Wine Article
2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard
Last edited on 8/28/2021 by KTM1253
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From release newsletter
2018 Russian River Valley “Carlisle Vineyard” Zinfandel
Schhh...WING! The 91-year-old vines of Carlisle Vineyard hit it out of the park in 2018, producing one of if not the best renditions to date. Picked on September 28th and September 30th at an average of 25.9 Brix, acidity was impressive in this moderate vintage, with an average TA of 8.8 g/L and pH of 3.22. Fully destemmed, a 10% bleed was done at crush to further concentrate the juice. After a long, even-paced fermentation (24 days!), the wine was pressed to all French oak, 23% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note: Very dark ruby-garnet. Bordering on opaque. Like the color, a very dark fruited nose with aromas of mulberries, elderberry, Christmas tree, and baking spice. Full-bodied but with plenty Piner-Olivet acidity (this vineyard is in the Piner-Olivet area of the Russian River Valley) to keep this wine light on its feet. Similar to my favorite of the older vintages, 2005, but with less alcohol and better balance. Really quite stunning. Enjoy this benchmark, old-vine field blend from 2022 to 2030.
2018 Russian River Valley “Carlisle Vineyard” Zinfandel
Schhh...WING! The 91-year-old vines of Carlisle Vineyard hit it out of the park in 2018, producing one of if not the best renditions to date. Picked on September 28th and September 30th at an average of 25.9 Brix, acidity was impressive in this moderate vintage, with an average TA of 8.8 g/L and pH of 3.22. Fully destemmed, a 10% bleed was done at crush to further concentrate the juice. After a long, even-paced fermentation (24 days!), the wine was pressed to all French oak, 23% new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note: Very dark ruby-garnet. Bordering on opaque. Like the color, a very dark fruited nose with aromas of mulberries, elderberry, Christmas tree, and baking spice. Full-bodied but with plenty Piner-Olivet acidity (this vineyard is in the Piner-Olivet area of the Russian River Valley) to keep this wine light on its feet. Similar to my favorite of the older vintages, 2005, but with less alcohol and better balance. Really quite stunning. Enjoy this benchmark, old-vine field blend from 2022 to 2030.