12/4/2011 - ETrain wrote:

Delicious wine from an outstanding producer. Dark purple with a glycerine rim, spicy plum and cherries on the nose and delicious, juicy peppery dark fruits on the palate. A nicely balanced wine, but very rich and deep as well. Carlisle continues to impress me with outstanding wines, at fair prices. I only wish I had bought more.

9/16/2011 - ETrain Likes this wine:

Excellent wine, excellent QPR. Not sure when I've ever had abetter wine for $16. Dark purple with glycerin edge. Dark berries, and spice on the nose. On the taste I got more dark berries, dark chocolate, and more spice. Very tasty stuff!

8/25/2011 - ETrain wrote:

Had this at a restaurant/wine shop for $29.00. $19.00 is the shop's retail price. What?!?! His is crazy good for the price. Nice and dark with a nose of smoke, meat, and dark fruits. Tastes of dark fruits and spice. I had is with short ribs and it was delicious! Im not sure you can do better for 29.00 on a restaurant wine list.

12/31/2010 - ETrain wrote:

This was my first Cayuse after finally cracking their mailing list. This is fantastic stuff! Decanted for 2 hours, but I poured a small taste right when opened and it was already delicious. Very aromatic with a lot of gaminess and dark berries along with some vanilla, but not much given the length of time in barrel. Very delicious and easy to drink, not overextracted as so many syrahs tend to be. The flavor was the same as the nose with the gaminess and berries. A nice, long, smooth finish with no detectable heat. The decanting softened it a bit, and seemed to bring out a little more on the nose, but it did not change significantly. It will be very hard to keep my hands off of this and let it age, but as good as it is right now, I'm not sure that's a bad thing!

7/10/2010 - ETrain wrote:

Bought this on recommendation of the guy in their tasting room. He said it smells like olive tapenade. I think he was right. It was very earthy and gamey, but had lots of fruit as well. Dark purple and opaque in the glass. On the palate, lots of dark fruits, some oak, but not overpowering, and a long smooth finish. This wine was dense but still had a sense of balance to it. I enjoyed it very much. Only problem was, I bought one of the last 11 bottles the winery still had for sale. :(
One additional note: I tried 8 wines at the tasting room and all were very good. One to watch.

3/13/2010 - ETrain wrote:

Tight, tight, tight! 2 hours in the decanter made a big difference. This wine has a ton of complexity and structure. Not sure if you can call a $35 bottle of wine a bargain, but if this said Napa on the label, it would easily be $50+
Dark, almost opaque purple, with dark fruits and lots of oak on the nose. On the palate I got more dark fruit and oak, but also an earthy component. I think patience will be rewarded, but it's awfully good now.

2/28/2010 - ETrain wrote:

Cherries, cherries, cherries. On the nose, on the palate. Actually there was a little more going on too, some vanilla and spice, but definitely lots o' cherres. This wine is dark and fairly dense, and an excellent value at $15. Would definitely recommend.

2/26/2010 - ETrain wrote:

I picked this up for $13. I can't remember ever having a bottle of wine for$13 that was this good. On the nose I got a bit of gamey, smoky meat and leather, on the palate, dark fruits and spice. Definitely some oak, but not overpowering with a nice acidic lift on the slightly short finish. If you find this for anywhere close tothe price I paid, pick up a bottle. You won't be disappointed.

1/4/2010 - ETrain wrote:

Received as a Christmas gift. This was surprisingly good. Lodi isn't really famous for Cab or Shiraz, but this blend was very tasty. A little oaky, but in a good way. Juicy delicious red fruits and vanilla and spice from the oak. Not terribly comples, but just very delicious.

10/7/2009 - ETrain wrote:

Dark purple fading red and then clear at the edge. Nose slightly overpowered by oak, but very nice dark fruits as well. On the palate I got dark fruits also, and also dark chocolate and some oak and spice. There is also a mineral component and the tannins give a nice little bite, but it isn't what I would call tannic. Drinks very well now given its age. Finish is noticeably short, and is enough from keeping this from being a 90 point wine in my opinion. Still, ver good, and very good for the price. I would buy again.

9/27/2009 - ETrain wrote:

This was a very good bottle of wine. Considering the price, it's an exceptional bottle of wine. Nice quality of fruit and balance. A little oaky, but not over the top or cloying, just lots of vanilla and a creamy mouthfeel. The nose was very nice and it had a nice 20-30 second finish. I'll be buying more.

9/10/2009 - ETrain wrote:

Robyn's first bottle of wine after being pregnant. She liked this a lot at the Audelssa release party, so we've been saving it. It is very young still, and really...it shouldn't bethis good. The nose was a littel tight, but it had a beautiful elegance to it, lots of dark fruit, some oak but not too much, and very smooth on the palate. I only wish I had bought more.

12/4/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Very nice bottle for the price. Nice red fruits and some oaky spice, but not overdone. Simple as you would expect at this price, but very delicious.

12/2/2008 - ETrain wrote:

I expected this to be an overextracted hot alcohol fruit bomb. In fact, it was light, both in color and flavor. I could see my hand through the wine. It was fine, but a little thin and watery. I only paid $9 so I didn't expect too much, but at the same time there is much better for $9. Don't think I'd buy again other than the fun on giving it as a gift.

11/20/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Very nice for a lower priced wine. Got it for $9 and it definitely delivered for the price. A lighter styled zin, nice red fruits and spice on both the nose and flavor profile. Not a terribly long finish, but again, very good for the price.

9/29/2008 - ETrain wrote:

I've always heard good things about Franus wines, but hadn't tried one before tonight. I was a little concerned based on the few reviews there were, but I could see they were over a year old. This was a great bottle of wine. A little tight when first opened, but after 30 mins or so in the decanter it opened up with nice dark fruits and balance. Maybe just alittle too much oak, but I like it so it didn't bother. All in all a very enjoyable bottle.

10/3/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Decanted for about an hour to an hour and a half, and three hours after that it was still opening up. Unfortunately by that time it was just about gone. It started off a little gamey, not bad, just interesting. More an more fruit showed up as time went on. Nicely balanced, not overly extracted. Great finish, a very delicious wine.

9/20/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Very good for the price point. I got a lot of fruit on the nose, red fruits and some spice. Flavor was spicy and intense, but not hot or overly alcoholic like some zins get. Would definitely buy again.

8/22/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Drank this with a couple of friends at a wine dinner. Other bottles included a 1998 Opus, a 2005 Hewitt cab and 2004 Jayson. Everyone agreed that this was a ballsy, dense wine, and brought a lot more than your typical merlot. Despite its competition that evening, it held its own and was memorable. Very nice, and after a couple of hours in the decanter, it softened up and deliverd nice red fuits, and just enough oak. Very good.

8/26/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Completely over the top, dense, and actually kind of sweet wine. Every sip almost makes you wince from the raisiny density of it. Then, follow that with heat. There was a time I might have liked this wine, but that time has passed. Too good to dump, but not good enough to really enjoy.

8/3/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Got this bottle at the winery, very nice wine. Nice and jammy fruit but not overwhelming in fruit or alcohol. Mostly red fruits with a little vanilla nd spice. Had with some tri tip, but also good on its own.

7/29/2008 - ETrain wrote:

This took just a little while, 30 minutes or so to open up, and then it was very nice for the price. I got it for $12.50 and at that price it would be tough to beat. Nice typical zin spiciness, and delicious red fruits. Very good daily wine.

4/17/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Probably my first "aged" wine in celebration of my 9-year anniversary. I was saving it for #10, but I was afraid it would fall apart before then. I think I was wrong. This wine was still purple, but a touch reddish-brown at the edges, still has a lot of fruit, a nice amount of spice, and a long finish for a zin. Very delicious although this score might reflect a little bit of the moment over the wine. Delicious and proves that an aged Zin can deliver.

4/4/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Maybe it was the occasion, or being in Napa at a cool restaurant (Uva Trattoria), or just a few more months of age, but I liked this much better than last time. Excellent zin with nice spice, nice balance, and lots of dark fruit.

2/12/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Nice color, and good fruit, but waaaaaay oaky. Perhaps it will be better with time. I actually did like it, and it calmed down a little on day 2. But Man was it ever an "oak monster!!"

2/4/2008 - ETrain wrote:

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It's getting a lot of bad reviews on CT, and for $10 I thought it was pretty decent. Interesting nose, light bodied with a nice sour cherry flavor to it.

1/13/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Purple with Red edges.Nice nose, vanilla and mostly red fruits. Nice balance of fruit and spice, with not too much heat. Very, very good, and at $16 I plan to get more.

1/13/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Had at Robyn's Holiday party, restaurant price was fairly steep. Actually a little better than I expected. Mostly red fruit with some nice spice on the finish. Pretty good with food. I would buy if I found on sale.

1/12/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Had at Robyn's Holiday party, restaurant price was fairly steep. Actually a little better than I expected. Mostly red fruit with some nice spice on the finish. Pretty good with food. I would buy if I found on sale.

1/11/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Robyn and I bought this and took it to Bandera's for dinner. It was very, very good. Dark Ruby in color, with both dark and red fruits, and spice on the nose. The same carried over to the flavor, nice fruit, mild, sweet tannins, and a nice but not overpowering spiciness. Proabably the best Lodi Zin I've had to date. I plan to buy more.

1/4/2008 - ETrain wrote:

Nice, but not special. I'm a huge fan of all things Rosneblum, and while this was a good wine, it was sort a forgettable wine. Slightly bitter. At the same price, I liked the Abba better.

12/31/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Love the Lakrmeads. Nice dark color with a great nose. Lots of fruit and just the right anount of oakiness. Spicy and delicious.

12/31/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Wow!!. This is a big wine. Big nose, thick and viscous in the mouthfeel. Lots of dark fruit and spice, and although the alcohol is 16.9%, you would never guess it. Spectacular!

12/29/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Recommended by Goulie, this was very interesting. Blenf of 80% Cab and 20% Syrah. Lots of chocolate and smoke on the nose. Dark fruits and spice in the flavor profile. Very tasty.

12/29/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very nice wine with great raspberry fruit and lots of spice. Might be just a little too oaky, but otherwise very enjoyable

12/25/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Robyn recieved as a gift and we drank with Christmas dinner. Straw gold, nice nose with apples, pears and some spice. Tasted like it smelled, but maybe just a bit bitter. Pretty good and good QPR.

12/2/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Kind of tight, lots of oak. Some nice fruit but kind of bitter. It was just, okay.

12/26/2007 - ETrain wrote:

decanted for about an hour. Purple with red at the edge. Dark fruit, spice/oak and just a little bit of chocolate on the nose. Lots of dark fruit flavor, some vanilla, medium tannins. Very smooth and nicely balanced. I would say this is about an 88-89 point wine, but I gave it 90 because I got it on sale for $25, and there just aren't very many Napa cabs that are this good for that price.

12/23/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Dark red in color with a very nice nose. Nice fruit forward flavor with a spice, slightly hot finish. Drinks very well. I would buy again.

12/21/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Dark red/purple in color, but not as opaque as many others. Big spice on the nose, and very fruit forward. Lush and delicious. Very Good.

12/21/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Nice dark color, great nose. Lots of spice in the nose. Great fruit and nicely balanced. One of the better Zins I've had.

12/18/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very solid cab for under $20. I put in the decanter, and the first glass was definitely closed compared with the rest of the bottle. The flavors weren't as dense as many other California cabs, but it had a good, rounded flavor profile. Very nice nose, probabaly smelled better than it tasted. Nice fruit with mild tannins. This is a good "every day drinker" and also good for those that prefer wines with less tannins. A good entry level cab. I would buy again.

12/14/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very good for the price. Great nose, lots of fruit. A little hot to start, but mellowed out after it was open for a little while.

12/12/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Recommended by 3WG. Gold mdal winnerin the first "Wino-Lympics." Reminds me wuite a bit of the M2 Old Vines, but much less expensive. Powerful nose, lots of spice, big jammy flavor. A little hot, but anyone who likes a wine like this, won't mind the heat. Excellent QPR.

12/8/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Drank with RW. Tasted it right after opening, the let it sit in the decanter for a couple of hours. I actually wish I'd drank it right away. It was a little tight raight away, but after it sat it was a little flabby. Very nice though with a great nose, fairly dark color and great flavor. I would buy again, I just might get to it a little sooner.

12/7/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very nice Zin, drank with RW. Fruit forward but not a fruit "Bomb" Good spice on the nose and nice dark fruits. One of the better Vieyard Designates from Rosenblum

11/28/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Light for a Zin in both color and flavor, but overall pretty good for the price

11/28/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Shared a bottle with Richie, this wine is drinking really well right now. Dark purple, almost black color. Great nose with tons of fruit and spice, and a finish that goes on and on. There is a lot of alcohol, but it is surprisingly balanced.

11/26/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very nice wine for the price. Nice color and nose, great flavor. A little tight, but not bad at all. Lacks complexity, but a cab like this for $14 is a real find. Great daily drinker.

11/22/2007 - ETrain wrote:

Very big, fairly tannic monster of a Shiraz. Mellowed a bit after sitting in the decanter. Pretty decent for the price, although at $18-$20 I think I prefer the Rosenblum Abba's Vineyard.