Definitely past its prime. Not going to rate, as it really was my curiosity more than anything about where this one would be at this point in time. The answer? Lots of black plums, raisins, honestly have served blind knowing somebody would probably call this a medium plus bodied dessert wine. It really does not do a bad job at this, because it finishes with a lot of ample sweeter black tar and tobacco along with raisin and black plums which really are the backbone notes of this wine. If you have these, you have waited too late.
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Celebrating the 4th and BDays of 2 close friends -A real treat to have this at this age and find it balanced and so smooth. Gave this a 6 hr slow ox plus a decant for slight sediment and it was open for business. Still full of dark fruit and nice layering and finish. Based on how it showed another 5 years are easily within the drinking range. (winery suggests drinking by 2010 -Mike you need to extend your drinking window on this )
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Wow, even if you drink a lot of good wine, sometimes you are blindsided by a wine... this is one of these wines. Exploding with red and dark fruits on the nose and palate. The fruit, tannins and alcohol are superbly integrated and the mouth feel is just simply amazing... such a silky creaminess that you left contemplating the wine licking your teeth and lips long after the long finish. Everything has come together so well with this wine. Each new sip bring new nuances like coca, black pepper, mint and hints of sun dried raisins in addition to the upfront raspberries and blackberries. Amazing wine.
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A very big and complex zin. Distinct Eucalyptus and mint on the nose. Mellow tannins. I am sure it will age longer but it is hard to imagine it getting any better. Really good stuff. If only I had more.........
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Dark, elegant complex and so smooth. Not your typical zin for sure -I was starting to think this may be getting a bit old for a zin but this surprised me in it's overall presentation. Mike has done a great job with this and I am glad I managed to keep my hands of it up to now. I am thinking this is at it's peak -will probably be good for a few more years so RP's drinking window can be stretched a bit.
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One of the best zins I've consumed in a long time. The Tom Feeney is always my favorite zin in the Carlisle collection but this one stands out as one of my favorite of the great Tom Feeneys. It's drinking so great now it's hard to imagine that it could possibly get any better. The label say over 16% alcohol but it doesn't show at all. If you have any of these left in your cellar you are very lucky.
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How does Mike Officer do it? Here I am vowing that I'm done with high alcohol zins as I'm sick and tired of hot, overwrought wines, and I stumble across this 2001 Tom Feeney Ranch in a case that I pulled out of storage this weekend. Pop it with some grilled pork tenderloin and take a sip. Wow, this is good--this is why I love zinfandel--lush red fruit and finely integrated pepperiness just come together with great balance and flavor. Damn this is tasty! The alcohol--must be 14.5%, I guess. Pick up the bottle, peruse the back, and stumble across 16.6%! WTF? How can something this smooth and tasty have this balance when some other zin producers are sooo over the top. This is the real s**t for zin lovers and drinking just awesomely right now.
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Dark, opaque and purple-red; a monster wine in appearance alone. Marked peppery aromas with black fruit. REALLY big in the mouth, full-bodied. Has a very complex palate of chocolate, mint, and raisins. Even though it is loaded with alcohol, everything is balance. A super zin.
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Blue purple right to the rim. Intoxicating nose of rasberry jam, milk chocolate and peppercorns. Lush full throttle palate that coats like molasses, yet with no sense of heaviness. Waves of cali raisins, blackberries, tons of milk chocolate, even some cassis, this has some real sex appeal, this has fruit of kryptonite and a great backbone of lush tannins and acidity to support it. Sports its 16+% alcohol like a left bank does its 12.5%; perfectly. I understand some think that zin is not to be taken too seriously, hell I dont take myself too seriously (!) but this is downright great zin. Certainly Carlisle's 2001 vintage impressed the hell out of me - I have tried them all, but have no experience with other vintages. PS - this may be the best first date wine I've tasted.
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($30) 16.6% alcohol. Includes some Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah. This is definitely Mike Officer's best Feeney Zinfandel to-date. Deliciously rich raspberry-Zinberry fruit, with loads of maple sugar and a bit of clove spice. Lofty alcohol, but it seems to work well in this large-scaled, full-throttle wine.
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6/19/2023 - mflesh wrote:
Definitely past its prime. Not going to rate, as it really was my curiosity more than anything about where this one would be at this point in time. The answer? Lots of black plums, raisins, honestly have served blind knowing somebody would probably call this a medium plus bodied dessert wine. It really does not do a bad job at this, because it finishes with a lot of ample sweeter black tar and tobacco along with raisin and black plums which really are the backbone notes of this wine. If you have these, you have waited too late.
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7/4/2017 - bon vivant wrote: 95 Points
Celebrating the 4th and BDays of 2 close friends -A real treat to have this at this age and find it balanced and so smooth. Gave this a 6 hr slow ox plus a decant for slight sediment and it was open for business. Still full of dark fruit and nice layering and finish. Based on how it showed another 5 years are easily within the drinking range. (winery suggests drinking by 2010 -Mike you need to extend your drinking window on this )
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12/8/2009 - Scruff wrote:
Wow, even if you drink a lot of good wine, sometimes you are blindsided by a wine... this is one of these wines. Exploding with red and dark fruits on the nose and palate. The fruit, tannins and alcohol are superbly integrated and the mouth feel is just simply amazing... such a silky creaminess that you left contemplating the wine licking your teeth and lips long after the long finish. Everything has come together so well with this wine. Each new sip bring new nuances like coca, black pepper, mint and hints of sun dried raisins in addition to the upfront raspberries and blackberries. Amazing wine.
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5/8/2009 - vanpe003 wrote:
A great zinfandel. More complex and nuanced than I was able to appreciate given the lateness of hour and the wines that preceded this one.
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5/7/2009 - blaiseiii wrote: 94 Points
what a nice Zin
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3/17/2008 - Outplaying wrote: 92 Points
A very big and complex zin. Distinct Eucalyptus and mint on the nose. Mellow tannins. I am sure it will age longer but it is hard to imagine it getting any better. Really good stuff. If only I had more.........
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1/26/2008 - bon vivant wrote: 94 Points
Dark, elegant complex and so smooth. Not your typical zin for sure -I was starting to think this may be getting a bit old for a zin but this surprised me in it's overall presentation. Mike has done a great job with this and I am glad I managed to keep my hands of it up to now. I am thinking this is at it's peak -will probably be good for a few more years so RP's drinking window can be stretched a bit.
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2/15/2007 - Screameagle wrote: 94 Points
One of the best zins I've consumed in a long time. The Tom Feeney is always my favorite zin in the Carlisle collection but this one stands out as one of my favorite of the great Tom Feeneys. It's drinking so great now it's hard to imagine that it could possibly get any better. The label say over 16% alcohol but it doesn't show at all. If you have any of these left in your cellar you are very lucky.
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8/2/2004 - AlanC wrote: 92 Points
How does Mike Officer do it? Here I am vowing that I'm done with high alcohol zins as I'm sick and tired of hot, overwrought wines, and I stumble across this 2001 Tom Feeney Ranch in a case that I pulled out of storage this weekend. Pop it with some grilled pork tenderloin and take a sip. Wow, this is good--this is why I love zinfandel--lush red fruit and finely integrated pepperiness just come together with great balance and flavor. Damn this is tasty! The alcohol--must be 14.5%, I guess. Pick up the bottle, peruse the back, and stumble across 16.6%! WTF? How can something this smooth and tasty have this balance when some other zin producers are sooo over the top. This is the real s**t for zin lovers and drinking just awesomely right now.
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7/31/2004 - PaulH wrote: 92 Points
Dark, opaque and purple-red; a monster wine in appearance alone. Marked peppery aromas with black fruit. REALLY big in the mouth, full-bodied. Has a very complex palate of chocolate, mint, and raisins. Even though it is loaded with alcohol, everything is balance. A super zin.
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7/1/2004 - Koods wrote: 93 Points
Blue purple right to the rim. Intoxicating nose of rasberry jam, milk chocolate and peppercorns. Lush full throttle palate that coats like molasses, yet with no sense of heaviness. Waves of cali raisins, blackberries, tons of milk chocolate, even some cassis, this has some real sex appeal, this has fruit of kryptonite and a great backbone of lush tannins and acidity to support it. Sports its 16+% alcohol like a left bank does its 12.5%; perfectly. I understand some think that zin is not to be taken too seriously, hell I dont take myself too seriously (!) but this is downright great zin. Certainly Carlisle's 2001 vintage impressed the hell out of me - I have tried them all, but have no experience with other vintages. PS - this may be the best first date wine I've tasted.
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3/4/2004 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($30) 16.6% alcohol. Includes some Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah. This is definitely Mike Officer's best Feeney Zinfandel to-date. Deliciously rich raspberry-Zinberry fruit, with loads of maple sugar and a bit of clove spice. Lofty alcohol, but it seems to work well in this large-scaled, full-throttle wine.
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