Menthol and pepper on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, slightly jammy blackberry, prune, raspberry, and abundant white pepper, with earthy notes throughout, and a noticeable sensation of alcoholic heat on the medium finish. Fair quality for the price at about $30.
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Not as good as the first 2, and the first 2 were not as good as other vineyard-designate Carlisles. I got only a whisper of the traditional Carlisle nose and popping red fruit. Still enjoyable, but I won't be buying this zinfandel again.
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Not one of my favorite Carlisle Zin's. Or maybe it was meant to be consumed younger. Showing hints of prune, and a bit more heat than I am used to seeing from Mike's wines.
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Showing zin's more feminine side. This is lithe, higher toned red fruit and somewhat crystalline in the glass. I like DCV zin, particularly in Mike's hands. This was very nice. Drink now.
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I thought this was well made but it seemed flat to me. I don't know what it was. Typical briary notes though not as wild as some carlisle Zins. Medium to full bodied. Rich and dense. Just strangely flat. Thus the score.
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On the third night the varnish qualities on the nose fade, as do the cough syrup, overextracted notes on the palate, revealing a deep, almost burly, but quite delicious, behemoth with a more stylish and knit sweet red and black fruited personality. If I had more I'd give this three or four years before opening another bottle. Still, not my favorite style Carlisle Zin.
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15.1% ABV. Somewhat translucent dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of savory clove, spice, dark berry fruit, and something like wet slate. Medium full bodied with rich, somewhat chewy red berry fruit. Probably needs another year or more, but very good.
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I was told by someone, this one is ready to go. I am not sure I agree. The fruit is forward and nice but I find that an aged Carlisle actually shows more character thanthis wine showed. A nice follow up to a Bedrock Syrah but not the wine I know it will be.
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Magenta purple red, no bricking or ambering at rim. Red raspberry syrup and varnishy alcohol nose - not unpleasant, but a bit not my style. On the palate, excellent crunchy red fruit, incense spice and bramble, excellent crisp acidity, high alcohol and a medium mulberry syrup finish. Not the best Carlisle Zin, but adequate. On peak, and for another 3 or 4 years? I think the heat-oriented imbalance will crack this up pretty soon, and I don't see it improving. Drink it now for the crunchy red berries.
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Sineann wines and whole bunch of other stuff (Our home): Always one of the best Zins out there, this did not disappoint. Purple in color. The nose is black cherries, spice and bramble. Lush, velvety texture. Balanced and smooth. As the party wound down, I filled my glass and sat out back watching the fire, fireflies and occasional fireworks and this worked well with all three. I am glad to have friends on the list as it is the only list I am waiting to get on.
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15.1% ABV. (Abbreviated note) Translucent ruby garnet in the glass. Aromas of bramble, spice, and a dusty dry earth note over red berries. Medium full bodied with spicy tangy red berry fruit. Tasty.
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15.1% alcohol. This has really become more lush and integrated over the past year, shedding more of its baby fat. Dark red color. Pretty nose of brambly, peppery Zinfandel fruit, on the darker end of the spectrum. In the mouth, balanced on a big frame, with ripe black fruit, pepper, and spice notes leading to a good kick of acidity. Long finish still shows a bit of tannin. A-
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This really is yummy and enjoyable in a hedonistic new world fruit and oak way. As a zinfandel, it naturally lacks the sophistication you'll find in other grapes, but it sure is tasty.
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15.1% alcohol. A bright and clear ruby red. Exceptionally attractive red fruit and floral aromas. Distinctive red fruit flavors featuring rasberries and cherries. Good acidity and that patented Carlisle balance. Lingering aftertaste. Love the red-fruit emphasis, Carlisle is typically more to the blue-black side of the spectrum. This was exceptionally tasty! (What did you expect?)
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This is a hard one to pin down, almost certainly opened too early but I felt like a Carlisle, and I'm not used to Mike's wines not being pretty ready almost any time. Very tight, interesting and complex dark red fruits, raspberry, boysenberry, some strawberry; in the background is something savory I can't place, which may pair with something unusual I pick up on the nose, like orange zest. You'd have to say this is quite lean for a Carlisle, though there is still plenty of punch, with a good dose of acidity, leaving a little tartness on the finish. With a little more air it opens a bit, showing some nice zinberry spice. Hold this for a while, or give it a couple hour decant before drinking.
Next day this is holding its own beautifully, not much change, a leaner, higher acid style for Carlisle, reflective of the vintage, very red-fruited, some nice spice. I'd definitely recommend holding this, or decanting several hours.
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15.1% alcohol. Opened three hours before serving but not decanted. This is a strong, peppery, jammy Zinfandel that's a real beauty. Briary black fruit jumps out of the glass on the nose, which just fills your nose. In the mouth, it's viscous and quite ripe, with a peppery, spicy edge. Good acidity and a long finish that shows a bit of tannic grip. This has the spice and backbone to be just beautiful for food. A-
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8/30/2015 - RichardP wrote: 89 Points
Menthol and pepper on the nose. On the palate, black cherry, slightly jammy blackberry, prune, raspberry, and abundant white pepper, with earthy notes throughout, and a noticeable sensation of alcoholic heat on the medium finish. Fair quality for the price at about $30.
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3/1/2014 - Sennma wrote:
Great example of why Mike is one of the best hands with Zin. Really elegant Zin, no of that jammy stuff. In a great spot right now. Drink up.
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12/31/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistently delicious. My last of these
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10/29/2013 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
Not as good as the first 2, and the first 2 were not as good as other vineyard-designate Carlisles. I got only a whisper of the traditional Carlisle nose and popping red fruit. Still enjoyable, but I won't be buying this zinfandel again.
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3/30/2013 - psoals wrote: 87 Points
Not one of my favorite Carlisle Zin's. Or maybe it was meant to be consumed younger. Showing hints of prune, and a bit more heat than I am used to seeing from Mike's wines.
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2/16/2013 - btock Likes this wine: 90 Points
Showing zin's more feminine side. This is lithe, higher toned red fruit and somewhat crystalline in the glass. I like DCV zin, particularly in Mike's hands. This was very nice. Drink now.
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12/12/2012 - texaswinelover wrote: 90 Points
I thought this was well made but it seemed flat to me. I don't know what it was. Typical briary notes though not as wild as some carlisle Zins. Medium to full bodied. Rich and dense. Just strangely flat. Thus the score.
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10/26/2012 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
On the third night the varnish qualities on the nose fade, as do the cough syrup, overextracted notes on the palate, revealing a deep, almost burly, but quite delicious, behemoth with a more stylish and knit sweet red and black fruited personality. If I had more I'd give this three or four years before opening another bottle. Still, not my favorite style Carlisle Zin.
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10/9/2012 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
Drank '07 Turley Pesenti and '07 Carlisle Gold Mine Ranch zins together with several people. No detailed notes. No favorite; both excellent.
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6/19/2012 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 91 Points
15.1% ABV. Somewhat translucent dark garnet in the glass. Aromas of savory clove, spice, dark berry fruit, and something like wet slate. Medium full bodied with rich, somewhat chewy red berry fruit. Probably needs another year or more, but very good.
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1/21/2012 - jfkwines wrote: 90 Points
I was told by someone, this one is ready to go. I am not sure I agree. The fruit is forward and nice but I find that an aged Carlisle actually shows more character thanthis wine showed. A nice follow up to a Bedrock Syrah but not the wine I know it will be.
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11/10/2011 - sawira wrote: 90 Points
Magenta purple red, no bricking or ambering at rim. Red raspberry syrup and varnishy alcohol nose - not unpleasant, but a bit not my style. On the palate, excellent crunchy red fruit, incense spice and bramble, excellent crisp acidity, high alcohol and a medium mulberry syrup finish. Not the best Carlisle Zin, but adequate. On peak, and for another 3 or 4 years? I think the heat-oriented imbalance will crack this up pretty soon, and I don't see it improving. Drink it now for the crunchy red berries.
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7/3/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Sineann wines and whole bunch of other stuff (Our home): Always one of the best Zins out there, this did not disappoint. Purple in color. The nose is black cherries, spice and bramble. Lush, velvety texture. Balanced and smooth. As the party wound down, I filled my glass and sat out back watching the fire, fireflies and occasional fireworks and this worked well with all three. I am glad to have friends on the list as it is the only list I am waiting to get on.
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5/30/2011 - Sennma wrote:
Hoping that this will come together a bit more with time in the bottle. Lots of great component but not yet together.
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5/29/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine:
15.1% ABV. (Abbreviated note) Translucent ruby garnet in the glass. Aromas of bramble, spice, and a dusty dry earth note over red berries. Medium full bodied with spicy tangy red berry fruit. Tasty.
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3/5/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
15.1% alcohol. This has really become more lush and integrated over the past year, shedding more of its baby fat. Dark red color. Pretty nose of brambly, peppery Zinfandel fruit, on the darker end of the spectrum. In the mouth, balanced on a big frame, with ripe black fruit, pepper, and spice notes leading to a good kick of acidity. Long finish still shows a bit of tannin. A-
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1/21/2011 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
This really is yummy and enjoyable in a hedonistic new world fruit and oak way. As a zinfandel, it naturally lacks the sophistication you'll find in other grapes, but it sure is tasty.
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9/19/2010 - kgott2 wrote: 90 Points
Nice dark fruit flavors; not as full as I expect from a Carlisle zin, but paired very well with a medium rare steak.
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7/4/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
15.1% alcohol. A bright and clear ruby red. Exceptionally attractive red fruit and floral aromas. Distinctive red fruit flavors featuring rasberries and cherries. Good acidity and that patented Carlisle balance. Lingering aftertaste. Love the red-fruit emphasis, Carlisle is typically more to the blue-black side of the spectrum. This was exceptionally tasty! (What did you expect?)
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3/9/2010 - alanr Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is a hard one to pin down, almost certainly opened too early but I felt like a Carlisle, and I'm not used to Mike's wines not being pretty ready almost any time. Very tight, interesting and complex dark red fruits, raspberry, boysenberry, some strawberry; in the background is something savory I can't place, which may pair with something unusual I pick up on the nose, like orange zest. You'd have to say this is quite lean for a Carlisle, though there is still plenty of punch, with a good dose of acidity, leaving a little tartness on the finish. With a little more air it opens a bit, showing some nice zinberry spice. Hold this for a while, or give it a couple hour decant before drinking.
Next day this is holding its own beautifully, not much change, a leaner, higher acid style for Carlisle, reflective of the vintage, very red-fruited, some nice spice. I'd definitely recommend holding this, or decanting several hours.
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2/5/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
15.1% alcohol. Opened three hours before serving but not decanted. This is a strong, peppery, jammy Zinfandel that's a real beauty. Briary black fruit jumps out of the glass on the nose, which just fills your nose. In the mouth, it's viscous and quite ripe, with a peppery, spicy edge. Good acidity and a long finish that shows a bit of tannic grip. This has the spice and backbone to be just beautiful for food. A-
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