The wine needed time open and was best after a couple of hours of decanting. The color is deep ruby core to pink rim. The nose was primarily red fruit. The mouth is red fruit, cherry, and pomegranate, white pepper. Overall the wine is medium to full body with a long finish. Tannins are medium + with medium + acidity that fills the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red with slight fading at the rim. Deep berry nose. The fruit is deeply textured and intense, blackberry, blueberry, accented by floral notes. Nicely resolved tannins still lending a firm structure to the wine. Great acidity and balance. Finishes long with dark fruits. Drinking beautifully right now and I think for 3 to 5 years more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle of this delightful Rhone Ranger. Simply delicious and for my palate indistinguishable from a good CdP. Dark fruits, licorice, earth, herbs. Great concentration and balance. If you still have these i would say it i drinking at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Way delicious Syrah, showing flavors of blueberry syrup, a whim of black pepper, raspberry pie, and some refreshing rhubarb. This wine shows off really bright acidity to support a potential syrupy wine...which somehow allows this wine to pull off brightness in tandem with deliciousness in Cali Syrah...a rare and welcome treat. Drink now through 2020+. Just so yummy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Raspberries, black cherries, currants. and some floral in the nose. Flavor like the nose, concentrated fruit, and hints of herbs and spice. Full bodied and a medium to long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very smooth and well-balanced with blue and red fruits, spice and herbal notes. Mature and beautiful drinking. Wish that they still made this lovely field blend-its seems that the mourvedre and petite sirah dominate in the blend, but that is not a bad thing at all since the former seems to prevent the latter from taking over the wine..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop-n-pour, ruby garnet color. Nose of blueberries, plums, mint. Palate starts with dark fruits then transitions into roasted meat. Smooth finish, tannins fully resolved, and plums linger for a long time. This is in a great place right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fantastic, interesting wine that is complex and thought provoking to drink. I love the blend, the flavors and the balance. A taste of aged Mourvèdre, with some other nuances adding to the complexity. Drinking well now but I doubt time will add any more dimensions. Bravo Mike!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Solid, easy drinker at this point. Softer mouthfeel. A rounder vintage for this one than some earlier models. I would say enjoy now and acid/structure not apparent for longer aging benefit. Red fruits, softer minerality. A food wine. Served with grilled lamb chops.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright fruit, bright acidity, medium body, and a very good finish. What really stood out, however, was the nose - big time grilled meat and baconfat. More of the same on the palate, along with red fruits, pepper, and all kinds of spices. Probably at its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour, but saved some for the next day. Initially, lots of alcohol that somewhat subsudied, and I somewhat got used to it. It smoothed out rather nicely. A 2007 earlier this year was much more enjoyable. This bottle seemed quite smooth, with a bit of anise now and then, along with blue fruit. Not that interesting or balanced. It did remind me of a Bandol, as Mike Officer suggests.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Only bottle I own, bought from the winery in 2010. Opened this about 2 hours ago, drinking at room temp of about 75f. A mix of fruits, like raspberry and blueberry. There is acidity here, which adds tang to the fruit, plus leather, pine and some light cocoa, with the acidity being for me the nicer player. Not sure where this is going and given the acid, I suppose this will carry if there is interest in letting it age. PS--I do like drrob's recent note where he says "blueberry syrup'. While I don't find this thick or cloying, there is a concentrated-like note of blue fruit that exists here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a delicious Calif wine, which has become run of the mill for Carlisle. Blueberry syrup, pepper, violets and rarely cooked meat. Soft and velvety tannins, rich mouthfeel, moderate acidity, supporting blueberry fruit compote and black cherry fruit, alongside hot tar and wet soil. Drink this tasty wine now through 2020. Really delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Didn't know what to expect from this. Darker color than I had anticipated. Bright fruit with bright acidity. Red fruits with pepper, underbrush, bacon fat, and all kinds of herbs. Medium body with sweet tannins and a very good finish. Terrific with all kinds of food. Probably approaching its peak, but not there quite yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a lovely wine that has the usual abundant Carlisle fruit yet remains beautifully balanced and anything but a vacuous hedonistic fruit bomb. Complex nose of tea, earth, bark, cocoa, blue- and boysenberries and a hint of meat -- each whiff seemed to reveal something new. Seamless on the palate, with slightly sweet fruit and cocoa notes more accented on the mid-palate and then the tea and woodsy notes picking up again on the lasting finish. Not bad at all as a pnp but was better on day 2 with more air. First of my three bottles (from the mailing list); I'll likely open the next one in another 1-2 years and the third in 4-7.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and Pour. A bit tight and would have benefited from a lot more air. Good overall balance and structure, a subtle Carlisle emphasizing red fruits and a bit of acidity over fine tannins. I'd hold if down to a bottle or two or decant for a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific wine. Took it to dinner with two other couples. Was a huge hit. Loads of fruit, and great structure. One of my favorite wines so far this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Both the palate and aromas have blackberry, black cherry and a bit of earth. Light acid/tannins and a short finish. I don't know if this is peaking or shut down but this bottle certainly doesn't show the same level as most of the notes here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first Carlisle, and I'm impressed. "Field Blend" of 79% Mourvèdre, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 5% Carignane, 3% Alicante Bouschet. Very easy drinking and purple in color. This wine sports an amazing spice filled nose with ripe red fruit - definitely a New World Mourvèdre. Unfortunately this did not pair so well with spinach and ricotta manicotti, as the distinctive yet somewhat subtle flavors were swallowed up. This is not a food wine (too light in body) -- drink on its own. Open, balanced, and drinking well now, but this should be good through 2018. This bottle just didn't last long...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Of the 50-100 carlisle wines I've had, the only one I did not enjoy. So astringent the first night it was undrinkable. Don't think bottle was corked or cooked, but have one more and will try within next several weeks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry cola, smoke and dusty fruit nose. Smooth in the mouth. Dusty cranberry and floral elements up front. Sweet tannins mid palate. Nice long finish. Very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful wine. A bit of plum and very complex. Cranberry snd other fruits came out as it aired out more. Not much experience with this grape, but I loved it. Another great wine from Carlisle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From vines planted in 1910. Mostly Mourvedre with interplanted Petite, Syrah, Carignane and Alicante.
14.2% alcohol (I believe the '09 is under 14%). This extraordinarily distinctive wine is one of my all-time favorites. Bright red fruits with noticeable minerality and structure. Lingering aftertaste. The age of the vines, the RRV local and the historic blend make this wine extremely site expressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delightful lighter red we enjoyed with smoked salmon. 79% mourvedre, rather a rare red from CA, but Mike Officer is so talented that everything he makes is good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very delicious. Combination of light body with rich and deep complexity of flavors- brambles, black tea, sandalwood, with sufficient acidity to taste bright and fresh, even after second day open. Long finish with lots of stone and dry plum grappa grip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No notes for first two days open. Even today on third day, remains fresh with wood/spice on the nose and rich blue berries, brambles,moving into tastes of cherry pit and bitter almond into the finish. Still very young, but delicous.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a treat, and stylistically, an outlier in the Carlisle stable. If cab franc grew in the south Rhone, this is what you'd get. Tight, bright red fruit on a middle weight, yet concentrated frame. Layers of herbs, and sweet tobacco, with Carmel and toffee notes. Plenty of grip and energy on this finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% alcohol. Dark red color. This has a really aromatic, pretty nose of blue and dark red fruit, with a hint of pepper and earthiness. In the mouth, surprisingly well balanced and refined for being so young. The blue and black fruit comes to the forefront on the palate, but this has terrific earth and meaty notes that come up against plenty of acidity and a fine-grained finish. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The key to this one is the decant. On first open it was very tight and dry, after a two hour decant it began to open up to flavors of dark fruit, raspberry, earth, and flowers, but still had some bite, and almost a bitter aftertaste. By the 4th hour or so it was pure velvet - rich, complex, and perfectly integrated. Quite an interesting blend of grapes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful nose, medium to full body, dark fruit and eucalyptus, slight green aftertaste. Opened after 1 hour decant and more as the night wore on. Very well matched with grilled flank steak
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour and a half. Maroon and black, with a lighter rim that really is closer to ruby. Sweet bar-b-q, boysenberry, white flowers and black pepper. Soft and seductive, whilst it is not very complex. Not as concentrated as the '07 (93 points), however, still plush and enjoyable. A medium finish, surrounded by freshness. Drink now - 2018.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Upon opening there was animal fur funk, damp spring meadow, strong allspice, more red fruited than black. The palate was shut tight. Day two showed more of that damp fur, tree bark but the red pastille fruit took center stage. Bright red fruits, asprin and briar flavors lead to a foresty, racy finish. Wild and intriguing. Best after 2-3 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had this over the course of 2 nights. First night was good, but second night was even better. Had nice spice, some pepper. Nice silky mouthfeel, not too heavy, nice acidity. Red fruit, such as raspberry (as others mentioned, zesty). I would give this another couple of years in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full-bodied, round, mixed berry fruit with intense pencil lead flavors, good structure and ample acidity, hint of meatiness, interesting blend, maybe the best mouverdre I've drunk
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding. Ruby red, with nose of fresh raspeberries and cherries, pepper, flowers and a hint of meatiness; very densely packed, chewy, but bright and vibrant with a lingering, spicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Continues my experience with the 2008 Carlisle profile: snappy red fruits, abundant fresh herbs, floral tones, medium bodied, almost zesty, a little bit of youthful oak. Needs time to come together.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
1/9/2022 - alitman Likes this wine: 90 Points
The wine needed time open and was best after a couple of hours of decanting. The color is deep ruby core to pink rim. The nose was primarily red fruit. The mouth is red fruit, cherry, and pomegranate, white pepper. Overall the wine is medium to full body with a long finish. Tannins are medium + with medium + acidity that fills the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red with slight fading at the rim. Deep berry nose. The fruit is deeply textured and intense, blackberry, blueberry, accented by floral notes. Nicely resolved tannins still lending a firm structure to the wine. Great acidity and balance. Finishes long with dark fruits. Drinking beautifully right now and I think for 3 to 5 years more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2020 - VinoDiver wrote: 88 Points
A fine drinking red table wine. Nothing memorable but was enjoyed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2020 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still drinking great and such an intersting blend. Fantastic wine and quite ageable. Could go many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 95 Points
My last bottle of this delightful Rhone Ranger. Simply delicious and for my palate indistinguishable from a good CdP. Dark fruits, licorice, earth, herbs. Great concentration and balance. If you still have these i would say it i drinking at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
Way delicious Syrah, showing flavors of blueberry syrup, a whim of black pepper, raspberry pie, and some refreshing rhubarb.
This wine shows off really bright acidity to support a potential syrupy wine...which somehow allows this wine to pull off brightness in tandem with deliciousness in Cali Syrah...a rare and welcome treat. Drink now through 2020+. Just so yummy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2019 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well and consistent with my prior notes. Great food wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly at this point. Great food wine. Same as my prior review.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2018 - jfkwines wrote: 92 Points
Over two nights, flat bottom decant used. Sane as 07, in a great place integration wise with out dominant Syrah characteristics
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Raspberries, black cherries, currants. and some floral in the nose. Flavor like the nose, concentrated fruit, and hints of herbs and spice. Full bodied and a medium to long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - sma Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very smooth and well-balanced with blue and red fruits, spice and herbal notes. Mature and beautiful drinking. Wish that they still made this lovely field blend-its seems that the mourvedre and petite sirah dominate in the blend, but that is not a bad thing at all since the former seems to prevent the latter from taking over the wine..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2017 - MotoMannequin Likes this wine:
Pop-n-pour, ruby garnet color. Nose of blueberries, plums, mint. Palate starts with dark fruits then transitions into roasted meat. Smooth finish, tannins fully resolved, and plums linger for a long time. This is in a great place right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fantastic, interesting wine that is complex and thought provoking to drink. I love the blend, the flavors and the balance. A taste of aged Mourvèdre, with some other nuances adding to the complexity. Drinking well now but I doubt time will add any more dimensions. Bravo Mike!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2017 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Solid, easy drinker at this point. Softer mouthfeel. A rounder vintage for this one than some earlier models. I would say enjoy now and acid/structure not apparent for longer aging benefit. Red fruits, softer minerality. A food wine. Served with grilled lamb chops.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2017 - imbibe wrote:
- Brick color.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2017 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright fruit, bright acidity, medium body, and a very good finish. What really stood out, however, was the nose - big time grilled meat and baconfat. More of the same on the palate, along with red fruits, pepper, and all kinds of spices. Probably at its peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2016 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour, but saved some for the next day. Initially, lots of alcohol that somewhat subsudied, and I somewhat got used to it. It smoothed out rather nicely. A 2007 earlier this year was much more enjoyable. This bottle seemed quite smooth, with a bit of anise now and then, along with blue fruit. Not that interesting or balanced. It did remind me of a Bandol, as Mike Officer suggests.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2016 - Farnelicous Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious! Very smooth in mouth and on finish. Excellent flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2016 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Only bottle I own, bought from the winery in 2010. Opened this about 2 hours ago, drinking at room temp of about 75f. A mix of fruits, like raspberry and blueberry. There is acidity here, which adds tang to the fruit, plus leather, pine and some light cocoa, with the acidity being for me the nicer player. Not sure where this is going and given the acid, I suppose this will carry if there is interest in letting it age. PS--I do like drrob's recent note where he says "blueberry syrup'. While I don't find this thick or cloying, there is a concentrated-like note of blue fruit that exists here.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2016 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
This is a delicious Calif wine, which has become run of the mill for Carlisle.
Blueberry syrup, pepper, violets and rarely cooked meat.
Soft and velvety tannins, rich mouthfeel, moderate acidity, supporting blueberry fruit compote and black cherry fruit, alongside hot tar and wet soil.
Drink this tasty wine now through 2020. Really delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2016 - Wine Poor Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not the right wine to have with Shakshuka. But a good wine nonetheless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 88 Points
Similar to previous bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2016 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
Started great on day 1 and took a header day 2. Lost lots of fruit and finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/12/2015 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Didn't know what to expect from this. Darker color than I had anticipated. Bright fruit with bright acidity. Red fruits with pepper, underbrush, bacon fat, and all kinds of herbs. Medium body with sweet tannins and a very good finish. Terrific with all kinds of food. Probably approaching its peak, but not there quite yet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2015 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a lovely wine that has the usual abundant Carlisle fruit yet remains beautifully balanced and anything but a vacuous hedonistic fruit bomb. Complex nose of tea, earth, bark, cocoa, blue- and boysenberries and a hint of meat -- each whiff seemed to reveal something new. Seamless on the palate, with slightly sweet fruit and cocoa notes more accented on the mid-palate and then the tea and woodsy notes picking up again on the lasting finish. Not bad at all as a pnp but was better on day 2 with more air. First of my three bottles (from the mailing list); I'll likely open the next one in another 1-2 years and the third in 4-7.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2014 - suarezd wrote: 88 Points
Plenty of fruit, drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2014 - Dale M wrote:
Pop and Pour. A bit tight and would have benefited from a lot more air. Good overall balance and structure, a subtle Carlisle emphasizing red fruits and a bit of acidity over fine tannins. I'd hold if down to a bottle or two or decant for a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2014 - edkrath wrote: 92 Points
Very good wine, very complex. Could stand to cellar for a while yet. Would purchase again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2014 - MillerRoad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Terrific wine. Took it to dinner with two other couples. Was a huge hit. Loads of fruit, and great structure. One of my favorite wines so far this year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2014 - David_T wrote: 88 Points
Both the palate and aromas have blackberry, black cherry and a bit of earth. Light acid/tannins and a short finish. I don't know if this is peaking or shut down but this bottle certainly doesn't show the same level as most of the notes here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2014 - aaronwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice blend with complex flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2014 - DavidDay Likes this wine: 91 Points
black raspberries, flowers, medium bodied, herbs and pepper.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2013 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
My first Carlisle, and I'm impressed.
"Field Blend" of 79% Mourvèdre, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 5% Carignane, 3% Alicante Bouschet.
Very easy drinking and purple in color. This wine sports an amazing spice filled nose with ripe red fruit - definitely a New World Mourvèdre.
Unfortunately this did not pair so well with spinach and ricotta manicotti, as the distinctive yet somewhat subtle flavors were swallowed up. This is not a food wine (too light in body) -- drink on its own.
Open, balanced, and drinking well now, but this should be good through 2018. This bottle just didn't last long...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2013 - ogres3 Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Of the 50-100 carlisle wines I've had, the only one I did not enjoy. So astringent the first night it was undrinkable. Don't think bottle was corked or cooked, but have one more and will try within next several weeks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2013 - Acohen wrote: 91 Points
Rich dark fruit with great color, deep aromas and good medium finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 94 Points
Deep purple, displays notes of blue fruits, black raspberries, flowers. Dense, full-bodied opulence and a lingering finish
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 93 Points
Damn, my last 08. As I've said before, a special wine from one of the world's finest little vineyards. An old vine gem grown and made with love.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 93 Points
A very special wine from one of the world's greatest little vineyards. This wine is singing now and will continue to improve for 3-4 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2012 - Baggio wrote: 93 Points
Great wine. Perfectly ready for drinking. Beautifully balanced and rewarding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2012 - tairanosaurus wrote: 92 Points
Cherry cola, smoke and dusty fruit nose. Smooth in the mouth. Dusty cranberry and floral elements up front. Sweet tannins mid palate. Nice long finish. Very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2012 - dougie wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful wine. A bit of plum and very complex. Cranberry snd other fruits came out as it aired out more. Not much experience with this grape, but I loved it. Another great wine from Carlisle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2012 - glg wrote: 92 Points
Drinking nicely - lighter weight than many Carlisle wines, but offering nice balance of fruit and nuance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 92 Points
Very distinctive Rhone style wine. Big and rich with depth of flavors. Very nice. Held up well over 2-3 days time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2012 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Tasting notes very similar as when previously tasted. This wine is just bursting with rich flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 93 Points
From vines planted in 1910. Mostly Mourvedre with interplanted Petite, Syrah, Carignane and Alicante.
14.2% alcohol (I believe the '09 is under 14%). This extraordinarily distinctive wine is one of my all-time favorites. Bright red fruits with noticeable minerality and structure. Lingering aftertaste. The age of the vines, the RRV local and the historic blend make this wine extremely site expressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2011 - mjhawes wrote: 92 Points
Delightful lighter red we enjoyed with smoked salmon. 79% mourvedre, rather a rare red from CA, but Mike Officer is so talented that everything he makes is good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2011 - zheem wrote:
Very delicious. Combination of light body with rich and deep complexity of flavors- brambles, black tea, sandalwood, with sufficient acidity to taste bright and fresh, even after second day open. Long finish with lots of stone and dry plum grappa grip.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2011 - zheem wrote:
No notes for first two days open. Even today on third day, remains fresh with wood/spice on the nose and rich blue berries, brambles,moving into tastes of cherry pit and bitter almond into the finish. Still very young, but delicous.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2011 - Jody Smith wrote:
This was a treat, and stylistically, an outlier in the Carlisle stable. If cab franc grew in the south Rhone, this is what you'd get. Tight, bright red fruit on a middle weight, yet concentrated frame. Layers of herbs, and sweet tobacco, with Carmel and toffee notes. Plenty of grip and energy on this finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. Dark red color. This has a really aromatic, pretty nose of blue and dark red fruit, with a hint of pepper and earthiness. In the mouth, surprisingly well balanced and refined for being so young. The blue and black fruit comes to the forefront on the palate, but this has terrific earth and meaty notes that come up against plenty of acidity and a fine-grained finish. A-
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2011 - ChadRS wrote: 94 Points
The key to this one is the decant. On first open it was very tight and dry, after a two hour decant it began to open up to flavors of dark fruit, raspberry, earth, and flowers, but still had some bite, and almost a bitter aftertaste. By the 4th hour or so it was pure velvet - rich, complex, and perfectly integrated. Quite an interesting blend of grapes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2011 - h20medic wrote: 92 Points
Very earthy. Full bodied yet smooth and well balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2011 - Geoff wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful nose, medium to full body, dark fruit and eucalyptus, slight green aftertaste. Opened after 1 hour decant and more as the night wore on. Very well matched with grilled flank steak
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2011 - Matt Scott wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour and a half. Maroon and black, with a lighter rim that really is closer to ruby. Sweet bar-b-q, boysenberry, white flowers and black pepper. Soft and seductive, whilst it is not very complex. Not as concentrated as the '07 (93 points), however, still plush and enjoyable. A medium finish, surrounded by freshness. Drink now - 2018.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2011 - pgordon62 wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening there was animal fur funk, damp spring meadow, strong allspice, more red fruited than black. The palate was shut tight. Day two showed more of that damp fur, tree bark but the red pastille fruit took center stage. Bright red fruits, asprin and briar flavors lead to a foresty, racy finish. Wild and intriguing. Best after 2-3 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2011 - arniec wrote: 92 Points
WOW. Lush, rich, deep. Wish I bought more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2011 - MillerRoad wrote: 91 Points
Had this over the course of 2 nights. First night was good, but second night was even better. Had nice spice, some pepper. Nice silky mouthfeel, not too heavy, nice acidity. Red fruit, such as raspberry (as others mentioned, zesty). I would give this another couple of years in the bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2011 - B Paul wrote: 88 Points
Good red fruit, with herbal/green notes. Seemed a bit disjointed so maybe it will improve with a little bottle age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2011 - cubswinws wrote: 90 Points
Nice peppy wine of medium body and zesty fruit profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2011 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Full-bodied, round, mixed berry fruit with intense pencil lead flavors, good structure and ample acidity, hint of meatiness, interesting blend, maybe the best mouverdre I've drunk
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - jtcseventysix wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding. Ruby red, with nose of fresh raspeberries and cherries, pepper, flowers and a hint of meatiness; very densely packed, chewy, but bright and vibrant with a lingering, spicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2011 - Dale M wrote: 90 Points
Continues my experience with the 2008 Carlisle profile: snappy red fruits, abundant fresh herbs, floral tones, medium bodied, almost zesty, a little bit of youthful oak. Needs time to come together.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment