2001 vs. 2003 Carlisle Zins Blindtasted
Rich and Peggy's Home in Los Altos, CA
Tasted Monday, February 5, 2007 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 305 views
Introduction
Introductory comments from tasting organizer Ross B.
It is somewhat ironic that one of the newest stars on the Zinfandel winery map is quickly becoming one of the keepers of the treasured old vine Zin vineyards in California. Carlisle Winery began as a home winemaking project by Mike Officer in the mid-1990s. He made small lots of Zinfandel and Syrah on the side while continuing to work as a software programmer. He had fallen in love with old vine Zin, and managed to talk a few vineyard owners in the Russian River and Sonoma Valleys into selling him a ton or two from their 80-120 year old vineyards. Mike's winemaking style has always been to let the grapes hang on the vine until they reach optimal ripeness, and then to sort the grapes in almost painstaking detail to get only the cleanest clusters. The results have been Zins which combine concentration and power with great purity and surprising elegance.
Part of Mike Officer's challenge has been to convince vineyard owners to farm their vineyards to the style that he wanted (very low yields, holding off on the harvest until full ripeness). He has developed partnerships with a few owners (e.g., Tom Feeney) who share his philosophy. However, the easiest way to control vineyard practices is to own the vineyards. In 2001, he decided to jump in with both feet. As part of the De Loach bankrupcty, the winery was forced to sell some of their most prized assets, a group of Zinfandel vineyards planted in the Russian River Valley in the early 1900s by Italian immigrants. One of the first to go on the market was the Pelletti Vineyard, and he managed to buy the vineyard before it was snapped up by others. Renamed "Carlisle Vineyard", it is now produces his flagship Zin. Two years later, he acquired a second De Loach vineyard, Charley Papera's plot planted in 1934, and renamed it Carlo's Vineyard.
Tonight we'll try four Carlisle Zinfandels each from 2001 and 2003, including their first releases from the Pelletti Ranch (aka Carlisle Vineyard) in 2001 and the Papera Vineyard in 2003.
Flight 1 - pre-tasting wine (1 Note)
Flight 2 - My TNs and group scoring (7 Notes)
I know several people who are big fans of these wines, but I simply don't get them. I'm not a big fan of Zins in general, but there are some that I like on occasion, from Joseph Swan and Woodenhead, for example. I find Carlisle's style way over the top, much too hot and extracted. A couple of these I found just painful to drink, they were so hot. Oh well, more Carlisle Zin for those who like them, I guess.
2004 Lone Madrone Zinfandel Barfandel Paso Robles 86 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Hot, plum, big berry nose; tasty, ripe, hot, juicy berry, fig and black fruit palate; medium hot finish (50% Zin, 31% Petite Syrah, 19% Barbera; 16.63% alcohol)
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