dusty tannins.
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12/7/2015 - burgbob wrote: 92 Points
Full bodied plush wine with mocha and berries. Soft and open for business.
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11/28/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another great Carlisle Zin! Amazing value!
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11/22/2015 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Zinfandels (Red not white, per Liz) (Liz's): Pop and pour, swirled the heck out of my small pour at a tasting. In my opinion, this needs 2-3 years yet. Rich, nice black raspberry, good acidity, some tannins yet, a touch hot.
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11/14/2015 - jmcnewjersey wrote: 91 Points
A solid wine, but I have enjoyed other Carlisle Zins much more.
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11/14/2015 - texaswinelover wrote:
Fantastic. P&P last night. Didn't get the usual wild, briary peppery zin notes with many Carlisle. Instead got wonderful chocolaty notes. Maybe the most I've experienced. Deep, rich and lush.
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11/7/2015 - burgbob wrote: 93 Points
Excellent complexity and balance.
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11/7/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
A warm November eve in Cleveland (Our backyard): I wanted to let this age, but my wife likes young, bold wines and Carlisle may be her favorite winery at the moment. Perfect for tonight. Purple in color. The nose has kisrch, slight bramble, slight framboise hard candies (those powdered sugar kind), and licorice. Great lush, but juicy texture. Lots of black raspberry fruit, some red raspberries, slight candied note (in a good way). Some tannins left. Great balance. Delicious!
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11/4/2015 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opaque purple in color, this wine (4% Carignane) reveals intense and linear aromas of blackberry liqueur, licorice, lavender and kirsch. The mouth feel is very full bodied with sweet tannins, noticeable oak and more black as well as blue fruits. The finish is complex and long with the blue fruits and lavender coming out strong, holding the 15.4% abv in check.
Purchased for $48US, this is my first tasting of a Carlisle Zin. The hype is real and justified. Wow. Thankful I bought two of these. I'll drink the other one soon. Why wait?
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10/17/2015 - wilypod Likes this wine: 92 Points
We tasted the 2012 Paperas from Bedrock and Carlisle.
2012 Bedrock Papera: This is a dark, sleek and classy Zinfandel blend, 60/40 of co-fermented Zinfandel/Carignane according to winery notes from November 2013. It is fleshy -- the Carignane -- but with concentration, intensity, and healthy tannin as well as a characteristic Zin spiciness. The fruit is composed and suggestive, with alcoholic restraint, not overripe. One gets black raspberry, espresso, morello cherries, raspberry liqueur, some bay leaf and earth. Tannins have a pleasant grip, there is very decent finish of some length, and all of us at the table noted how well this wine paired with the grilled steak.
I like just about every Zin in its early prime, and this one is no exception. The acid and tannin should hold this wine together for a while. Best drinking window 2015 to 2020. Abv 14.7%, 92 points.
The 2012 Carlisle Papera. We drank this side by side with the 2012 Bedrock Papera Zinfandel. When both wines were first poured into the glass (after 2 hours of air), they tasted like the same juice. But over the 3 hour period of consumption, they diverged. The Carlisle is 96% Zinfandel and just 4% Carignane. The Carlisle had a abv of 15.4% and tasted like it. Very dark burgundy color. The Carlisle bouquet was more pronounced, with more black cherry character, fruity roses, and a lovely oaky vanilla backdrop. Not hot but the higher alcohol was noticeable as a discrete component of the aromas. A well made, polished, voluptuous wine, like some of the Turley Zins.
The four in our group preferred the Carlisle by itself and as we were winding up our round of various appetizers, but later when we adjourned to the dining table and started on the steak, it was a consensus that the Bedrock was a better partner.
The Carlisle tends toward being a jammy Zin. Still its perfumed aromatics and softer tannins have appeal and it paired well with foie gras and an assortment of soft French and hard Iberian cheeses.
Day 2. The Carlisle showed greater depth and more tannin and structure. Bumping this up to a 92.
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10/17/2015 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Consistant with previous note. Fantastic wine. Score in 93-94 range.
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9/28/2015 - Tom Warden Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wonderful....juicy and fruity with enough tannin to keep it in line.
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9/3/2015 - ravbik wrote: 94 Points
Rich fruity zin, gets better after one hour decant with great intensity and depth. Great value
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8/29/2015 - Loudounwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. This is one of the best zins I've ever had. From the gorgeous nose to the super-long finish, this was delicious (served with filet mignon, but dinner ended up being all about the wine). At least a 93. I have one more and would love to see how it progresses after cellaring, but I doubt I will keep my hands off it that long....
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8/23/2015 - Bluffan wrote: 92 Points
Delightful. Remarkably aromatic, smooth after an hour-plus decant, and flavorful, although not as complex as other varietals.
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8/14/2015 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
The community has this one right. Definitely a cut above even among the high-end zins. More claret like, and almost no tannin. May get a little better, too with age.
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7/19/2015 - Nanda Likes this wine: 93 Points
A stunner -- bold, rich nose has raspberry, blackberry, spice, pepper and dark chocolate. Palate is abundantly juicy with bright fruit, herbs, and pepper. Bright, lively acidity provides cut and lift to the fruit. A delicious and exuberant wine.
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7/18/2015 - silton Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this more than a week ago at Park Kitchen in Portland. Yum. One of the best Carlisles I've had in some time, luscious and fruity, deep and smooth, not trying to be Claret and not in the least bit clumsy. Not exactly a terroir wine profile but the phat boysenberry, light herb and chocolate truffle element of the somewhat riper (?) site and the early-drinking pleasure differentiate Papera from some of the other Zins in the lineup. Drink or hold. The perfect wine to hook non-wine people into wine. Stuffy europhiles stay away!
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7/11/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened this bottle to pair with some rack of lamb. And it was amazing. After an hour decant, the nose revealed boysenberry and mint. The palette revealed loads of blackberry and black raspberry fruit with fine grain tannins and just enough acidity to balance everything out, which led to a slow powerful peppery spice finish. This is a huge powerful Zin that has the fruit to age for years to come. If anyone knows of a better Zin for $40 or less, please let me know. Carlisle wines rock for the price.
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7/9/2015 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 92 Points
A notch below last showing but still a lovely wine and great zinfandel.
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6/27/2015 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Opened at the restaurant and sat for 30 minutes before the first pour...fruit forward and smooth...long finish...likely worthy of a higher score if not for the bottle being a bit warm.
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6/22/2015 - Mr.Overhill Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderfully zesty and fruit-forward zin, with red fruit profile of blackberries, sour cherries and orange zest. I really enjoyed the acidity streak that flows through the finish, and the tannins have softened enough to compliment the fruit. It's drinking wonderfully now but should continue to evolve nicely over then next two-three years.
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5/22/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This drank better than the last bottle I had in January. I didn't get the heat signature of that bottle and it was certainly a preferred bottle last night on the table, as it was the first to get drained of the 4-5 we had out.
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5/16/2015 - Neras Likes this wine: 94 Points
Starts out with a wonderful nose. Boysenberry, chocolate, eucalyptus, some mint? Wonderful and easy drinking on the palate - perfect alone and even better with rubbed steak. Pure pleasure. Drink now or later!
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5/9/2015 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. almost floral nose with medium to full body. Lots of fruit, red and black, multidimensional, long finish. polished and sophisticated, especially for a zin. Very enjoyable.
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5/4/2015 - sp4388 wrote: 92 Points
To me its less complex and delicious than the 2012 Montafi, but still great. very concentrated red and black berry fruit, plus that cookie dough sort of thing I notice often in carlisle zinfandels
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4/28/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice aromas of ripe fruit and oak. Surprisingly ripe compared to the other 2012s I've tried. Rich berry and plum flavors verging on jammy. A nice bigger styled example with plenty RRV character but it lacks some of verve of other Carlisle zins.
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4/18/2015 - tcufletch wrote: 92 Points
Fresh, red fruits and delicious
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4/17/2015 - Chainthroer wrote: 94 Points
A dark, dark garnet body; opaque; purple rim. Initially an intense whiff of intense rose and vanillin oak; the intensity of the rose blew off in short time though. Aromas and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, rose petals, forest floor, black pepper, spice and vanillin oak. A big, rich and full bodied zin. Jammy and viscous in the mouth; brambly. Tannins are not totally resolved and leave a very slight acidic sting on the tongue, but the fruit is so intense that this sting is pretty much abated; food is also a big help. I personally prefer this wine over the 2011 Papera Ranch (just a matter of style to me); however, the 2011 is still a delightful wine. This wine is probably not real balanced at this point, but time should be a help here. Excellent structure. Some more time should reward those who hold this wine. I'll try to stay away from remaining bottles for awhile (maybe). A great pairing with a meat pizza.
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4/13/2015 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Lovely and drinking well already. Always one of my favorite Carlisle bottlings.
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4/11/2015 - Wineson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very pleasant. A little sweet, but not as much as other Zins. We really enjoyed it.
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4/9/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Very young. The nose has a strong streak of black olives which is unusual. Lots of red fruit and bramble. On the palate, great texture. Juicy acidity. This really needs more time though.
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4/3/2015 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
See previous note. She is becoming even more sassy. I love the pepper of many forms that I did not get last time and dark fruit qualities - with that lovely hay quality. Long and more developed. I would decant or wait. Drink 2017 - 2026.
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3/24/2015 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 92 Points
Quite tasty. We popped and poured and paired with grilled chicken and grilled asparagus.
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2/14/2015 - mrmedoes wrote: 91 Points
First things first - Carlisle is the pound-for-pound king of wine for the price. You'd have a tough time coming up with a more consistent quality wine from California. The 2011 Papera, which was super approachable at purchase, kind of fooled me into opening this. This, on the other hand, needs time. On day one (90), it was a big boy - drinkable, sure, but a bit disjointed. Day two (93) revealed a much different wine, with many of the aspects I've grown to love. As such, 2-3 years at a minimum, and 4-5 is probably ideal.
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2/2/2015 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 93 Points
Yes! Gotta love Papera. Balanced and juicy. Zin-spice galore.
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1/30/2015 - AFWE wrote:
I can see why this could be mistaken for Syrah blind. It does have some similar characteristics in that it is lighter in body than you would guess for Zin and it carries a lot of spice and earthiness. To me those are the characteristics that make this a beautiful wine. It's an enigma; the color is dark yet the wine is light on its feet, it's mostly Zin but it tastes nothing like the overripe alcohol bombs that you usually associate with the varietal. Overall a gorgeous wine, really has me looking forward to trying the rest of Mike's 2012 lineup.
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1/23/2015 - brigcampbell wrote:
Book Club - HB (Red Table - Huntington Beach, CA): Blind. Guessed syrah and after it was reveled as Zinfandel I'm still saying its syrah. LOL There is quite a nice big red plum note which is really the only Zin tipoff. Huge wine, pepper, sweet spicy BBQ sauce.
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1/17/2015 - fournet wrote:
I generally dislike Zinfandel, though I have recently explored several to see if I can find one I enjoy or otherwise develop a taste for the varietal. So far, this is the only one I have enjoyed. Still not a varietal I will seek out, but this wine is enjoyable. More complex than typical with the fruit not a fruit bomb, which seems typical for the varietal. I look forward to trying Saxum and Epoch next, as I really like their other wines.
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1/15/2015 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Jammy and vibrant. Initial glass consumed without a decant. Drank over the course of 3 days and held up wonderefully. Notes of rich raspberries, kirsch and some licorice. In the mouth, nice lift from the acidity. Very enjoyable and showy!
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1/15/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
February '15 Bookclub--Hosted by SPK (wines tasted blind) (Red Table--Huntington Beach, CA): Tasted blind. Well, after having drank the '11 Papera just last week and working through that lovely bottle, this was pretty far off from that wine. For me, this is about vintage. I really have liked Mike's '11 Zinfandels, yet if this '12 is an indication of vintage speaking, I'll have to fall to last year as a stronger preference. First, the aromatics on this really fooled me, as this '12 lacked the berry bouquet and briary RRV notes that the '11 last week did so well. Here in the '12, I was going down a syrah track, as the wine seemed to exhibit a sweet leather and bbq sauce note, much like I get in warmer years for say a Rosella's syrah from the SLH. The fruit in this '12 also seemed plummy to me, what I noted as plum sauce. There is some heat here too, and while not a lot, it does get into the aromatic, which I did not find in the '11. With more air, a lot of that syrah quality faded and some RRV berry qualities came out but in the end, this wine seems a bit much for me, lacking the definition and character of the '11. Forgive the comparison to the other vintage, but my intent here is to provide context and to express distinction between the wines.
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1/11/2015 - cjsavino Likes this wine: 92 Points
The color is dark, almost inky with a burgundy tinge. The nose shows some chocolate, vanilla, crushed red berries, and black pepper. On the palate the sweetened crushed red berries come through, bit of menthol, along with a lesser amount of the chocolate/vanilla on the nose.
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1/8/2015 - RobbieC wrote: 93 Points
Young but it's fantastic. Dark fruits, hint of oak, vanilla, candy. Slightly spicy. Bit grabby with the tannins - cause it's young - but otherwise well balanced and smooth. Super wine. Glad I tried this but will try to hold my remaining bottles for at least another year.
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1/5/2015 - bajayngo wrote:
A little disappointed that i opened this so early and it drank very young. But note of grape jelly but followed by the Carlisle fresh loam, briar patch and pepper. Just need more time to show all its complexities but still very tasty.
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1/2/2015 - jpmo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Probably too young but still a great zin in what I found to be a good drinking space. Great aroma, excellent texture, long finish. Papera Ranch is always one of my favorite Carlisle zins. I'll wait a bit longer to drink my remaining bottles, but not too long.
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12/31/2014 - Mootsie wrote: 90 Points
Great nose after being open about an hour. Begins very tight with lots of pepper, some earth, red fruits and a blood orange tinged finish. Dark, semi sweet fruit emerges after about an hour and the pepper subsides. Still overall a tart wine with cottony tannins. I think these are way too young yet. It never really comes around, remaining a bit tight. Will hold my others for awhile. I would not recommend opening these for at least another year.
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12/29/2014 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 94 Points
My favorite Carlisle Zin in at least the last year. Starts with an extremely expressive nose which is unusual in a zin. Drinking so great now why wait. Loved it.
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12/28/2014 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 94 Points
Blackberries and black raspberries, with a little pepper, full bodied, rich seamless wine on the palate with a never ending finish.
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12/27/2014 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 93 Points
For me, an odd nose, but fantastic palate and finish. Really good stuff.
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12/26/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Drank over two nights. This was better on Day 1, but still good on day 2. The nose is great. Bramble, earthy, leather with lots of depth. Raspberries, slightly tart, slight camphor notes. Great texture. Long finish. On day 2, it started to show a bit more tartness and slight nail polish notes on the nose. No change on the palate though. In any event, I would plan on drinking these in the next five years although it depends on how you like them.
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12/17/2014 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Thick and rich with red fruits. Full bodied and showing some spice. Enjoyable now, but perhaps more in another year or two. Next in 15/16.
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11/24/2014 - pols Likes this wine: 91 Points
nice bottle , but I had hoped for more.
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11/22/2014 - Silveradoup wrote: 95 Points
This can only get better
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9/4/2014 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 94 Points
What can I say? The acidity is lovely (as always from this vineyard); the colour is almost black with a sanguine rim; the nose explodes out of the glass; the palate is refined and long. Quite young and I would love to have this again in ten years, however, the Carlisle wines are usually so seductive at a young age, well, wish me luck holding onto more. Wild blackberry, sun-drenched hay, coal, pain grille and flower shop. Well-strewn tannins. Drink 2017 - 2028.
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