The nose was dark, rich and intense with a massive wave of ripe black fruit backed by sweet tobacco, lavender, crushed stone, hints of undergrowth and animal musk. On the palate, I found silky textures with a ripe fruit persona, showing cherry and blackberry, with notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar and confectionary spices. It finished long and spicy with lingering blackberry, a twang of bitter herbs and the slightest acid-heat burn. It's a large-scaled wine, but showing amazing balance.
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tasted blind in a group of 3 . 2of the 3 thought it was great and 1 thought it was bad and had a fault. It has a big aroma with funky earthy notes which bothered one of our tasters but not the other two. It reminded me of a northern Rhone.
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Original purchase price $18.50! Bought when first offered to the mailing list. Decanted and then followed for 3+ hours. Color very dark. Continued to improve throughout but really began to blossom about two hours out. There's actually a bit of chocolate on the nose along with dark red fruit. The palate is blackberries and dark tart cherries. Some earthy spice. Long finish. This is a brooding dark flavor profile but with some balancing acidity to keep it a bit bright. Quite delicious but it's got years left.
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Monolithic. Not hot despite being over 15%, but very one note. Drank 2 glasses but couldn't stomach any more. I liked this better on release, which is usually my experience with Carlisle.
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PnP. Probably a mistake. Nearly opaque, almost black; purple/red only on the edges. Drank alone, with black pepper cheddar, with tart arugula/radish salad and with spicy pasta. More than held up to all of them. Fruits (blackberry, plum, with hint of raspberry) are overshadowed by licorice and earthy tastes. Last glass, alone after dinner: Fruit is beginning to shine thru, but still tar/licorice and earth predominate. Vineyard said the drinking window on this one was '10-'18. There is still a lot time got this one to develop; it is still young. I will try to hold my last bottle for a few years.
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Well, goodbye old friend, as I held this bottle for a long while but tonight I wanted something sentimental, on a cool So Cal evening. One thing I value Mike Officer is his consistent ability to make excellent value-priced syrahs, like this one and also like the 2007 RRV syrah that I was happy to find 4 more of on Wine Bid this summer. Mike's AVA syrahs often remind me of the wines from Adam Lee's Novy SLH bottlings, as there are similar flavor profiles to Adam's style, another that I have bought and enjoyed for many years. Again here, that same AVA similarity is present so for those into SLH syrah, this wine will give you pleasure as it does for me. Like Adam, Mike gets CA syrah and finds a way to stuff bottles full of dark color and terrific flavors. So, to this 2006...dark color, of course. Started out early with aromas of bacon fat and white flower, in that style. Those notes softened some with air, with some light pepper joining to form the aromatic in total. The palate? Leather, tar, tangy, sweet blue fruit, stone fruit pit and some game. In the finish, still some acidity to join the fruit, and a texture that is pretty even...and a day later, the wine richens up a bot more, shows a note of chocolate and also the tangy fruit goes center stage. In my view, this is ready to go and age has treated it well, and IMO another good example of mid-decade CA syrah.
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Bonus bottle - found this in the cellar and had to go there. Wasn't in cellartracker inventory so kind of like it was free! So good, rich, smoky and deep purple fruit. Drunk over 3 days and held up perfectly throughout. QPR hero!
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Brief decant. Could have used 60-120 minutes of air. Initial roughness has softened with some age. Red and dark fruit. Nice and smooth. Good balance. A bargain at the $22 release price, all in with tax and shipping.
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Drank side-by-side with an '03 Elderton Command and an '04 Cayuse, both of which cost more than three times what I paid for the Carlisle, which, incidentally, hasn't reached its peak IMHO. Were the other two better? Yes, but by the slimmest of margins. In fact, the similarity of the three to each other in every respect was surprising. If my scoring was based on value, this would be the winner by a huge margin. Black fruit, smoke, pepper - this has it all.
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Sensational. Opened about 45 minutes before drinking. Extremely dark color and an assertive nose - black fruits and creosote. Huge on the palate, with blackberries, pepper and creosote. Smokin! Rich mouthfeel and a long, rich finish. Should last another couple years, and it may even improve. At under $20, an unbelievable bargain.
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Decanted thru strainer; minimal sediment. Drank after 30 min. over the next hour. Dark, dense purple/ruby color. Exotic, spicy aroma. Rich, smooth mouthfeel. Plum, blackberry and pepper, with a long earthy finish. Glad I waited 6 years to open. Will drink the other two bottles over the two years.
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Popped and poured. Huge nose. This baby is open and ready for business. A dark, brooding, savory syrah--classic Carlisle cool climate syrah with a ton of bang for the buck. Drink 'em if you got 'em. This is a big wine that is drinking very well right now....not sure if there is much of more of an upside for waiting.
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Popped and poured after the corked 2000 Bordeaux. Right off the bat this is a BIG wine! The immediate impact on the nose is BLACK, not as in a fruity blackberry, black as in a dark and brooding attitude that does not remind me of fruit. Some camphor with a fair amount of green (stems?). With more air some mushrooms, smoke and black pepper appear. Medium bodied, but with the same BLACK profile that the nose exhibited. Creosote and black tea on the palate with some olive, stone and pepper in the background. Finish comes up a little short. A very good wine for the price!
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Decanted through strainer and began drinking. Fairly dense, dark red. Full mouthfeel. Sharp licorice and earth overshadowed red and black fruit. Better with bar-b-q than by self. Still very big. Unsure if more time will make this wine mellow and grow mor complex.
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Dark garnet color. Dark fruit and vanilla aromas. Rich blueberry and blackberry flavors. Very nice but not much complexity or finish.
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Nice nose of dark fruit and plums. Palate had a lot of creamy vanilla along with the red and black fruit components. Very youthful with no signs of taking on any age. Very easy to drink but not overpowering. Did not have the spiciness and pepper of some syrahs, but it did have a nice meaty component to it. And excellent effort and a steal fr the original release price of $18.50
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Bought this on vacation in Carlsbad. Wish I would have purchased from the mailing list. Very evocative nose of red fruits, brambles and a little smoke. Tastes of lush red and black fruits with some meat juices and bait of salinity.
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15.1% ABV. Again, really pleased with where this wine is. Capivating nose that features an interesting melange of sweet black olive and lavender notes. There is a background note of meat, but overall the effect is ripe fruit and complex aromatics. Dig it. Medium-full bodied on the palate with ripe black fruit. Delicious. 93+
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Another beauty from Mike. All about this merited a rating of at least a 90 except for this slightly saline, salty licorice tang kreeping in that I am put off by. I hope this dissapears again but am affraid it will only get worse from here. I don't have anymore bottles but I'd drink up if I had more, watching further evolution carefully. If there were signs that the salt was drawing back I'd be happy to keep them a further number of years as almost all else was outstanding about this wine.
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A great deal of improvement over the laat bottle a little less than a year ago. A complete wine- complex, fruity and integrated. Can go many more years. A great deal for the price.
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The first Carlisle I've had with any sort of age on it, and as a result one of the best. On the nose, a nice juxtaposition of meaty notes, sweet berry and florals, and leather. On the palate, nice balancing acidity yet retains a relatively lush mouthfeel. I don't detect much in the way of tannins on a medium-long finish.
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I agree with the other descriptors, this wine has a LOT of fruit but not too much, still showing good structure so will age at least another 10 years. Delicious, rich but refreshing acidity.
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15.1% ABV. I really like where this wine is right now. Complex nose of intermingled sweet black olive and lavender notes with a background meat component. The nose manages to stay fruity and new world despite the more sauvage elements. Medium full bodied with ripe balanced black fruit on the palate and some echoes of the nose. Very tasty.
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Wonder bottle, all the trademarks of a Carlisle, rich, balanced, great fruit and never over the top. Consumed with a Sinatra family 2007 come fly with me, quilceda creek, Herman story grenache and could argue it was the best bottle.
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Cork was bad, wine was good. Not as good as '07 Novy we had the other week, but looking forward to the second bottle. Hopefully second cork be solid and see if the wine is even better with all of the 92 pt ratings.
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Wine has definitely changed direction from my last notes. Notes of blackberry, smoke, charcoal and spice. In the mouth, great concentration of flavors consistent with the nose, smooth but a touch of heat on the finish. Really delicious on day 2 - amazng qpr.
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Sweet vanilla and peppered-beef on the nose, rich mouthcoating midpalate with loads of blackberries & cream with a streak of pepper on finish. Another remarkable Syrah from Carlisle.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Excellent Syrah, particularly given the price point at purchase of ~$25. Dark, purple color made me a bit concerned this would be a concentrated fruit bomb. But wine showed great restraint and complexity. Blackberry, bacon fat, and a bit smoky. Really enjoyed this wine.
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Opaque purple. A dark fruit and plum nose, with noticeable savory elements (meat and funk). The nose is getting interesting! Full bodied, a bit monolithic plum palate. Medium finish. Excellent QPR that is transforming from a delicious young wine to something more interesting. I suspect the nose is a year ahead of the palate. Glad I have more. Seriously, when you can get $20 wines like this, it makes you question the value in more expensive bottles.
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god, this smells like/reminds me of the Cayuse En Chamberlin. That aromatic that is hard to describe...a mixture of funk, sweet soy, even like some of the Rosella's vineyard merde I sometimes get on the Novy bottlings. I did not pick up this aromatic a year ago but it surely plays a part in the wine now. Beyond that, some iron, chocolate, lots of dark berry and some good acidity to keep it all fresh. All of this noted with the wine open about 90 mins. Even the next day as the wine slow oxed in bottle, remains fresh and vibrant with more red fruit tonight than last, but maintaining the depth of the black fruit too, mixing it all together. Good density, with soy licorice and zingy citrus on the finish. Drink now through 2013.
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Opened for two hours with a poured off glass. Had a funky finish to it for the first 3 hours- eventually smoothed out. A very spicy, non-jammy wine. I think a couple of years will really benefit this wine.
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What a nice wine for 20 bucks. I can't help but smile each time I have one of the sonoma county bottlings. Thanks Mike. This wine showed similarly to the last bottle we had about a year ago. Nice black and blue fruits, some charcoal, meat and spice. I like the texture in the wine and the acidity. I wish I had more but at least I can order a few 09's.
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Note after 2 hours in a decanter. Some bacon fat and black fruits on the nose. Blackberries and black pepper on the palate. Just a touch of heat. This will likely be even better on day 2.
No, this did not improve on day 2 and instead it took a turn for the worse. Seems sharp and angular with the alcohol even more prevalent.
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Left open for about an hour before consuming. Pretty much opaque, dark black garnet in the glass. Sweet aromatic nose that almost evokes a bit of Viognier with sweet smelling lavender/peach like notes. Ripe sweet black fruit on the palate with meaty undertone. Nice.
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That's right, I said it--95. I have had a lot of Carlisles, but this syrah is the best I have had so far. Seamless, pure fruit with sweet tannins and enough complexity on the palate to keep your interest. Maybe one of the best syrahs I have had in the past year. It's that good!
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Note after 2 hour decant. Nose of bacon fat and pepper. Lots of black fruit on the palate, as well as pepper, earth and spice. Very enjoyable wine and a great QPR.
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Just a tasty syrah. Has a kind of grapy flavor along with other traditional california syrah flavors. Lots of vanilla, oak is present but not overstated. Good
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(Consumed for Wine Berserkers' 'Drink that West Coast Syrah week')
Mega dark purple color - the bubbles that form are darker than many red wines I drink. The nose has a blast of super rich black fruit, gobs of new oak, alcohol, and, dare I say, (with a shout out to Carlin Yamada) corn cob. The alcohol on the nose really overpowers when it gets near my nose, and that bothers me, particularly since I have a stuffy nose today - I imagine it would be even more extreme otherwise. (Open 1 hour so far)
The mouthfeel is heavy, but not syrupy, and loads of black and red fruits on the palate. Very dark qualities overall - color, nose, palate, etc. It's a big and bold dark wine. Finish is a bit short for such a big wine, and the fruit turns a bit sour, more like apple skins and cherries. I'm not getting much in the way of pepper or meatiness on this wine, which is what I would expect from Syrah - it's basically an oaky fruity big Syrah. It's not bad, it's just not my style, so I won't rate it.
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Very smooth, straight forward syrah. Not overly done, food friendly and a nice bouquet of black fruits and floral notes. 1/4 bottle consumed several days later and it was still well stitched together.
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One of the best carlisle qprs I've ever had and that's saying thing. As good as this is now it will even be better in a few years. Why did I give a bunch of these away. dumb.
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Pop and pour. Drinking very well now. Lots of blackberry along with some beef blood, pepper, lavender, and some road tar on the finish. This is rich and full-bodied, not to mention a great value! Should last 5 more years without any decline. Glad to have several more of these.
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Solid Sonoma Syrah, with a nice whiff of black fruit, some decent Syrah characteristics, and a bunch of eucalyptus/mint on the palate which made things interesting. At this price, it's pretty tough to beat in any category, any variety, etc. Well done! (PE: 90)
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After sitting in my basement for 2 years, I was rewarded.
Day 1 - Delightful nose. Smooth and creamy. Some fruit. Day 2 - Softer tannins, Smoother than the first night, if that's possible. Day 3 - Oh my. Better than many others on the first day. Still going strong at 90% from the first day.
Not bad for one of the cheaper wines
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Splash decanted an hour in advance, this is a ripe, rich drink. Dark berries, sneaky pepper and meaty notes, fennel, vanilla, a suave texture, and a slight medicinal note. Just when you think it's overdone, it finishes in lifting, yet not bracing fashion. Very pleasing to be sure, but just a bit heady this evening.
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Sweet creamy nose of vanilla, raspberries, blackberries and smooth oak. Under all of this there is a tough of roasted meats, pepper, sage and underbrush. Palate is very lush with tons of fruit, creamy oak and spice. Nice hints of tobacco and cedar box are also present. Finish is decently long with vibrant acidity to keep it fresh. Nice QPR and drinking well.
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Moving in one year cycles on this wine, last bottle tasted Dec 2008. This was a bottle that I discovered in my yearly cellar clean up....good bottle karma requires I drink it, of course! Dark color and can't see the bottom of the glass. Bacon fat, plush texture that shows charred cherry, blackberry, licorice and a fair amount of acidity to keep the plump flavors lively. The acidity carries through the finish on the back palate. Syrah is dead, syrah is dead.........uh no, it's not. Enjoy through 2012. QPR winner again.
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Nose gives off tons of black fruits, smoked meats, charcoal, scorched earth and sweet cream. Palate is expansive with broad blue and black fruits. Toasty oak, medium body, firm tannins and a touch of heat. This bottle seems a bit more advanced, primary and disjointed than the last, might let the remaining rest a bit before opening.
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Another solid showing from one of my favorite wines. Nice nose of mocha, creamy vanilla oak, blue fruits and soft mellow oak. Palate is smooth and polished. Tannins are present but integrated beautifully with the fruit. Medium body with a nice lingering finish with tons of spice and black fruits. Drinking great now and will last for a few more years.
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Better integrated and thus drinking more consistent over several days than my previous bottles. I had a mini Syrah Bomb tasting on Saturday with Alban and Two Hands, and used this to come down. Not as overshadowed by those superior (and far more expensive) wines as I thought. Admittedly, I served this cool and gave it a good decanting in light of previous experiences, and the nose is really nothing special, but there is a lot of fruit in the bottle.
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Another very solid Carlisle. This one seemed to lack a typical Carlisle brightness to it though. Not a bad thing just a bit different. I little bit heavier fruit with some definite earthiness/gameyness to it.
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15.1% alcohol. Decanted for one hour before serving. Dark red-purple color. Excellent blueberry-driven fruit in the nose with a touch of meaty earthiness. In the mouth, powerful and concentrated, with plenty of blue fruits that are supported by earthy, almost floral, complexity. Good acidity. Long finish. Just solid value all the way around. A-
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This wine went through a few phases over the course of the night. It was nice and fat right out of the bottle, perfume, oak, sweet creamy fruit and tobacco. It then got a bit thin and hot which I did not care for. As it opened with air it got better, I think this one was a bit traveled shock.
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Nose is a pleasant mix of tar, tobacco, pepper, and black cherries, with a nice sweet floral component as well. Rich, medium weight mouthfeel, sweet dark cherries, nice minerality, and a good long finish. Tannins are quite rounded at this point, after being open (corked) 24 hours.
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My last bottle I gave a "generous 89" but this time I give it the more honest 88. Scores are always semi-stupid, but then again so is the absurd hero-worship of this winery, which is generally awesome and worthy of praise but I'm just not loving this Syrah. It shows some heat, and I find the fruit profile to be non-specific. It packs a good wallop, with a ton of blue and black fruit to go along with a certain asphalt/charcoal character and some vanilla cream and smoke. It requires a serious amount of air, so I suppose it just isn't hitting its window, but I want my $20 wines available to drink while other wines chill in the cellar. Oh, time for dinner. Goodnight!
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This wine may begin to enter a dumb/shutdown phase right now. Very tight out of the bottle where others have been pop and pour. Nice minerals, charcoal, black and blue fruits rolled with vanilla and whipping cream. Dig broad drying tannins with nice structure to keep it going. This still needs some more time.
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inky, opaque purple-black, blackberry and sugar cane aromas, rich palate, oak makes for nice milk chocolate flavor, dark cherry, and burnt earth, the finish is creamy and extends with smoke and espresso nuances, smooth due to light acid, nice with smoked Gouda, also had with an onion-cheeseburger, definitely share a bottle, this is heavy wine
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Nose of rock and baked earth, black olive, black fruits, some blueberry, and a floral note. Fairly linear palate, a bit drying on the finish. Overall, very nice QPR.
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Characteristics of roasted herb, coffee, ferrous rock and brambly, slighty roasted raspberry. Medium-bodied, with nice grip and rocky, vibrant finish. Nothing jammy here, in fact almost French.
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Inky dark color to it. Huge meaty/gamey nose to it. Tons of Dark fruit to go along with it. Massive wine that mellowed out on day 2. Lots of dark fruit on the palate, with a little heat at the end. Really good structure to this, with a nice underlying acidity and somewhat sweet tannins to back everything up. Should hold well for a while.
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Very dark purple color. Almost as dark as the 07 Carlisle RRV Syrah that we tasted this next to. The nose had blackberry, tar, smoked meat, and chocolate aromas. The palate had flavors of cassis, cherries and scorched earth. Full bodied with a very nice mouthfeel and a nice progression through a long finish. I enjoyed this just slightly better than the 07 Carlisle RRV because of the additional complexity that the 06 Sonoma had. These Carlisles were fun to taste next to each other. I'll be sure to load up on both when the next offer for them comes up.
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Absolutely packed with ripe raspberry and blueberry which is countered by excellent natural acidity. Shows great depth with espresso, bacon fat, and mineral flavors. This is an excellent example of California Syrah, if in a slightly forward style. Drink now-2015. 91 pts.
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I think there might be a tad of bottle variance with these wines. This my fifth and final bottle and still really nice but different than others. This one picked up a decent amount of game and meatiness on the nose. Still present is ripe black fruits and sweet cream. Not my favorite bottle but still very enjoyable.
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Despite all the warnings to stay away from this for a while, I could not resist. Didn't even have time to decant, so just popped and poured. Lots of black fruits and smoke. I got a bit too much alcohol, especially after it was open for a few hours. Absolutely a great deal and will be so much better in a few years.
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nose: much more toned down on day two. Black fruits, smoke, black cherries, some raw meaty notes, and some stonish and glycerin tones. Very balanced and offering up a different profile then it did yesterday as its nowhere near as ripe
taste: very well balanced medium/full feel. The tannins are more pronounced today then they were yesterday. Blackberries, black cherries, smoke, raw meats, with bits of pepper and hints of glycerin
overall: this is much more balanced and the alcohol feels toned down today rather then yesterday. The flavors are more interesting and there is good depth. Between both days, this is a really good buy for less then 25 and with the way it changed it can definitely satisfy a wide variety of syrah drinkers
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nose: very fruit forward nose with big ripe tones of red and black cherries, bits of cedar, hints of pepper, and loads of ripe red fruits along with a good hefty amount of ripe black fruits
taste: well balanced with black cherries, black fruits, a bit of cedar and smoke to go with it. Pretty forward and little to no tannins and barely any noticeable acidity
overall: not my style at all, but I can easily see why people love it. Its balanced out in the glass and the heat has dissapated a bit, but there is still some heat on the back end of the palate. WIth the tannin and acid structure, I'm not sure that I really see this changing for the better, so its drink up right now. If you are a fan of a more forward style, this will be right up your alley, if not, then there are many st josephs that will stratch your itch at the same general price. Doesn't fully ring my bell, but this is a very well made wine and done perfectly in teh style that it aims for. IMO this is better balanced then some of the heat bombs that some Alban Revas that I have experienced. While it doesn't have the complexity of an alban reva, it certainly has the alcohol much better in balance with the ripe fruit
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One of the nicest experiences from the last 4 bottles. Nice and creamy with glycerin and black fruits. Good weight, mouthfeel and tannin structure. Didn'T get too meaty with air and stayed more CA in nature. Great wine for the price.
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Good rich opaque color. The wine had a nose of black berries, smoked meats, and wet stone. The texture was full and bristling with dark fruit and a lingering smokey mineral finish.
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Deep purple. Attention-getting nose of black fruits, meat and cedar. Plush mouthfeel - a surge of plums, blackberries and raw meat. Mid-palate reveals flashes of oak and alcohol along with waves of spice and tar - long, powerful finish leaving some heat, spice and tar to linger in your mouth for quite a while - acidity and tannins are evident and lead me to believe this might be worth a bit of patience - I'll let my remaining bottles rest for a few years.
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Extremely dark color in the glass. Sweet perfume like nose of dark fruits, fresh cream and Asian spices. The ever so slightest hint of raw meats is also present. Nose also had some interesting hints of plum and a medicine like character. Mouthfeel is decently dry with good weight. Medium to heavy body in style with sweet black and purple fruits, creamy vanilla oak and spice. Nice bottle of wine that is spot on and consistent.
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You could never call this wine elegant! Unmistakeable syrah nose of dark fruits, meat/blood, tar and a little spice. Ann said it was very masculine and she didn't prefer the nose. This is not a very complex wine in the mouth. Concentrated blackberries and a little spice. With Montagnolo cheese you get pronounced blueberries. The alcohol is hidden nicely and this is not extremely tannic. The finish is a little weak compared to other carlisles but this is an awesome wine for 20 bucks. Ann says 87 - 88. I say 88-89. There is a little left and I am looking forward to trying it again.
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A little bit more disjointed than the last bottle with a touch of heat, but still enjoyable. It didn't posses the rich creaminess that the last bottle did. Still nice fruit, oak, sweet tannins and game. Great wine for the $.
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-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 3 days --
NOSE: dark fruits: blueberry and loganberry ... kind of "grapey" too; hints of leather, sweet oak, and brown sugar. Not complex, but pretty expressive.
BODY: some superfine particulate matter is suspended in this medium-full bodied wine; purple-garnet color of great depth -- inky.
TASTE: rich earthy/blackberry flavor fully envelops the palate; tannic finish on Day 1 --- smoother by Day 3; a bit hot on the finish (35-40 sec.); solid, but not as good as I was expecting, given all the glowing reviews I've read. Overall, this seemed very simple and straightforward, and Syrah does not have to be like that. At $24, it is a good value, but the total lack of excitement leaves me unsure about whether I would buy again ... I do have one more that I'll sit on for a while ... this certainly has the stuffing and balance to lay, so I'll give that a go. IMO, McPrice Myers offers a far more exciting Syrah for only a few dollars more.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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Color is immensely dark with blacked hue purple all the way to the edge. Nose gives off layers of fresh black and red fruits, a slight touch of gaminess, fresh ground pepper and toasty oak. Palate is extremely smooth with no heat or hard edges at all. Very focused with nice fruit, creamy vanilla oak and tons of spice and pepper on the finish. Tremendous effort for a bargain syrah.
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tons of black fruit on the nose. blackberry jam - slight notes of vanilla - some spice and meat add interest. slight heat on the finish - but not off-putting. solid quaff of a $20 wine with promise to get better after a few years' rest.
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Dark purple in color. Tarry nose, with hints of stone, graphite, cough medicine, a little bit of meatiness. Feels very alive in the mouth, with dark cherry, blackberry, and a smoky, chewy finish. Really well put together for the price.
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Just grabbed another bottle of this since our guests were not wine geeks like me and I had 4 bottles of this in the cooler. Initial taste, very tight. After some time, notes of beef, bbq spice and a floral component on the nose. In the mouth tannins quite aggressive at first. Will come back and post updates.
Day 2 Wine smoothed out some and I noticed a toasted rose petal note on the nose. Tannins still present. I think it needs 2-3 more years or a heavy decant.
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likely among the best sub $20 cali syrahs period! well balanced. drinking well at such a young age. herbs de provance, dark fruit, pepper, anise, for forgiving structure for drinking young. wears the etoh well. an absolute steal!
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Drank alongside the 05 Saxum JBV and this held its own...almost like a cold climate version of the same wine. Blackberry, tobacco, white pepper, licorice, charcoal, and lavender. An amazing QpR
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This wine took a long time to unwind and didn't show so well for me as it seems to have for others, even on day 2. I'm not sure if it was just the heat itself or VA but at times it had sharp angles obscuring the fruit that revealed a little flavor of alcohol. Here on day 3 it has finally popped open for me, and it is a nice Syrah, somewhat lacking in personality on the palate emphasizing asphalt as it does but worthy of QPR praise. Final judgment reserved but this bottle gets a generous 89.
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Wow, exceptionally well built wine for 20 bones. Definitely needs a 2 hour decant, noticeable tannin. Notes of blackberry, black cherry and licorice on the nose. In the mouth, I notice high glycerin levels and a creaminess to the wine. Mr Officer certainly matched the sonoma county zin - as far as an entry level wine that exceeds all expectations and thats saying a lot.
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Such a nice wine. How can this be the "basic" bottling? No notes taken but recall it being fairly complex -- tar/asphalt, dark fruit and moderate to high acidity and tannins. Well balanced. Probably even better in 1-2 years but no way will I be able to keep my hands off of them.
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Inky dark purple in the glass, and a big wine throughout. Black fruits, tar, graphite, all big, all rather heavy, yet mouthfeel is not as heavy as the profile. Finish is nice, more of the tar and graphite, only a slight bitterness, good length, structure is good, seems to be ready for some time in the cellar as needed.
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Stuffed. Loads of flavor--blackberry and touch of licorice. Add charcoal, espresso and some finishing grip so life lies ahead on the road. $20? How Mike can make this stuff for this price is ridiculous. And in some circles we continue to discuss the model of pricing syrah at or over the century mark, the points the wine gets, whether it merits the pricing, all of it.............blah, blah and blah. For me, tune in, turn on and drop into a glass of Carlisle and with a smile, THIS is where it's at, man. At 24 hours open, less flashy, with a bit more focus, adding good dose of graphite to the nose, some notes now of cooked meat/game, hint of pepper, flowers, spearmint. This wine shows all kinds of nuance and range of notes, very interesting and totally pleasurable.
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Palate staining is accurate as Mr Officer notes on the label, but this is a tremendous, balanced effort. Loads of everything (cassis, pepper, spicy oak, fruit, meat) float across the palate seamlessly. Zero heat, no sharp edges - I like this better than SQN Atlantis no question. Amazing juice.
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Popped and poured, and it was ready for action. Dark and deep in the glass, scents of bbq meat, blueberry and flowers. A heady wine, it is giving gobs of dark fruit now. Yet, there is a cool climate essence too as the wine finishes with a dark tarry note. While this will continue to evolve, it was rather open and plush right now. No hard edges. Big, bold wine, terrific value.
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Popped and poured this at my daughter's 3rd birthday party. This is my first Carlisle and if his "cheapest" bottle is this good, I can't imagine how tasty the other bottlings will be. This bottle has to be the best QPR of the year at $19.50. Deep, inky purple in the glass with tons of smoke, blood, and an abundance of pure ripe fruit. This wine possesses the complexity of a $40-$50 bottle of syrah and after drinking an $85 Washington syrah on Friday (yes, a very aggressive pricing structure) that did not impress or show this much depth, I'm fully on the Calisle bandwagon. A mouthful of ripe and a hint of unripe fruit along with a tangible amount of fruit weight (always wanted to quote Sparky) and a persistent finish have me banging the drum like Tommy Lee for this wine. 92 pts.
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Popped and poured. Dark color to the rim, initial nose of scorched earth, dark fruit, spice and pepper (kind of reminded me of warmer-climate Napa Syrah) On the palate nice blue/black fruit rich mid-palate, decent acidity and a pleasing finish. As it sat in the glass I got some smoky meat aromas associated with cooler climate Syrah. Even though this is an appellation level wine (even though Sonoma County is not an AVA) and is meant for early consumption, this needs quite a bit more time to come together.
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This one is pretty much rocking right out of the gate. A bit of a smokey nose of course the fruit is deep dark and rich. It is actually very approachable now, with no sign of alcohol. A steal @ $20.
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3/10/2018 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was dark, rich and intense with a massive wave of ripe black fruit backed by sweet tobacco, lavender, crushed stone, hints of undergrowth and animal musk. On the palate, I found silky textures with a ripe fruit persona, showing cherry and blackberry, with notes of dark chocolate, brown sugar and confectionary spices. It finished long and spicy with lingering blackberry, a twang of bitter herbs and the slightest acid-heat burn. It's a large-scaled wine, but showing amazing balance.
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11/13/2016 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 88 Points
earthy syrah. reminds me of a northern Rhone
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9/3/2016 - CRUSHER Likes this wine: 94 Points
tasted blind in a group of 3 . 2of the 3 thought it was great and 1 thought it was bad and had a fault. It has a big aroma with funky
earthy notes which bothered one of our tasters but not the other
two. It reminded me of a northern Rhone.
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2/12/2016 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 91 Points
Original purchase price $18.50! Bought when first offered to the mailing list. Decanted and then followed for 3+ hours. Color very dark. Continued to improve throughout but really began to blossom about two hours out. There's actually a bit of chocolate on the nose along with dark red fruit. The palate is blackberries and dark tart cherries. Some earthy spice. Long finish. This is a brooding dark flavor profile but with some balancing acidity to keep it a bit bright. Quite delicious but it's got years left.
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1/27/2016 - MLwine wrote: 89 Points
Rich and fruity, but overly alcoholic. Heat dominates, which makes the wine somewhat imbalanced.
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4/16/2015 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a perfect place. Complex and elegant. Beautiful!
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4/1/2015 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
Alcohol detracts from overall enjoyment. Heavily extracted, deep rich flavor profile.
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11/3/2014 - Spencer wrote:
Monolithic. Not hot despite being over 15%, but very one note. Drank 2 glasses but couldn't stomach any more. I liked this better on release, which is usually my experience with Carlisle.
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10/25/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
Carlisle rarely disappoints!
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6/14/2014 - brynmair Likes this wine: 91 Points
Such a dependable bottle of wine for the price. This one hit then spot.
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3/31/2014 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as previous note. Aged Syrah from Carlisle rocks!
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1/3/2014 - Ed B wrote: 91 Points
PnP. Probably a mistake. Nearly opaque, almost black; purple/red only on the edges. Drank alone, with black pepper cheddar, with tart arugula/radish salad and with spicy pasta. More than held up to all of them. Fruits (blackberry, plum, with hint of raspberry) are overshadowed by licorice and earthy tastes. Last glass, alone after dinner: Fruit is beginning to shine thru, but still tar/licorice and earth predominate. Vineyard said the drinking window on this one was '10-'18. There is still a lot time got this one to develop; it is still young. I will try to hold my last bottle for a few years.
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11/23/2013 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
Just goes to show what can be if I can keep my hands off of carlisle's for a while. Not too fruity. Smooth and complex. Wow wine for under 20.
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11/3/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Well, goodbye old friend, as I held this bottle for a long while but tonight I wanted something sentimental, on a cool So Cal evening. One thing I value Mike Officer is his consistent ability to make excellent value-priced syrahs, like this one and also like the 2007 RRV syrah that I was happy to find 4 more of on Wine Bid this summer. Mike's AVA syrahs often remind me of the wines from Adam Lee's Novy SLH bottlings, as there are similar flavor profiles to Adam's style, another that I have bought and enjoyed for many years. Again here, that same AVA similarity is present so for those into SLH syrah, this wine will give you pleasure as it does for me. Like Adam, Mike gets CA syrah and finds a way to stuff bottles full of dark color and terrific flavors. So, to this 2006...dark color, of course. Started out early with aromas of bacon fat and white flower, in that style. Those notes softened some with air, with some light pepper joining to form the aromatic in total. The palate? Leather, tar, tangy, sweet blue fruit, stone fruit pit and some game. In the finish, still some acidity to join the fruit, and a texture that is pretty even...and a day later, the wine richens up a bot more, shows a note of chocolate and also the tangy fruit goes center stage. In my view, this is ready to go and age has treated it well, and IMO another good example of mid-decade CA syrah.
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10/13/2013 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bonus bottle - found this in the cellar and had to go there. Wasn't in cellartracker inventory so kind of like it was free! So good, rich, smoky and deep purple fruit. Drunk over 3 days and held up perfectly throughout. QPR hero!
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10/5/2013 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 90 Points
Brief decant. Could have used 60-120 minutes of air. Initial roughness has softened with some age. Red and dark fruit. Nice and smooth. Good balance. A bargain at the $22 release price, all in with tax and shipping.
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2/16/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank side-by-side with an '03 Elderton Command and an '04 Cayuse, both of which cost more than three times what I paid for the Carlisle, which, incidentally, hasn't reached its peak IMHO. Were the other two better? Yes, but by the slimmest of margins. In fact, the similarity of the three to each other in every respect was surprising. If my scoring was based on value, this would be the winner by a huge margin. Black fruit, smoke, pepper - this has it all.
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1/13/2013 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sensational. Opened about 45 minutes before drinking. Extremely dark color and an assertive nose - black fruits and creosote. Huge on the palate, with blackberries, pepper and creosote. Smokin! Rich mouthfeel and a long, rich finish. Should last another couple years, and it may even improve. At under $20, an unbelievable bargain.
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12/9/2012 - apspr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Superb syrah with fruit and spice aplenty-- Carlisle is a winner!
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11/6/2012 - dougie wrote: 90 Points
Drank for 2012 election night. Woohoo!
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10/23/2012 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
Decanted thru strainer; minimal sediment. Drank after 30 min. over the next hour. Dark, dense purple/ruby color. Exotic, spicy aroma. Rich, smooth mouthfeel. Plum, blackberry and pepper, with a long earthy finish. Glad I waited 6 years to open. Will drink the other two bottles over the two years.
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10/19/2012 - dmatley wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Huge nose. This baby is open and ready for business. A dark, brooding, savory syrah--classic Carlisle cool climate syrah with a ton of bang for the buck. Drink 'em if you got 'em. This is a big wine that is drinking very well right now....not sure if there is much of more of an upside for waiting.
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9/15/2012 - S2 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured after the corked 2000 Bordeaux. Right off the bat this is a BIG wine! The immediate impact on the nose is BLACK, not as in a fruity blackberry, black as in a dark and brooding attitude that does not remind me of fruit. Some camphor with a fair amount of green (stems?). With more air some mushrooms, smoke and black pepper appear. Medium bodied, but with the same BLACK profile that the nose exhibited. Creosote and black tea on the palate with some olive, stone and pepper in the background. Finish comes up a little short. A very good wine for the price!
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6/17/2012 - WylbeByte wrote: 93 Points
Big, bold, very powerful. Liked it a lot. Wish I had more!
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5/30/2012 - Ed B wrote: 88 Points
Decanted through strainer and began drinking. Fairly dense, dark red. Full mouthfeel. Sharp licorice and earth overshadowed red and black fruit. Better with bar-b-q than by self. Still very big. Unsure if more time will make this wine mellow and grow mor complex.
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4/25/2012 - davidspieker wrote: 90 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Dark garnet color. Dark fruit and vanilla aromas. Rich blueberry and blackberry flavors. Very nice but not much complexity or finish.
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4/1/2012 - J @ y H @ c k wrote: 90 Points
Nice nose of dark fruit and plums. Palate had a lot of creamy vanilla along with the red and black fruit components. Very youthful with no signs of taking on any age. Very easy to drink but not overpowering. Did not have the spiciness and pepper of some syrahs, but it did have a nice meaty component to it. And excellent effort and a steal fr the original release price of $18.50
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3/25/2012 - Brsed wrote: 92 Points
Bought this on vacation in Carlsbad. Wish I would have purchased from the mailing list. Very evocative nose of red fruits, brambles and a little smoke. Tastes of lush red and black fruits with some meat juices and bait of salinity.
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3/8/2012 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 93 Points
15.1% ABV. Again, really pleased with where this wine is. Capivating nose that features an interesting melange of sweet black olive and lavender notes. There is a background note of meat, but overall the effect is ripe fruit and complex aromatics. Dig it. Medium-full bodied on the palate with ripe black fruit. Delicious. 93+
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1/4/2012 - SineQuaNon wrote: 89 Points
Another beauty from Mike. All about this merited a rating of at least a 90 except for this slightly saline, salty licorice tang kreeping in that I am put off by. I hope this dissapears again but am affraid it will only get worse from here. I don't have anymore bottles but I'd drink up if I had more, watching further evolution carefully. If there were signs that the salt was drawing back I'd be happy to keep them a further number of years as almost all else was outstanding about this wine.
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12/15/2011 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
A great deal of improvement over the laat bottle a little less than a year ago. A complete wine- complex, fruity and integrated. Can go many more years. A great deal for the price.
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12/13/2011 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
The first Carlisle I've had with any sort of age on it, and as a result one of the best. On the nose, a nice juxtaposition of meaty notes, sweet berry and florals, and leather. On the palate, nice balancing acidity yet retains a relatively lush mouthfeel. I don't detect much in the way of tannins on a medium-long finish.
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12/6/2011 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. A great producer. Comparable: Thurman Munson.
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11/29/2011 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
I agree with the other descriptors, this wine has a LOT of fruit but not too much, still showing good structure so will age at least another 10 years. Delicious, rich but refreshing acidity.
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11/20/2011 - bzukaitis wrote: 88 Points
Wine pairing dinner (Brian and Julie Z's): Last wine of the night. Good Syrah. Probably should have saved for another time.
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11/5/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 93 Points
15.1% ABV. I really like where this wine is right now. Complex nose of intermingled sweet black olive and lavender notes with a background meat component. The nose manages to stay fruity and new world despite the more sauvage elements. Medium full bodied with ripe balanced black fruit on the palate and some echoes of the nose. Very tasty.
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10/1/2011 - MrMoops wrote: 90 Points
Ink, dark berries, bing cherries, blueberries, hint of pepper on the nose. Coats the mouth with cherries, ink. Great wine with pizza. Will get better.
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8/27/2011 - ravbik wrote: 95 Points
Great qpr. Dark, black berries, depth, slightly brambly, slate, pencil and tar.
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8/14/2011 - BrianMc wrote: 93 Points
Wonder bottle, all the trademarks of a Carlisle, rich, balanced, great fruit and never over the top. Consumed with a Sinatra family 2007 come fly with me, quilceda creek, Herman story grenache and could argue it was the best bottle.
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6/11/2011 - bzukaitis wrote: 89 Points
Cork was bad, wine was good. Not as good as '07 Novy we had the other week, but looking forward to the second bottle. Hopefully second cork be solid and see if the wine is even better with all of the 92 pt ratings.
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6/4/2011 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Wine has definitely changed direction from my last notes. Notes of blackberry, smoke, charcoal and spice. In the mouth, great concentration of flavors consistent with the nose, smooth but a touch of heat on the finish. Really delicious on day 2 - amazng qpr.
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4/19/2011 - Gestalted wrote: 92 Points
Sweet vanilla and peppered-beef on the nose, rich mouthcoating midpalate with loads of blackberries & cream with a streak of pepper on finish. Another remarkable Syrah from Carlisle.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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3/26/2011 - Sovinator wrote: 92 Points
Excellent Syrah, particularly given the price point at purchase of ~$25. Dark, purple color made me a bit concerned this would be a concentrated fruit bomb. But wine showed great restraint and complexity. Blackberry, bacon fat, and a bit smoky. Really enjoyed this wine.
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3/18/2011 - Brady D Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque purple. A dark fruit and plum nose, with noticeable savory elements (meat and funk). The nose is getting interesting! Full bodied, a bit monolithic plum palate. Medium finish. Excellent QPR that is transforming from a delicious young wine to something more interesting. I suspect the nose is a year ahead of the palate. Glad I have more. Seriously, when you can get $20 wines like this, it makes you question the value in more expensive bottles.
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3/7/2011 - Sellar Rat Likes this wine:
Big, smooth, rich and about perfect right now. Great California syrah.
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2/16/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
god, this smells like/reminds me of the Cayuse En Chamberlin. That aromatic that is hard to describe...a mixture of funk, sweet soy, even like some of the Rosella's vineyard merde I sometimes get on the Novy bottlings. I did not pick up this aromatic a year ago but it surely plays a part in the wine now. Beyond that, some iron, chocolate, lots of dark berry and some good acidity to keep it all fresh. All of this noted with the wine open about 90 mins. Even the next day as the wine slow oxed in bottle, remains fresh and vibrant with more red fruit tonight than last, but maintaining the depth of the black fruit too, mixing it all together. Good density, with soy licorice and zingy citrus on the finish. Drink now through 2013.
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2/12/2011 - dougie wrote: 89 Points
Opened for two hours with a poured off glass. Had a funky finish to it for the first 3 hours- eventually smoothed out. A very spicy, non-jammy wine. I think a couple of years will really benefit this wine.
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1/19/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
What a nice wine for 20 bucks. I can't help but smile each time I have one of the sonoma county bottlings. Thanks Mike. This wine showed similarly to the last bottle we had about a year ago. Nice black and blue fruits, some charcoal, meat and spice. I like the texture in the wine and the acidity. I wish I had more but at least I can order a few 09's.
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1/1/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 90 Points
Another excellent bottle. A wonderful qpr that's for sure.
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12/20/2010 - kenthargis wrote: 87 Points
Improved after a couple of hours open and better the second day. Notes of meat, a little pepper. Enjoyable, but have like others from Carlisle better.
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12/1/2010 - wdb001 wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured at a restaurant. No notes taken but really yummy and definitely in the ideal drinking zone. Great QPR.
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10/14/2010 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
delicious. much richer than the zin
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9/7/2010 - cookie7 wrote:
Note after 2 hours in a decanter. Some bacon fat and black fruits on the nose. Blackberries and black pepper on the palate. Just a touch of heat. This will likely be even better on day 2.
No, this did not improve on day 2 and instead it took a turn for the worse. Seems sharp and angular with the alcohol even more prevalent.
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8/24/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
Left open for about an hour before consuming. Pretty much opaque, dark black garnet in the glass. Sweet aromatic nose that almost evokes a bit of Viognier with sweet smelling lavender/peach like notes. Ripe sweet black fruit on the palate with meaty undertone. Nice.
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7/26/2010 - smokie wrote: 95 Points
That's right, I said it--95. I have had a lot of Carlisles, but this syrah is the best I have had so far. Seamless, pure fruit with sweet tannins and enough complexity on the palate to keep your interest. Maybe one of the best syrahs I have had in the past year. It's that good!
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7/16/2010 - cookie7 wrote: 92 Points
Note after 2 hour decant. Nose of bacon fat and pepper. Lots of black fruit on the palate, as well as pepper, earth and spice. Very enjoyable wine and a great QPR.
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7/11/2010 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Just a tasty syrah. Has a kind of grapy flavor along with other traditional california syrah flavors. Lots of vanilla, oak is present but not overstated. Good
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6/15/2010 - Todd French wrote:
(Consumed for Wine Berserkers' 'Drink that West Coast Syrah week')
Mega dark purple color - the bubbles that form are darker than many red wines I drink. The nose has a blast of super rich black fruit, gobs of new oak, alcohol, and, dare I say, (with a shout out to Carlin Yamada) corn cob. The alcohol on the nose really overpowers when it gets near my nose, and that bothers me, particularly since I have a stuffy nose today - I imagine it would be even more extreme otherwise. (Open 1 hour so far)
The mouthfeel is heavy, but not syrupy, and loads of black and red fruits on the palate. Very dark qualities overall - color, nose, palate, etc. It's a big and bold dark wine. Finish is a bit short for such a big wine, and the fruit turns a bit sour, more like apple skins and cherries. I'm not getting much in the way of pepper or meatiness on this wine, which is what I would expect from Syrah - it's basically an oaky fruity big Syrah. It's not bad, it's just not my style, so I won't rate it.
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5/26/2010 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Very smooth, straight forward syrah. Not overly done, food friendly and a nice bouquet of black fruits and floral notes. 1/4 bottle consumed several days later and it was still well stitched together.
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5/16/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
One of the best carlisle qprs I've ever had and that's saying thing. As good as this is now it will even be better in a few years. Why did I give a bunch of these away. dumb.
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5/12/2010 - SMG Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop and pour. Drinking very well now. Lots of blackberry along with some beef blood, pepper, lavender, and some road tar on the finish. This is rich and full-bodied, not to mention a great value! Should last 5 more years without any decline. Glad to have several more of these.
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4/24/2010 - MarkC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid Sonoma Syrah, with a nice whiff of black fruit, some decent Syrah characteristics, and a bunch of eucalyptus/mint on the palate which made things interesting. At this price, it's pretty tough to beat in any category, any variety, etc. Well done! (PE: 90)
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4/15/2010 - dhammer53 wrote: 90 Points
After sitting in my basement for 2 years, I was rewarded.
Day 1 - Delightful nose. Smooth and creamy. Some fruit.
Day 2 - Softer tannins, Smoother than the first night, if that's possible.
Day 3 - Oh my. Better than many others on the first day. Still going strong at 90% from the first day.
Not bad for one of the cheaper wines
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2/20/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Not as tight upon opening as my prior 2 times, pop and pour - consistent with my last experiences.
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1/20/2010 - Moorese wrote: 89 Points
Splash decanted an hour in advance, this is a ripe, rich drink. Dark berries, sneaky pepper and meaty notes, fennel, vanilla, a suave texture, and a slight medicinal note. Just when you think it's overdone, it finishes in lifting, yet not bracing fashion. Very pleasing to be sure, but just a bit heady this evening.
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1/14/2010 - tairanosaurus wrote:
Blackberry/blueberry crumble on the nose, with some meat and smoke. Thick dark fruits, smoke, spice and acidity.
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1/1/2010 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
Sweet creamy nose of vanilla, raspberries, blackberries and smooth oak. Under all of this there is a tough of roasted meats, pepper, sage and underbrush. Palate is very lush with tons of fruit, creamy oak and spice. Nice hints of tobacco and cedar box are also present. Finish is decently long with vibrant acidity to keep it fresh. Nice QPR and drinking well.
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12/11/2009 - mdaniel wrote: 91 Points
Very dark in color and quite balanced with nice acidity and not too much pepper.
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12/9/2009 - budman wrote: 91 Points
Got better with each glass. Last one was by far the best.
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12/8/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Moving in one year cycles on this wine, last bottle tasted Dec 2008. This was a bottle that I discovered in my yearly cellar clean up....good bottle karma requires I drink it, of course! Dark color and can't see the bottom of the glass. Bacon fat, plush texture that shows charred cherry, blackberry, licorice and a fair amount of acidity to keep the plump flavors lively. The acidity carries through the finish on the back palate. Syrah is dead, syrah is dead.........uh no, it's not. Enjoy through 2012. QPR winner again.
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12/1/2009 - tthorn wrote: 92 Points
Black fruits, oak, licorice, ripe. Great at $20.
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11/27/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 91 Points
Formal notes note taken, but great QPR. Ripe fruits, roasted meat, nice finish.
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11/3/2009 - winelovr2001 wrote: 91 Points
A great QpR...as always.
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10/31/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
Nose gives off tons of black fruits, smoked meats, charcoal, scorched earth and sweet cream. Palate is expansive with broad blue and black fruits. Toasty oak, medium body, firm tannins and a touch of heat. This bottle seems a bit more advanced, primary and disjointed than the last, might let the remaining rest a bit before opening.
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10/25/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
Another solid showing from one of my favorite wines. Nice nose of mocha, creamy vanilla oak, blue fruits and soft mellow oak. Palate is smooth and polished. Tannins are present but integrated beautifully with the fruit. Medium body with a nice lingering finish with tons of spice and black fruits. Drinking great now and will last for a few more years.
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10/22/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
15.1% alcohol. Like the previous recent bottle. This is still a touch brawny, but it is delicious and very drinkable. A-
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10/19/2009 - silton wrote: 89 Points
Better integrated and thus drinking more consistent over several days than my previous bottles. I had a mini Syrah Bomb tasting on Saturday with Alban and Two Hands, and used this to come down. Not as overshadowed by those superior (and far more expensive) wines as I thought. Admittedly, I served this cool and gave it a good decanting in light of previous experiences, and the nose is really nothing special, but there is a lot of fruit in the bottle.
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10/17/2009 - Ekoostik wrote: 90 Points
Another very solid Carlisle. This one seemed to lack a typical Carlisle brightness to it though. Not a bad thing just a bit different. I little bit heavier fruit with some definite earthiness/gameyness to it.
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9/28/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
15.1% alcohol. Decanted for one hour before serving. Dark red-purple color. Excellent blueberry-driven fruit in the nose with a touch of meaty earthiness. In the mouth, powerful and concentrated, with plenty of blue fruits that are supported by earthy, almost floral, complexity. Good acidity. Long finish. Just solid value all the way around. A-
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9/10/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 89 Points
This wine went through a few phases over the course of the night. It was nice and fat right out of the bottle, perfume, oak, sweet creamy fruit and tobacco. It then got a bit thin and hot which I did not care for. As it opened with air it got better, I think this one was a bit traveled shock.
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8/8/2009 - tairanosaurus wrote:
2.5 hr decant. Black fruit, with a hint of carmel and still a hint of heat.
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7/18/2009 - Todd French wrote: 91 Points
Nose is a pleasant mix of tar, tobacco, pepper, and black cherries, with a nice sweet floral component as well. Rich, medium weight mouthfeel, sweet dark cherries, nice minerality, and a good long finish. Tannins are quite rounded at this point, after being open (corked) 24 hours.
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7/5/2009 - silton wrote: 88 Points
My last bottle I gave a "generous 89" but this time I give it the more honest 88. Scores are always semi-stupid, but then again so is the absurd hero-worship of this winery, which is generally awesome and worthy of praise but I'm just not loving this Syrah. It shows some heat, and I find the fruit profile to be non-specific. It packs a good wallop, with a ton of blue and black fruit to go along with a certain asphalt/charcoal character and some vanilla cream and smoke. It requires a serious amount of air, so I suppose it just isn't hitting its window, but I want my $20 wines available to drink while other wines chill in the cellar. Oh, time for dinner. Goodnight!
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7/1/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
This wine may begin to enter a dumb/shutdown phase right now. Very tight out of the bottle where others have been pop and pour. Nice minerals, charcoal, black and blue fruits rolled with vanilla and whipping cream. Dig broad drying tannins with nice structure to keep it going. This still needs some more time.
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6/20/2009 - NDrulz wrote: 88 Points
Too soon, too hot
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6/9/2009 - whits wrote: 89 Points
inky, opaque purple-black, blackberry and sugar cane aromas, rich palate, oak makes for nice milk chocolate flavor, dark cherry, and burnt earth, the finish is creamy and extends with smoke and espresso nuances, smooth due to light acid, nice with smoked Gouda, also had with an onion-cheeseburger, definitely share a bottle, this is heavy wine
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5/7/2009 - Haltermr wrote: 89 Points
Nose of rock and baked earth, black olive, black fruits, some blueberry, and a floral note. Fairly linear palate, a bit drying on the finish. Overall, very nice QPR.
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4/18/2009 - glg wrote: 92 Points
Drinking well now, but could use a little more bottle age. Dark and ripe black fruits. Nice finish. Very popular at dinner party.
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4/15/2009 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
Characteristics of roasted herb, coffee, ferrous rock and brambly, slighty roasted raspberry. Medium-bodied, with nice grip and rocky, vibrant finish. Nothing jammy here, in fact almost French.
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4/14/2009 - winelovr2001 wrote: 93 Points
One of the best QPR's out there
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4/13/2009 - yonster24 wrote: 90 Points
Inky dark color to it. Huge meaty/gamey nose to it. Tons of Dark fruit to go along with it. Massive wine that mellowed out on day 2. Lots of dark fruit on the palate, with a little heat at the end. Really good structure to this, with a nice underlying acidity and somewhat sweet tannins to back everything up. Should hold well for a while.
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4/10/2009 - last chance wrote: 91 Points
Very dark purple color. Almost as dark as the 07 Carlisle RRV Syrah that we tasted this next to. The nose had blackberry, tar, smoked meat, and chocolate aromas. The palate had flavors of cassis, cherries and scorched earth. Full bodied with a very nice mouthfeel and a nice progression through a long finish. I enjoyed this just slightly better than the 07 Carlisle RRV because of the additional complexity that the 06 Sonoma had. These Carlisles were fun to taste next to each other. I'll be sure to load up on both when the next offer for them comes up.
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4/8/2009 - riccodog13 wrote: 91 Points
Absolutely packed with ripe raspberry and blueberry which is countered by excellent natural acidity. Shows great depth with espresso, bacon fat, and mineral flavors. This is an excellent example of California Syrah, if in a slightly forward style. Drink now-2015. 91 pts.
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3/30/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
I think there might be a tad of bottle variance with these wines. This my fifth and final bottle and still really nice but different than others. This one picked up a decent amount of game and meatiness on the nose. Still present is ripe black fruits and sweet cream. Not my favorite bottle but still very enjoyable.
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3/24/2009 - danseng wrote: 90 Points
Despite all the warnings to stay away from this for a while, I could not resist. Didn't even have time to decant, so just popped and poured. Lots of black fruits and smoke. I got a bit too much alcohol, especially after it was open for a few hours. Absolutely a great deal and will be so much better in a few years.
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3/13/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
nose: much more toned down on day two. Black fruits, smoke, black cherries, some raw meaty notes, and some stonish and glycerin tones. Very balanced and offering up a different profile then it did yesterday as its nowhere near as ripe
taste: very well balanced medium/full feel. The tannins are more pronounced today then they were yesterday. Blackberries, black cherries, smoke, raw meats, with bits of pepper and hints of glycerin
overall: this is much more balanced and the alcohol feels toned down today rather then yesterday. The flavors are more interesting and there is good depth. Between both days, this is a really good buy for less then 25 and with the way it changed it can definitely satisfy a wide variety of syrah drinkers
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3/12/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 89 Points
nose: very fruit forward nose with big ripe tones of red and black cherries, bits of cedar, hints of pepper, and loads of ripe red fruits along with a good hefty amount of ripe black fruits
taste: well balanced with black cherries, black fruits, a bit of cedar and smoke to go with it. Pretty forward and little to no tannins and barely any noticeable acidity
overall: not my style at all, but I can easily see why people love it. Its balanced out in the glass and the heat has dissapated a bit, but there is still some heat on the back end of the palate. WIth the tannin and acid structure, I'm not sure that I really see this changing for the better, so its drink up right now. If you are a fan of a more forward style, this will be right up your alley, if not, then there are many st josephs that will stratch your itch at the same general price. Doesn't fully ring my bell, but this is a very well made wine and done perfectly in teh style that it aims for. IMO this is better balanced then some of the heat bombs that some Alban Revas that I have experienced. While it doesn't have the complexity of an alban reva, it certainly has the alcohol much better in balance with the ripe fruit
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3/10/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 92 Points
One of the nicest experiences from the last 4 bottles. Nice and creamy with glycerin and black fruits. Good weight, mouthfeel and tannin structure. Didn'T get too meaty with air and stayed more CA in nature. Great wine for the price.
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3/5/2009 - mebydef wrote: 92 Points
Good rich opaque color. The wine had a nose of black berries, smoked meats, and wet stone. The texture was full and bristling with dark fruit and a lingering smokey mineral finish.
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3/2/2009 - dwmcubed wrote:
Deep purple. Attention-getting nose of black fruits, meat and cedar. Plush mouthfeel - a surge of plums, blackberries and raw meat. Mid-palate reveals flashes of oak and alcohol along with waves of spice and tar - long, powerful finish leaving some heat, spice and tar to linger in your mouth for quite a while - acidity and tannins are evident and lead me to believe this might be worth a bit of patience - I'll let my remaining bottles rest for a few years.
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2/21/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 91 Points
Extremely dark color in the glass. Sweet perfume like nose of dark fruits, fresh cream and Asian spices. The ever so slightest hint of raw meats is also present. Nose also had some interesting hints of plum and a medicine like character. Mouthfeel is decently dry with good weight. Medium to heavy body in style with sweet black and purple fruits, creamy vanilla oak and spice. Nice bottle of wine that is spot on and consistent.
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2/13/2009 - Outplaying wrote: 88 Points
You could never call this wine elegant! Unmistakeable syrah nose of dark fruits, meat/blood, tar and a little spice. Ann said it was very masculine and she didn't prefer the nose. This is not a very complex wine in the mouth. Concentrated blackberries and a little spice. With Montagnolo cheese you get pronounced blueberries. The alcohol is hidden nicely and this is not extremely tannic. The finish is a little weak compared to other carlisles but this is an awesome wine for 20 bucks. Ann says 87 - 88. I say 88-89. There is a little left and I am looking forward to trying it again.
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2/8/2009 - AllRed wrote:
Nice mix of blue and black fruit tones, with spice and herb notes adding complexity. Nice.
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2/4/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 90 Points
A little bit more disjointed than the last bottle with a touch of heat, but still enjoyable. It didn't posses the rich creaminess that the last bottle did. Still nice fruit, oak, sweet tannins and game. Great wine for the $.
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2/4/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 88 Points
Note after 24 hours. Seems a bit heavy and chewy. Lots of black fruit. Give this some more time and see what happens. Enjoyable at the price.
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2/1/2009 - grafstrb wrote: 89 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 3 days --
NOSE: dark fruits: blueberry and loganberry ... kind of "grapey" too; hints of leather, sweet oak, and brown sugar. Not complex, but pretty expressive.
BODY: some superfine particulate matter is suspended in this medium-full bodied wine; purple-garnet color of great depth -- inky.
TASTE: rich earthy/blackberry flavor fully envelops the palate; tannic finish on Day 1 --- smoother by Day 3; a bit hot on the finish (35-40 sec.); solid, but not as good as I was expecting, given all the glowing reviews I've read. Overall, this seemed very simple and straightforward, and Syrah does not have to be like that. At $24, it is a good value, but the total lack of excitement leaves me unsure about whether I would buy again ... I do have one more that I'll sit on for a while ... this certainly has the stuffing and balance to lay, so I'll give that a go. IMO, McPrice Myers offers a far more exciting Syrah for only a few dollars more.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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1/31/2009 - tairanosaurus wrote:
Great. single pour decanted for three hours prior. Just coming into its own at the end of the night.
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1/27/2009 - tyvoodoo wrote: 92 Points
Color is immensely dark with blacked hue purple all the way to the edge. Nose gives off layers of fresh black and red fruits, a slight touch of gaminess, fresh ground pepper and toasty oak. Palate is extremely smooth with no heat or hard edges at all. Very focused with nice fruit, creamy vanilla oak and tons of spice and pepper on the finish. Tremendous effort for a bargain syrah.
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1/24/2009 - BYOB wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby red in color, this full bodied wine is bursting with ripe blueberry notes, balanced with the right amount of spice. Bravo!
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1/18/2009 - nectar14 wrote: 91 Points
For the price, so good I almost have to use profanity. Leather, smoked meat, and blackberry. Lovely balance and richness.
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1/18/2009 - dwmcubed wrote:
tons of black fruit on the nose. blackberry jam - slight notes of vanilla - some spice and meat add interest. slight heat on the finish - but not off-putting. solid quaff of a $20 wine with promise to get better after a few years' rest.
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1/18/2009 - Frodnesor wrote: 92 Points
Dark purple in color. Tarry nose, with hints of stone, graphite, cough medicine, a little bit of meatiness. Feels very alive in the mouth, with dark cherry, blackberry, and a smoky, chewy finish. Really well put together for the price.
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1/18/2009 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Just grabbed another bottle of this since our guests were not wine geeks like me and I had 4 bottles of this in the cooler. Initial taste, very tight. After some time, notes of beef, bbq spice and a floral component on the nose. In the mouth tannins quite aggressive at first. Will come back and post updates.
Day 2 Wine smoothed out some and I noticed a toasted rose petal note on the nose. Tannins still present. I think it needs 2-3 more years or a heavy decant.
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1/18/2009 - spacewrangler wrote: 89 Points
Slightly more subdued that the previous bottle, with pepper, roast beef and lots of great fruit.
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1/5/2009 - etherscreen wrote:
likely among the best sub $20 cali syrahs period! well balanced. drinking well at such a young age. herbs de provance, dark fruit, pepper, anise, for forgiving structure for drinking young. wears the etoh well. an absolute steal!
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1/3/2009 - winelovr2001 wrote: 94 Points
Drank alongside the 05 Saxum JBV and this held its own...almost like a cold climate version of the same wine. Blackberry, tobacco, white pepper, licorice, charcoal, and lavender. An amazing QpR
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12/31/2008 - silton wrote: 89 Points
This wine took a long time to unwind and didn't show so well for me as it seems to have for others, even on day 2. I'm not sure if it was just the heat itself or VA but at times it had sharp angles obscuring the fruit that revealed a little flavor of alcohol. Here on day 3 it has finally popped open for me, and it is a nice Syrah, somewhat lacking in personality on the palate emphasizing asphalt as it does but worthy of QPR praise. Final judgment reserved but this bottle gets a generous 89.
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12/30/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Wow, exceptionally well built wine for 20 bones. Definitely needs a 2 hour decant, noticeable tannin. Notes of blackberry, black cherry and licorice on the nose. In the mouth, I notice high glycerin levels and a creaminess to the wine. Mr Officer certainly matched the sonoma county zin - as far as an entry level wine that exceeds all expectations and thats saying a lot.
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12/29/2008 - SUN-J wrote: 91 Points
Such a nice wine. How can this be the "basic" bottling? No notes taken but recall it being fairly complex -- tar/asphalt, dark fruit and moderate to high acidity and tannins. Well balanced. Probably even better in 1-2 years but no way will I be able to keep my hands off of them.
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12/24/2008 - Todd French wrote: 89 Points
Inky dark purple in the glass, and a big wine throughout. Black fruits, tar, graphite, all big, all rather heavy, yet mouthfeel is not as heavy as the profile. Finish is nice, more of the tar and graphite, only a slight bitterness, good length, structure is good, seems to be ready for some time in the cellar as needed.
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12/23/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Stuffed. Loads of flavor--blackberry and touch of licorice. Add charcoal, espresso and some finishing grip so life lies ahead on the road. $20? How Mike can make this stuff for this price is ridiculous. And in some circles we continue to discuss the model of pricing syrah at or over the century mark, the points the wine gets, whether it merits the pricing, all of it.............blah, blah and blah. For me, tune in, turn on and drop into a glass of Carlisle and with a smile, THIS is where it's at, man. At 24 hours open, less flashy, with a bit more focus, adding good dose of graphite to the nose, some notes now of cooked meat/game, hint of pepper, flowers, spearmint. This wine shows all kinds of nuance and range of notes, very interesting and totally pleasurable.
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12/21/2008 - spacewrangler wrote: 92 Points
Palate staining is accurate as Mr Officer notes on the label, but this is a tremendous, balanced effort. Loads of everything (cassis, pepper, spicy oak, fruit, meat) float across the palate seamlessly. Zero heat, no sharp edges - I like this better than SQN Atlantis no question. Amazing juice.
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12/20/2008 - decaturwinedude wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured, and it was ready for action. Dark and deep in the glass, scents of bbq meat, blueberry and flowers. A heady wine, it is giving gobs of dark fruit now. Yet, there is a cool climate essence too as the wine finishes with a dark tarry note. While this will continue to evolve, it was rather open and plush right now. No hard edges. Big, bold wine, terrific value.
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12/15/2008 - Jared wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured this at my daughter's 3rd birthday party. This is my first Carlisle and if his "cheapest" bottle is this good, I can't imagine how tasty the other bottlings will be. This bottle has to be the best QPR of the year at $19.50. Deep, inky purple in the glass with tons of smoke, blood, and an abundance of pure ripe fruit. This wine possesses the complexity of a $40-$50 bottle of syrah and after drinking an $85 Washington syrah on Friday (yes, a very aggressive pricing structure) that did not impress or show this much depth, I'm fully on the Calisle bandwagon. A mouthful of ripe and a hint of unripe fruit along with a tangible amount of fruit weight (always wanted to quote Sparky) and a persistent finish have me banging the drum like Tommy Lee for this wine. 92 pts.
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12/9/2008 - ebrown35 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Dark color to the rim, initial nose of scorched earth, dark fruit, spice and pepper (kind of reminded me of warmer-climate Napa Syrah) On the palate nice blue/black fruit rich mid-palate, decent acidity and a pleasing finish. As it sat in the glass I got some smoky meat aromas associated with cooler climate Syrah. Even though this is an appellation level wine (even though Sonoma County is not an AVA) and is meant for early consumption, this needs quite a bit more time to come together.
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11/28/2008 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
This one is pretty much rocking right out of the gate. A bit of a smokey nose of course the fruit is deep dark and rich. It is actually very approachable now, with no sign of alcohol. A steal @ $20.
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