Drank over two days with similar impressions. I found the color quite alluring with its medium deep purple color and crystalline appearance. There was a bit of alcohol that needed to some time to blow away. In some odd way, it tasted like the best Bogle Phantom one could hope for. Only the great winemakers at Carlisle could make this wine happen.
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Well made, varietally correct savory notes, interesting. Not my favorite of the Carlisles by a good margin, but a solid wine, particularly if you like Mourvedre.
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Popped and poured last night. Yeah…not my favorite. Nice rich nose with touch of heat. Better than most wines for the price but for Carlisle, I think it falls a little short.
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Big fruit with a tart berry note finish. Young with heat on the backend. The fruit is almost too concentrated and the persistent heat is a little too much.
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Slightly hot and fragrantly woody on the smoky nose. Elegant flavors of black raspberry and blackberry with hints of vanilla. This was my only bottle and I think its best showing will be in a couple of years as the wood integrates a bit more. But it’s ready now if you like your wines in a very American style.
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Sandlewood, cinnamon, and vanilla with light fruit nose Red fruit predominant with cranberry and raspberries. Vanilla oak Slight tart fruit balance Lingering finish
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Nose is light red fruit, taste is full and big cherry, raspberry with perfect balance of tannins, has a great light dryness, finish is medium with those tannins carrying through. Ready now, but will get better as it ages. Enjoy
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Just starting to open up now. Strong tannins, long finish, almost biting at the end. Terrific fruit in there but this needs time. Wait at least a year. 92 with room for improvement in 1-2 years
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The first of this bottling I've ever tried. Lovely dark fruit--blackberry, blueberry, prune--that is not "sweet" at all. Fairly viscous mouthfeel. Some spice--cinnamon, nutmeg. Stiff tannin and good acid forecast a few years of aging would be well rewarded. Note to self: buy more, next time.
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Great showing from this classic (less the Zin) old CA mixed black vineyard. Always one of the most interesting wines I drink. Here the red fruit balances out the rusticity beautifully.
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Lovely aromatics. Beautiful red fruit, with noticible tannic structure. This wine always takes a bit longer to come together. Good now, will be a delight in about four years.
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2/9/2024 - khmark7 wrote: 88 Points
Seems rather tannic and expressing the graphite character. Pairs well with Buffalo steak, but this remains a big red and needs hearty food.
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9/10/2023 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good on PnP
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7/15/2023 - KaupCava Likes this wine: 91 Points
Good but not as good as previous bottle and cannot imagine why they would suggest it lasting until 2034
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4/14/2023 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last of 2 bottles. I thought it would improve with age back in 2020 and it did. I think it would benefit from even more time.
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4/3/2023 - DENNISREITZ wrote: 94 Points
- Medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Juicy texture with a medium finish - AMAZING! WORTH THE WAIT!
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8/26/2022 - lvjohn Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank over two days with similar impressions. I found the color quite alluring with its medium deep purple color and crystalline appearance. There was a bit of alcohol that needed to some time to blow away. In some odd way, it tasted like the best Bogle Phantom one could hope for. Only the great winemakers at Carlisle could make this wine happen.
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8/25/2022 - Bob23 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well made, varietally correct savory notes, interesting. Not my favorite of the Carlisles by a good margin, but a solid wine, particularly if you like Mourvedre.
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3/16/2022 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lucious ripe fruit with complexity and muted tannins. Carlisle style. Enjoyable pop n pour.
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2/21/2022 - texaswinelover wrote:
Popped and poured last night. Yeah…not my favorite. Nice rich nose with touch of heat. Better than most wines for the price but for Carlisle, I think it falls a little short.
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11/8/2021 - Mootsie Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Big fruit with a tart berry note finish. Young with heat on the backend.
The fruit is almost too concentrated and the persistent heat is a little too much.
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9/29/2021 - guillermo- Likes this wine: 92 Points
Slightly hot and fragrantly woody on the smoky nose. Elegant flavors of black raspberry and blackberry with hints of vanilla. This was my only bottle and I think its best showing will be in a couple of years as the wood integrates a bit more. But it’s ready now if you like your wines in a very American style.
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8/10/2021 - KaupCava Likes this wine: 93 Points
Sandlewood, cinnamon, and vanilla with light fruit nose
Red fruit predominant with cranberry and raspberries. Vanilla oak
Slight tart fruit balance
Lingering finish
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8/8/2021 - mwrock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose is light red fruit, taste is full and big cherry, raspberry with perfect balance of tannins, has a great light dryness, finish is medium with those tannins carrying through. Ready now, but will get better as it ages. Enjoy
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12/24/2020 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just starting to open up now. Strong tannins, long finish, almost biting at the end. Terrific fruit in there but this needs time. Wait at least a year. 92 with room for improvement in 1-2 years
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10/2/2020 - EMark Likes this wine:
The first of this bottling I've ever tried. Lovely dark fruit--blackberry, blueberry, prune--that is not "sweet" at all. Fairly viscous mouthfeel. Some spice--cinnamon, nutmeg. Stiff tannin and good acid forecast a few years of aging would be well rewarded. Note to self: buy more, next time.
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10/1/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great showing from this classic (less the Zin) old CA mixed black vineyard. Always one of the most interesting wines I drink. Here the red fruit balances out the rusticity beautifully.
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7/17/2020 - VoVo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious. Still has a lot of time left on it to age.
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3/29/2020 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely aromatics. Beautiful red fruit, with noticible tannic structure. This wine always takes a bit longer to come together. Good now, will be a delight in about four years.
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