In a great place, who says Zin can’t age? Plenty of grip, but wonderfully round tannin, mix of olive and savory notes and stewed berry fruits, with a bit of earthy notes. Great stuff.
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Thirteen years on and still a vibrant wine. Bright red in color with almost no fading at the edges. A lovely spicy nose. Rich, deep fruit, round and sweet. Blackberries and blueberries, just a hint of cherries and spice. Soft tannins, but still providing lots of structure, nice acidity. Just a beautifully balanced wine at this point in its life. The finish lingers with echoes of dark fruits. I can't imagine this wine drinking any better, but it has years of life ahead of it. This is why we age wines. Superb. Alas, my last bottle -- I wish I had more.
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once of the best Zins both times i have had this. big ripe berries, juicy, powerhouse, bright black fruit. pepper on the back and spicy notes. this went too quickly. no sign of the significant alc.
The nose showed beautifully fresh and vibrant fruits, with crushed strawberry and blackberry up front, followed by sweet exotic spice, which was somehow floral, then dark chocolate and a slight lactic note. On the palate, it was vibrant, carrying it's 15.9% alcohol effortlessly, showing juicy textures with spiced black cherry, currants, cinnamon and clove. It finished fresh with a coating of wild berries, spice and cocoa, which lasted long. I kept expecting heat to show, yet there was none in sight.
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The nose was intense and constantly evolving with ripe yet fresh fruits, showing stemmed strawberry and cherry, sweet floral tones, exotic spice and minerals. On the palate, it was fresh yet expanded to cover all the senses in spirited ripe cherry, plum and dark chocolate. Juicy, ripe, spiced red fruits lingered on the finish. This wine was incredible and a new experience in Zinfandel for me.
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B-day Bash - Carlisle, BDX, Nemo and more (Danny Brown - Queens): Brilliant. I insisted we try this before the cabs. Some thought i was nuts :) but - this wine is elegant and light. Zinberry notes - similar to that acidic red fruit prickle many italian wines exhibit on the nose. floral, lilacs, some soy with time. red cherry and plums in the middle, very refreshing. 15.5 alc? absolutely balanced wine. a pleasure to drink - thanks Mike O.!
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EWG at AKA: Elegant, nuanced, light herbal quality, age has done this well with light stewed fruits, raspberry, stewed cherry, blackberry; silky, a bit lighter that what I'm used to from Carlisle, which is why I like it. Some thought it was too hot, but I didn't get that.
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A stunningly impressive zinfandel. Wow. Expecting this 9-year-old zin to be over the hill, I instead found a vibrant, interesting, and remarkably complex wine. Secondary and tertiary flavors with very nice balance in all respects.
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This is an exceptionally nice wine albeit less of the classic Zinfandel. We served this with a bbq dinner looking for the wine to stand up to the food and while it didn't have huge spice or tannins, it was nicely balanced and very drinkable. Nice work Mike!
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Gave this an 1.5 hr decant in a big magnum decanter which was optimal. Still very dark and intense & fresh with just hints of secondary flavors. Balanced and powerful without any jammy overripe characteristics. I suspect this is a wine that will surprise many with it's potential long life. This has settled in to a good place in it's evolution.
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Red fruits, earth and just a slight touch of vanilla on the nose. Raspberries, eucalyptus, mineral and flowers on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. For me this wine stands apart from many of the other Carlisle single vineyards Zinfandels. It is almost always less jammy and hedonistic but to its credit, more elegant and balanced. Well done!
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Went for the last of these and glad to wrap up the set while they're still drinking so well. Think I'm getting pretty good at Carlisle management - catch the zins between 2 and 7 years, save the syrahs for at least 5 before even thinking about it. This was again a nice red fruit profile - very balanced and restrained. A serious wine in that it deserved contemplation for the flavor nuances. I picked up more currant and berry on the nose, more minerality on the finish. A nice drink.
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This was a better bottle than the last one I pulled and that's saying something. Deeper purple coloring, holding its structure. Nice plum and bramble, complimented the marinades on the grilled meats we have with it. Full flavored but balanced. Very nice.
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Beautiful red fruit zin nose, right there from the cork being pulled like it's coiled and ready to go. The wine is still luscious though throwing sediment. Deeper red/garnet coloring, full flavored and engaging minerality on the finish. Big but balanced. Have two more of these and will look to consume shortly. A really great wine for zin lovers.
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Enjoyed over 2 nights. Frank's note from Oct 2011 says it all and can't be topped. I'll second that this is full of rich, juicy red fruit and spice without showing any ripeness or alcohol. Balanced with tons of energy and verve playing counterpoint to the bright, true Cali zin fruit. Floral notes and pepper in the long tasty finish. Well done Mike!
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From 84 year old vines, this was my first taste of wine after a 40 day alcohol hiatus.
Opened about 6 hours prior to tasting. Dark, brilliant ruby red. Pretty red and black fruit aromas. Excellent, concentrated fruit expression and the wine remains vibrant and light on its feet. Deep and extremely well balanced with a lingering aftertaste. Earthy, thought provoking and delicious. Remains one of my favorite historic vine wines.
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Slow-O 1 hour, served double blind (should have been decanted at least 1 hr). Dark ruby toward purple; youthful appearance. Bright, powerful nose with loads of red currant, black and white pepper, red floral and dark spice. Flavors follow to the full-bodied palate. A singular experience for me as this does not show typical varietal characteristic, yet it is so energetic and so well balanced that it begs further discovery. Nothing jammy or out of balance here, thankfully. And, at 6 years old, this still shows the stuffing for 5 more years of solid enjoyment. However, I believe it to be at peak now, with only moderate improvement ahead (in the form of secondary development, but likely at the expense of freshness). Upon reveal, I was truly surprised to see such a high ABV%, as it was well concealed at all times. Impressive effort, especially considering the < $35 price-tag. recommended, drink thru 2017, 15,9% abv, score: A-
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Tasted over a couple of days. My final bottle of this vintage and vineyard. Bright zinberry nose with a spice/eucalyptus component. Medium-full bodied with juicy zinberry fruit and a touch of a savory (tea?) component creeping in. I think this wine is at peak for my palate. Tasty.
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Wonderful, silk texture with a full mouthfeel. A jumble of fruit that is not sweet at all. Hint of spicy Zin in the background, really a wonderful wine.
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3 1/2 years since the last bottle, I really hung onto my final bottle with some patience, which is now open. I'll give a pop and pour and over night perspective on the wine, since it may speak to some evolution, as the wine is coiled pretty good on opening. At about 30 mins, there really is a good streak of tartness in this wine, perhaps what some have called eucalytpus. Maybe for me it's a mixture of good acid married with a savory component. Juicy and not syrupy, with lots of tarter red fruit, a jolly rancher like cherry, in which I am trying to convey a red fruit hard candy-like aspect but don't read this as sweet or cloying. Quite the opposite, as the savory and juicy aspects, sometimes what I also call a Carlisle vineyard earthiness, is quite present. Absent is any intrusion of oak or wood, and really no heat to speak of, this is really about a clean and present zinfandel. We'll see how some slow ox does. Going to dinner with me to pair with Coq Au Vin, I'll drop a note back tomorrow......tonight, this wine shows as plush, has the same savory element, just a bit less prominent. Floral, voluptuous-like texture, nice grab of juicy acid, black raspberry, some licorice and earthy notes and still some tannin as that structure has not softened since last night. No danger of this wine falling apart and I'd say it will hold another 3-4 years.
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This Zin is really holding up well and I think the Carlisle vineyard Zin really seems to age better than most Zins. Really has an explosive nose and a full rich palate sense. Just starting to show some secondary characteristics on the finish, but has certainly not turned the corner or anything. Plenty of acid and tannin here to go a couple more years if you wish, but for me its in a great spot right now.
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The Carlisle received mixed reviews from the table and I will preface my comments by saying that I have not had a lot of Carlisle. The nose was beautiful, but the palate was dominated by what we all could only describe as total Eucalyptus. It was overpowering and never relented.
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Is there such thing as a silky zin? This is as close as I've had and one of the best Carlisle Vyd. zins to date IMO. Dates/figs, dark berries, and some spice. Good acidity. No heat. Lots of sediment so a decant is suggested. Nice pairing with andouille and hot pickled red pepper pizza (way better than it sounds).
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Pop and pour. It took the wine about 30 minutes to really hit stride. The color is inky garnet. The nose is very rich and fruity. grape, figs some floral notes. The flavor is delicious with integrated tannins, dark fruits, berry, and spice. Classic! This wine is definitely in it's groove but I will be in no rush to drink my last bottle. Carlisle is the most reliable and consistently good producer I have in my cellar. And all for a very fair tariff.
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Decanted and filtered. Loads of sediment, so much so it completely clogged the filter. At cellar temp, still remarkably layered, Pencil, strawberry, white pepper, and licorice dominate. Grippy and jammy initially, but that smooths out after about 30 minutes of air. With too much air, though, it loses its character as anything special and the acid shows through. Ready to drink, but don't let it linger in the decanter or glass.
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Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted briefly before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of lavender, potpourri, hints of roasted meat and a mix of dark fruit. Rich flavors of currants, berries, cherries, plums and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or hold over the short term, perhaps into the medium term. 91-?
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Always my favorite Carlisle SVD Zin. Great balance and structure for a zin. Rich blue and black berries with minerals and pepper and enough acidity to keep the fruit in check.
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Crushed red berries, cassis, bittersweet chocolate, a peppery spice and mineral bite. Plump aromas are followed by tension and then a peppery, clove accented finish. Not quite the richness of other vintages, but more structure and spice.
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The bouquet was classic zinfandel that I could have just stuck my nose in all night long. The finish was a little hot which I did not notice on previous bottles. Nonetheless a very enjoyable zinfandel.
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Really interesting bottle of wine -- would love to get Mike's thoughts on this wine. It had a really interesting spicy, herbaceous, eucalyptus, and coffee nose. I even wanted to say it reminded me of Northern Rhone with some aromas of black olive. However, it was all Zinfandel fruit underneath - brambly, ripe berries... but not jammy in my opinion. One of recent favorites for Zinfandel.
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The first night was disappointing. The aromas were very ripe and jammy, not a lot of depth. There was a bit of spicyness, but not much structure. The second day, the palate balanced beautifully. The fruit was ripe, but focused. Mulberry with a little woodiness. There was a spiciness to the palate as well. The acidity came through. Smooth tannins. Long, delicious finish. Really excellent. Would benefit from a couple more years.
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Delicious now but will improve. A bit of a crisp version of a Carlisle zin, with very good concentration and some mineral, anise, currant complexity coming in after a day. Drink over the next 5 years? A big success for the vintage. Score will likely improve over the next year or two.
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Expressive nose of dark berries, spice, vanilla, citrus, espresso, and bramble. Lively palate, full bodied but light on it's feet with long finish. Outstanding for its depth of fruit and structure, not ponderous or alcoholic in any sense.
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Gigantic nose of menthol and baking spice. Very full flavors with an ample mid-palate and long finish. Big and bold, but not overdone. Truly one of the best zins available.
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Super nose of zinberry and eucalyptus. Ripe, slightly jammy black fruit. Tending toward boysenberry to my palate. Rich. medium-full bodied with great mouthfeel. This is great Zin.
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Inky dark color, opaque throughout. Dark fruits and plums (is plum a dark fruit?) on the nose, followed by a touch of spice and vanilla oak on the palate.
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A good carlisle vineyard. No heat, this has come together nicely over the past year, but has not progressed into the bubble gum sweetness phase. Dark fruit and chocolate notes in a big boned package.
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Now this is what I would call an evolutionary step forward for Zinfandel. A well structured, enticingly complex nose and palate keep you coming back. Fresh blackberry and lots of fresh late summer blueberry emerge from the nose with licorice, subtle dollops of vanillin and spice from the oak. Slightly rustic in texture, however clean and delineated flavors coat the palate. Blueberry, blackberry, licorice, some nutmeg and sage, lead to a full and spicy finish.
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Phenomenal! If all zins tasted like this, syrah and cab would be in trouble. Boysenberry, blueberry and tons of fruit. Some vanilla and mild spice component. Super wine. Full mouthfeel and very integrated, yet somewhat light in the palate.
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Opened bottle tonight to accompany Zachary's Thin Pepperoni and Sausage along with a Spinach Salad. Nice aeromatics. On the palate, nice boysenberry, pepper, and balanced tannins.
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Not a modest wine by any means.Deep Purple Hue. Initial in your face blast of ripe blackberries is blended seamlessly with black pepper and smoky earthy flavors in the background. As the fruit fades, the smoke and tannin dominates on the finish. Great tasting stuff!
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At the Zin tasting: I'm a big fan of this style... very direct and intense at this point with a solid wall of spicy berry fruit that grabs you by the tongue and demands attention. The body is full but not creamy. The aromatics are quite lush and deep as well.
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Delicious but IMO still young. Poured half the bottle off and drank two days later and the second half was markedly improved from the initial glass. Upside potential, but still very very tasty now.
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Delicious, solid, fruit driven zin with enough tannins to age another couple of years. Delicious now, not complex, but a solid performance and a huge success for the vintage.
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A beautiful zin that is in prime time. Not as complex I would have like but very tasty none the less. Probably one of the best Carlisle (Peleti) zins I've ever had the opportunity to conume.
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My buddy Charlie and his girlfriend came over our house for some grilling action. He brought over an excellent bottle of Don Melchor. He mentioned he's never had a Carlisle Zin so I had to open this for him. It probably needs a bit more time since it does have a touch of heat still but lots of dark blackberry fruit with notes of mint. Spicy! Needs time though... As always Carlisle manages to make balanced wine regardless of alcohol level (15.9% stated).
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FRUIT! Dark fruits, tannins, blueberry. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Classic Carlisle flavors! SO nice to taste a young Carlisle Zin. Will wait a few months before opening another. Best Carlisle to date!
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big zin with a huge nose, of fresh dark berries and lingering oak notes, the flavor is huge and balanced, lots of jammy cherry, berry, cola and fig, but not sweet, great zin, crowd pleaser
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Popped and poured. Dark berries and spice on the nose. Palate showed some nice earthiness and a dash of pepper too. Enjoyed this even more than previous Carlisle Carlisle Zins. Perhaps I've been waiting too long to drink them -- I know this is inconsistent with prior tasters and prob even Mr. Officer himself (ie, those who say hold for several years). I really enjoyed the freshness of the fruit and didn't find it primary.
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Luscious, rich nose (heavy cream with overly ripe, jammy red & black raspberries). Extra long pallet, hint of hot spice, juicy mixture of fruit. Not sure of alcohol content, but it must be high! Top rated bottle, especially for the price!
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day 1 - decanted for an hour...still primary to my palate...give it some more time...6-12 months...90+(?) day 2 - this is more like it...beautiful aromatics with full palate presence and good push thru and length...a tad hot though, no shock at 15.9% alcohol...91
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In line with previous tasting notes, with blackberry and black cherry flavors. Although delicious from the bottle, much improved after 45 minutes in the decanter and a great success for an "off" vintage.
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Different in style from past CVZ. The classic blackberry is there, but there are higher pitched notes of red cherry and blueberry, framed by dusty bramble (a touch of green), anise, and hints of citrus and violets. Oak is still not completely integrated at this point. More lively, and less lush, upon entry and midpalate, with spreading tannins and 20 second finish.
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Day 1 Upon opening, somewhat closed on the nose mainly primary notes. Gives up raspberry, caramel and a touch of tree bark. In the mouth abundant dark red raspberry, some earthiness and a touch of tannin reveals itself at the end of a spicy finish. I can definitely see the promise here and I won't open my last bottle for a few years.
With about 1.5 hours of air this wine is gaining complexity, weight and the fruit is intensifying. I am beginning to get notes of cola and the tree bark has faded. Also getting floral notes that were not present before. 92+ shuold improve with some age.
Day 2 to be continued (notes to follow)... Well The wine is definitely more integrated. Not much more to say. The wine has not broken down, but is a more elegant version of last night. Same weight and intensity, but displaying more polish.
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Deep ruby with a black center. Alluring nose of licorice, black tea, blackberry syrup and milk chocolate, with some heat. Full bodied on the palate with lots of fine, ripe tannins, massive amounts of fruit, with a slightly bitter finish.
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Popped, decanted and poured with Jambalaya for dinner. Fruit nose. Plum, cherry and other red fruits on the palate. There were a lot of secondary wood characteristics, like vanilla and a bit of roast coffee, but no direct wood flavors. There was pepper and spice, which came out more and more as the wine got some air. There is just a very tiny bt of zinfandel sweetness, but only a little. Very dark color, but still red rather than black. Very long finish. The alcohol is reported at 15.9%, but the wne is well balanced and unless you are looking for the heat, it is not that strong. If you hate alcohol in your wine, dring tea.
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Didn't make notes as the Giants were busy beating the Pats... but this was big and tasty and (while still primary) extremely enjoyable with a strip steak with gorgonzola sauce.
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If you are going to enjoy this wine now, then two things need to be understood, as based on my perception of tasting the wine. 1) Air it. It needs to soften and don't make the mistake of judging the wine too quickly--IT'S YOUNG. And 2) recognize that this wine tastes like a barrel sample, with lots of wood/oak but also big jammy fruit and a big push of flavor. In my book, at least a year from being ready and while I found the 2004 to be doing better with that extra year, this 2005 needs time to settle.
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WOW ! what a fabulous bottle of wine. Full bodied deep ruby/plum color smells like those blackcurrent and glycerine cough drops of our childhood. spices & black fruit. . Pop and pour perfect wine for a rainy night by the fire. What more could anyone ask for. Glad I have more !
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Dark reddish purple. Smell is deep cherries and berries. Bright red and black fruit. Also, black pepper and earth. Hints of chocolate. Just slightly bitter finish.
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Nice aromatics. Bold spice and great fruit. Red berries go from the nose to the very front palate. Once the wine settles in you mouth it becomes a bit sloppy. Very ripe. Too much prunes for me. Enjoyable but it definitely needs some time to settle down. Wait at least a year.
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Wife pulled this from a stash we keep for her father the Zin lover to go with a pork shoulder...Bad Ass bottle of Zin...intense flavor profile...needs a bit more time to settle down as the heat from the Etoh is still fairly prominent...this may turn out to be something awesome...loved it even in its youth
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Tasted this at Family Winemakers of California tasting event. Potent aromas of raspberry, cherry, blueberry with some earthiness, mocha and spice. Very smooth, fullbodied, fruit forward, ultra ripe, long finish, mild tannins, make this a really good Zin. In the mouth nice baked cherries, raspberry with some strawberry, blueberry, smoke, chocolate and spice. Liked this better than the Outpost 05 Zin there.
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4/29/2023 - BradboBaggins wrote: 93 Points
In a great place, who says Zin can’t age? Plenty of grip, but wonderfully round tannin, mix of olive and savory notes and stewed berry fruits, with a bit of earthy notes. Great stuff.
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5/27/2022 - mdahar wrote: 90 Points
This is definitely on the back side. Hot at first and then a hot of fruit followed by secondary flavors. Starting to become disjointed
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12/3/2018 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 95 Points
Thirteen years on and still a vibrant wine. Bright red in color with almost no fading at the edges. A lovely spicy nose. Rich, deep fruit, round and sweet. Blackberries and blueberries, just a hint of cherries and spice. Soft tannins, but still providing lots of structure, nice acidity. Just a beautifully balanced wine at this point in its life. The finish lingers with echoes of dark fruits. I can't imagine this wine drinking any better, but it has years of life ahead of it. This is why we age wines. Superb. Alas, my last bottle -- I wish I had more.
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8/26/2016 - Mlermontov wrote: 94 Points
once of the best Zins both times i have had this. big ripe berries, juicy, powerhouse, bright black fruit. pepper on the back and spicy notes. this went too quickly. no sign of the significant alc.
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5/30/2015 - stufis wrote: 91 Points
A worthy wine after almost a decade. Held its own, lengthy on the palate. nothing seemed to be absent.
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5/3/2015 - Eric Guido wrote: 94 Points
The nose showed beautifully fresh and vibrant fruits, with crushed strawberry and blackberry up front, followed by sweet exotic spice, which was somehow floral, then dark chocolate and a slight lactic note. On the palate, it was vibrant, carrying it's 15.9% alcohol effortlessly, showing juicy textures with spiced black cherry, currants, cinnamon and clove. It finished fresh with a coating of wild berries, spice and cocoa, which lasted long. I kept expecting heat to show, yet there was none in sight.
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3/23/2015 - dmitchell4 wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully
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8/2/2014 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
The nose was intense and constantly evolving with ripe yet fresh fruits, showing stemmed strawberry and cherry, sweet floral tones, exotic spice and minerals. On the palate, it was fresh yet expanded to cover all the senses in spirited ripe cherry, plum and dark chocolate. Juicy, ripe, spiced red fruits lingered on the finish. This wine was incredible and a new experience in Zinfandel for me.
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7/30/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully
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7/30/2014 - Mlermontov wrote: 94 Points
B-day Bash - Carlisle, BDX, Nemo and more (Danny Brown - Queens): Brilliant. I insisted we try this before the cabs. Some thought i was nuts :) but - this wine is elegant and light. Zinberry notes - similar to that acidic red fruit prickle many italian wines exhibit on the nose. floral, lilacs, some soy with time. red cherry and plums in the middle, very refreshing. 15.5 alc? absolutely balanced wine. a pleasure to drink - thanks Mike O.!
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2/17/2014 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
EWG at AKA: Elegant, nuanced, light herbal quality, age has done this well with light stewed fruits, raspberry, stewed cherry, blackberry; silky, a bit lighter that what I'm used to from Carlisle, which is why I like it. Some thought it was too hot, but I didn't get that.
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1/21/2014 - MLwine Likes this wine: 93 Points
A stunningly impressive zinfandel. Wow. Expecting this 9-year-old zin to be over the hill, I instead found a vibrant, interesting, and remarkably complex wine. Secondary and tertiary flavors with very nice balance in all respects.
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5/28/2013 - plambert12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is an exceptionally nice wine albeit less of the classic Zinfandel. We served this with a bbq dinner looking for the wine to stand up to the food and while it didn't have huge spice or tannins, it was nicely balanced and very drinkable. Nice work Mike!
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2/1/2013 - bon vivant wrote:
Gave this an 1.5 hr decant in a big magnum decanter which was optimal. Still very dark and intense & fresh with just hints of secondary flavors. Balanced and powerful without any jammy overripe characteristics. I suspect this is a wine that will surprise many with it's potential long life. This has settled in to a good place in it's evolution.
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12/18/2012 - tomlee wrote: 94 Points
Red fruits, earth and just a slight touch of vanilla on the nose. Raspberries, eucalyptus, mineral and flowers on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. For me this wine stands apart from many of the other Carlisle single vineyards Zinfandels. It is almost always less jammy and hedonistic but to its credit, more elegant and balanced. Well done!
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11/17/2012 - btock wrote: 91 Points
Went for the last of these and glad to wrap up the set while they're still drinking so well. Think I'm getting pretty good at Carlisle management - catch the zins between 2 and 7 years, save the syrahs for at least 5 before even thinking about it. This was again a nice red fruit profile - very balanced and restrained. A serious wine in that it deserved contemplation for the flavor nuances. I picked up more currant and berry on the nose, more minerality on the finish. A nice drink.
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7/23/2012 - btock wrote: 93 Points
This was a better bottle than the last one I pulled and that's saying something. Deeper purple coloring, holding its structure. Nice plum and bramble, complimented the marinades on the grilled meats we have with it. Full flavored but balanced. Very nice.
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6/21/2012 - btock wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful red fruit zin nose, right there from the cork being pulled like it's coiled and ready to go. The wine is still luscious though throwing sediment. Deeper red/garnet coloring, full flavored and engaging minerality on the finish. Big but balanced. Have two more of these and will look to consume shortly. A really great wine for zin lovers.
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4/7/2012 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed over 2 nights. Frank's note from Oct 2011 says it all and can't be topped. I'll second that this is full of rich, juicy red fruit and spice without showing any ripeness or alcohol. Balanced with tons of energy and verve playing counterpoint to the bright, true Cali zin fruit. Floral notes and pepper in the long tasty finish. Well done Mike!
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3/28/2012 - MLwine wrote: 92 Points
Really nice zin. Lots of rich Carlisle fruit, but well-integrated and balanced.
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3/19/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 94 Points
From 84 year old vines, this was my first taste of wine after a 40 day alcohol hiatus.
Opened about 6 hours prior to tasting. Dark, brilliant ruby red. Pretty red and black fruit aromas. Excellent, concentrated fruit expression and the wine remains vibrant and light on its feet. Deep and extremely well balanced with a lingering aftertaste. Earthy, thought provoking and delicious. Remains one of my favorite historic vine wines.
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2/25/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
Slow-O 1 hour, served double blind (should have been decanted at least 1 hr). Dark ruby toward purple; youthful appearance. Bright, powerful nose with loads of red currant, black and white pepper, red floral and dark spice. Flavors follow to the full-bodied palate. A singular experience for me as this does not show typical varietal characteristic, yet it is so energetic and so well balanced that it begs further discovery. Nothing jammy or out of balance here, thankfully. And, at 6 years old, this still shows the stuffing for 5 more years of solid enjoyment. However, I believe it to be at peak now, with only moderate improvement ahead (in the form of secondary development, but likely at the expense of freshness). Upon reveal, I was truly surprised to see such a high ABV%, as it was well concealed at all times. Impressive effort, especially considering the < $35 price-tag. recommended, drink thru 2017, 15,9% abv, score: A-
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1/30/2012 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted over a couple of days. My final bottle of this vintage and vineyard. Bright zinberry nose with a spice/eucalyptus component. Medium-full bodied with juicy zinberry fruit and a touch of a savory (tea?) component creeping in. I think this wine is at peak for my palate. Tasty.
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11/11/2011 - jfkwines wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful, silk texture with a full mouthfeel. A jumble of fruit that is not sweet at all. Hint of spicy Zin in the background, really a wonderful wine.
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10/27/2011 - martuna wrote: 93 Points
Delicious, silky, with a tremendous finish.
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10/22/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
3 1/2 years since the last bottle, I really hung onto my final bottle with some patience, which is now open. I'll give a pop and pour and over night perspective on the wine, since it may speak to some evolution, as the wine is coiled pretty good on opening. At about 30 mins, there really is a good streak of tartness in this wine, perhaps what some have called eucalytpus. Maybe for me it's a mixture of good acid married with a savory component. Juicy and not syrupy, with lots of tarter red fruit, a jolly rancher like cherry, in which I am trying to convey a red fruit hard candy-like aspect but don't read this as sweet or cloying. Quite the opposite, as the savory and juicy aspects, sometimes what I also call a Carlisle vineyard earthiness, is quite present. Absent is any intrusion of oak or wood, and really no heat to speak of, this is really about a clean and present zinfandel. We'll see how some slow ox does. Going to dinner with me to pair with Coq Au Vin, I'll drop a note back tomorrow......tonight, this wine shows as plush, has the same savory element, just a bit less prominent. Floral, voluptuous-like texture, nice grab of juicy acid, black raspberry, some licorice and earthy notes and still some tannin as that structure has not softened since last night. No danger of this wine falling apart and I'd say it will hold another 3-4 years.
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9/18/2011 - oaxaca90049 wrote: 94 Points
Drop dead gorgeous. Another stunning zin from Carlisle. Hats off to Mike Officer. This wine never disappoints.
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9/8/2011 - Ekoostik wrote: 92 Points
This Zin is really holding up well and I think the Carlisle vineyard Zin really seems to age better than most Zins. Really has an explosive nose and a full rich palate sense. Just starting to show some secondary characteristics on the finish, but has certainly not turned the corner or anything. Plenty of acid and tannin here to go a couple more years if you wish, but for me its in a great spot right now.
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5/17/2011 - VinoDiver wrote: 87 Points
The Carlisle received mixed reviews from the table and I will preface my comments by saying that I have not had a lot of Carlisle. The nose was beautiful, but the palate was dominated by what we all could only describe as total Eucalyptus. It was overpowering and never relented.
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4/23/2011 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:
A+ aged beautifully.
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4/19/2011 - zheem wrote:
Just gets better--no signs of stopping, although moving away from fruitiness to more woods and herbs.
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3/4/2011 - JFish wrote:
Is there such thing as a silky zin? This is as close as I've had and one of the best Carlisle Vyd. zins to date IMO. Dates/figs, dark berries, and some spice. Good acidity. No heat. Lots of sediment so a decant is suggested. Nice pairing with andouille and hot pickled red pepper pizza (way better than it sounds).
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3/3/2011 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pop and pour. It took the wine about 30 minutes to really hit stride. The color is inky garnet. The nose is very rich and fruity. grape, figs some floral notes. The flavor is delicious with integrated tannins, dark fruits, berry, and spice. Classic! This wine is definitely in it's groove but I will be in no rush to drink my last bottle. Carlisle is the most reliable and consistently good producer I have in my cellar. And all for a very fair tariff.
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2/26/2011 - winecharmer wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and filtered. Loads of sediment, so much so it completely clogged the filter. At cellar temp, still remarkably layered, Pencil, strawberry, white pepper, and licorice dominate. Grippy and jammy initially, but that smooths out after about 30 minutes of air. With too much air, though, it loses its character as anything special and the acid shows through. Ready to drink, but don't let it linger in the decanter or glass.
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1/17/2011 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle. Smooth dark fruit, great mouthfeel, and endless finish. Wish I had more.
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10/10/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted non blind. Opened and glass decanted briefly before serving. Followed over the next two hours. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of lavender, potpourri, hints of roasted meat and a mix of dark fruit. Rich flavors of currants, berries, cherries, plums and raspberries. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with some air or hold over the short term, perhaps into the medium term. 91-?
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9/23/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice with meatloaf.
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6/24/2010 - meatman wrote: 92 Points
Always my favorite Carlisle SVD Zin. Great balance and structure for a zin. Rich blue and black berries with minerals and pepper and enough acidity to keep the fruit in check.
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4/7/2010 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Great Zin with blueberries, violets, loads of graphite, with briary wood notes and firm acidity. At peak with 2-3 years to go at least.
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3/23/2010 - rmsanz wrote: 95 Points
NOW this wine has come into its own. So rare to find structure and zin fruit in perfect marriage. Absolutely scrumptious!
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1/20/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
Crushed red berries, cassis, bittersweet chocolate, a peppery spice and mineral bite. Plump aromas are followed by tension and then a peppery, clove accented finish. Not quite the richness of other vintages, but more structure and spice.
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12/18/2009 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
Another great bottle. Definitely still in it's prime this zin is a joy to drink. Went perfect with my lamb shank. A great bottle of zin.
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12/8/2009 - SMG wrote: 92 Points
The bouquet was classic zinfandel that I could have just stuck my nose in all night long. The finish was a little hot which I did not notice on previous bottles. Nonetheless a very enjoyable zinfandel.
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12/4/2009 - nomadfromcincy wrote:
Really interesting bottle of wine -- would love to get Mike's thoughts on this wine. It had a really interesting spicy, herbaceous, eucalyptus, and coffee nose. I even wanted to say it reminded me of Northern Rhone with some aromas of black olive. However, it was all Zinfandel fruit underneath - brambly, ripe berries... but not jammy in my opinion. One of recent favorites for Zinfandel.
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11/13/2009 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with prior notes. The bouquet seems to evolve a great deal with temperature and time. Very complex.
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11/10/2009 - JavaMonkey wrote: 92 Points
The first night was disappointing. The aromas were very ripe and jammy, not a lot of depth. There was a bit of spicyness, but not much structure. The second day, the palate balanced beautifully. The fruit was ripe, but focused. Mulberry with a little woodiness. There was a spiciness to the palate as well. The acidity came through. Smooth tannins. Long, delicious finish. Really excellent. Would benefit from a couple more years.
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11/2/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
Delicious now but will improve. A bit of a crisp version of a Carlisle zin, with very good concentration and some mineral, anise, currant complexity coming in after a day. Drink over the next 5 years? A big success for the vintage. Score will likely improve over the next year or two.
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10/17/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 92 Points
Expressive nose of dark berries, spice, vanilla, citrus, espresso, and bramble. Lively palate, full bodied but light on it's feet with long finish. Outstanding for its depth of fruit and structure, not ponderous or alcoholic in any sense.
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9/25/2009 - PIntag wrote: 92 Points
Gigantic nose of menthol and baking spice. Very full flavors with an ample mid-palate and long finish. Big and bold, but not overdone. Truly one of the best zins available.
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7/19/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 93 Points
Super nose of zinberry and eucalyptus. Ripe, slightly jammy black fruit. Tending toward boysenberry to my palate. Rich. medium-full bodied with great mouthfeel. This is great Zin.
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6/29/2009 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Inky dark color, opaque throughout. Dark fruits and plums (is plum a dark fruit?) on the nose, followed by a touch of spice and vanilla oak on the palate.
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6/22/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 91 Points
A touch disjointed, but still lots of plummy black fruits, crisp tannins, acid and vanilla oak and strong liquorice flavors. Very good.
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5/26/2009 - jerhardt wrote: 91 Points
A good carlisle vineyard. No heat, this has come together nicely over the past year, but has not progressed into the bubble gum sweetness phase. Dark fruit and chocolate notes in a big boned package.
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4/27/2009 - tkoby11 wrote: 94 Points
Now this is what I would call an evolutionary step forward for Zinfandel. A well structured, enticingly complex nose and palate keep you coming back. Fresh blackberry and lots of fresh late summer blueberry emerge from the nose with licorice, subtle dollops of vanillin and spice from the oak. Slightly rustic in texture, however clean and delineated flavors coat the palate. Blueberry, blackberry, licorice, some nutmeg and sage, lead to a full and spicy finish.
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4/11/2009 - glg wrote: 95 Points
Phenomenal! If all zins tasted like this, syrah and cab would be in trouble. Boysenberry, blueberry and tons of fruit. Some vanilla and mild spice component. Super wine. Full mouthfeel and very integrated, yet somewhat light in the palate.
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3/14/2009 - PatLee wrote:
Opened bottle tonight to accompany Zachary's Thin Pepperoni and Sausage along with a Spinach Salad. Nice aeromatics. On the palate, nice boysenberry, pepper, and balanced tannins.
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3/4/2009 - sbwino wrote: 93 Points
Not a modest wine by any means.Deep Purple Hue. Initial in your face blast of ripe blackberries is blended seamlessly with black pepper and smoky earthy flavors in the background. As the fruit fades, the smoke and tannin dominates on the finish. Great tasting stuff!
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3/1/2009 - AdamWallstein wrote: 92 Points
At the Zin tasting: I'm a big fan of this style... very direct and intense at this point with a solid wall of spicy berry fruit that grabs you by the tongue and demands attention. The body is full but not creamy. The aromatics are quite lush and deep as well.
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2/16/2009 - jbposell wrote: 91 Points
Delicious but IMO still young. Poured half the bottle off and drank two days later and the second half was markedly improved from the initial glass. Upside potential, but still very very tasty now.
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1/17/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Delicious, solid, fruit driven zin with enough tannins to age another couple of years. Delicious now, not complex, but a solid performance and a huge success for the vintage.
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12/21/2008 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
A beautiful zin that is in prime time. Not as complex I would have like but very tasty none the less. Probably one of the best Carlisle (Peleti) zins I've ever had the opportunity to conume.
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12/17/2008 - cookie7 wrote: 91 Points
Note after 48 hours. Nose of cherries and raspberries. Nice spiciness on the palate and a long finish. Great wine.
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10/12/2008 - hudamang wrote: 91 Points
My buddy Charlie and his girlfriend came over our house for some grilling action. He brought over an excellent bottle of Don Melchor. He mentioned he's never had a Carlisle Zin so I had to open this for him. It probably needs a bit more time since it does have a touch of heat still but lots of dark blackberry fruit with notes of mint. Spicy! Needs time though... As always Carlisle manages to make balanced wine regardless of alcohol level (15.9% stated).
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10/10/2008 - rmsanz wrote: 94 Points
FRUIT! Dark fruits, tannins, blueberry. Mmmmmmmmmmm. Classic Carlisle flavors! SO nice to taste a young Carlisle Zin. Will wait a few months before opening another. Best Carlisle to date!
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9/25/2008 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Dark berries and a little spice. Easily the best 05 Carlisle zin I've had!
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9/7/2008 - whits wrote: 92 Points
big zin with a huge nose, of fresh dark berries and lingering oak notes, the flavor is huge and balanced, lots of jammy cherry, berry, cola and fig, but not sweet, great zin, crowd pleaser
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9/1/2008 - spacewrangler wrote: 93 Points
Super dense and briary, layered fruit is powerful.
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8/31/2008 - SUN-J wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured. Dark berries and spice on the nose. Palate showed some nice earthiness and a dash of pepper too. Enjoyed this even more than previous Carlisle Carlisle Zins. Perhaps I've been waiting too long to drink them -- I know this is inconsistent with prior tasters and prob even Mr. Officer himself (ie, those who say hold for several years). I really enjoyed the freshness of the fruit and didn't find it primary.
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8/1/2008 - mebydef wrote: 91 Points
Dark. Perfumed. Alcoholic. Spiced. Ripe. Big. Juicy. Bright. Monolithic!
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7/29/2008 - raydawgone wrote: 95 Points
Luscious, rich nose (heavy cream with overly ripe, jammy red & black raspberries). Extra long pallet, hint of hot spice, juicy mixture of fruit. Not sure of alcohol content, but it must be high! Top rated bottle, especially for the price!
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7/28/2008 - olm2000 wrote: 90 Points
day 1 - decanted for an hour...still primary to my palate...give it some more time...6-12 months...90+(?)
day 2 - this is more like it...beautiful aromatics with full palate presence and good push thru and length...a tad hot though, no shock at 15.9% alcohol...91
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7/24/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
In line with previous tasting notes, with blackberry and black cherry flavors. Although delicious from the bottle, much improved after 45 minutes in the decanter and a great success for an "off" vintage.
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5/17/2008 - E wrote: 93 Points
6 months later this wine still a beaut...still getting some heat from the etoh, eh?
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5/7/2008 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Different in style from past CVZ. The classic blackberry is there, but there are higher pitched notes of red cherry and blueberry, framed by dusty bramble (a touch of green), anise, and hints of citrus and violets. Oak is still not completely integrated at this point. More lively, and less lush, upon entry and midpalate, with spreading tannins and 20 second finish.
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3/26/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Day 1
Upon opening, somewhat closed on the nose mainly primary notes. Gives up raspberry, caramel and a touch of tree bark. In the mouth abundant dark red raspberry, some earthiness and a touch of tannin reveals itself at the end of a spicy finish. I can definitely see the promise here and I won't open my last bottle for a few years.
With about 1.5 hours of air this wine is gaining complexity, weight and the fruit is intensifying. I am beginning to get notes of cola and the tree bark has faded. Also getting floral notes that were not present before. 92+ shuold improve with some age.
Day 2
to be continued (notes to follow)... Well The wine is definitely more integrated. Not much more to say. The wine has not broken down, but is a more elegant version of last night. Same weight and intensity, but displaying more polish.
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3/7/2008 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby with a black center. Alluring nose of licorice, black tea, blackberry syrup and milk chocolate, with some heat. Full bodied on the palate with lots of fine, ripe tannins, massive amounts of fruit, with a slightly bitter finish.
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3/1/2008 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 90 Points
Popped, decanted and poured with Jambalaya for dinner. Fruit nose. Plum, cherry and other red fruits on the palate. There were a lot of secondary wood characteristics, like vanilla and a bit of roast coffee, but no direct wood flavors. There was pepper and spice, which came out more and more as the wine got some air. There is just a very tiny bt of zinfandel sweetness, but only a little. Very dark color, but still red rather than black. Very long finish. The alcohol is reported at 15.9%, but the wne is well balanced and unless you are looking for the heat, it is not that strong. If you hate alcohol in your wine, dring tea.
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2/27/2008 - swp3 wrote: 92 Points
Hot, chewy, cherry fun-ride. Gonna be great. 2010+
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2/15/2008 - otisabdul wrote: 90 Points
Young and dense. Lots of potential.
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2/3/2008 - JP wrote: 93 Points
Didn't make notes as the Giants were busy beating the Pats... but this was big and tasty and (while still primary) extremely enjoyable with a strip steak with gorgonzola sauce.
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1/30/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
If you are going to enjoy this wine now, then two things need to be understood, as based on my perception of tasting the wine. 1) Air it. It needs to soften and don't make the mistake of judging the wine too quickly--IT'S YOUNG. And 2) recognize that this wine tastes like a barrel sample, with lots of wood/oak but also big jammy fruit and a big push of flavor. In my book, at least a year from being ready and while I found the 2004 to be doing better with that extra year, this 2005 needs time to settle.
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1/26/2008 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
WOW ! what a fabulous bottle of wine. Full bodied deep ruby/plum color smells like those blackcurrent and glycerine cough drops of our childhood. spices & black fruit. . Pop and pour perfect wine for a rainy night by the fire. What more could anyone ask for. Glad I have more !
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12/22/2007 - NolesOnTop wrote:
Dark reddish purple. Smell is deep cherries and berries. Bright red and black fruit. Also, black pepper and earth. Hints of chocolate. Just slightly bitter finish.
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12/6/2007 - jasonh wrote: 88 Points
Nice aromatics. Bold spice and great fruit. Red berries go from the nose to the very front palate. Once the wine settles in you mouth it becomes a bit sloppy. Very ripe. Too much prunes for me. Enjoyable but it definitely needs some time to settle down. Wait at least a year.
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11/29/2007 - E wrote: 93 Points
Wife pulled this from a stash we keep for her father the Zin lover to go with a pork shoulder...Bad Ass bottle of Zin...intense flavor profile...needs a bit more time to settle down as the heat from the Etoh is still fairly prominent...this may turn out to be something awesome...loved it even in its youth
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11/19/2007 - California Cape wrote: 92 Points
Very good. Beautiful color, nose. Decant a bit - excellent fall wine.
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8/19/2007 - LACERS wrote: 92 Points
Tasted this at Family Winemakers of California tasting event. Potent aromas of raspberry, cherry, blueberry with some earthiness, mocha and spice. Very smooth, fullbodied, fruit forward, ultra ripe, long finish, mild tannins, make this a really good Zin. In the mouth nice baked cherries, raspberry with some strawberry, blueberry, smoke, chocolate and spice. Liked this better than the Outpost 05 Zin there.
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