July 12, 2018 - Mature. Smothed out, good length, pleasurable, and (I'm pretty sure) it's time to drink up.
February 20, 2016 - To go with a cassoulet I my oldest Carlisle in the cellar. Had high expectations as I really enjoyed past bottles of the '01 and '02 of this wine (mostly Unti fruit if I recall correctly) and this one delivered. Great diversity of flavors, black core but not a heavy mouthfeel. Dusty tannins, some grip, but a deft deep floral entry that then leads to dark blue and black fruits. Very good stuff.
December 15, 2013 - What an amazing bottle of wine. Great fruit still popping through this medium bodied, inky purple wine. All the rough edges are gone at 11 years old, with just a hint of cedary cigar box peeking through from the age. Threw off a lot of sediment. Paired exceptionally well with spicy sausage and peppers over cheese filled tortellini. I can't wait to enjoy my one last bottle.
July 23, 2012 - Very smooth for a petite sirah. Blueberry and boysenberry fruit, with chocaolate notes and a solid structure and supple mouthfeel feel. Not a huge fan of PS, but this was about as good as it gets for the varietal.
June 1, 2012 - A huge nose of dark sweet fruit, dark black in color. A full bodied and rich Petite Sirah, with blueberry, blackberry, chocolate dust, layers of favor, a good kind of sweet long finish. A great wine, worth every cent.
August 14, 2011 - Helluva a wine - enjoyed over three days, and the last night was the best. For a petite - very elegant aromas of black fruit, violets, chocolate with star anise. Palate is full bodied but very smooth, round and harmonious. Good juicy acidity and fine tannin frame and provide precision to the medium rich fruit. Velvety on the back end, with a long, penetrating fruit and spice filled finish. Rare to see a petite with this much restraint and polish.
October 3, 2010 - Fantastic, a beautiful wine. Petite has the brutish reputation and that's because there's not enough of it made like this. Great integration and depth of flavor. Lipsmacking fruit, very dark in the glass, great stuff. Only 65 cases, I'll hold my one other bottle for a little longer, but knowing how good it is makes it hard to resist.
May 31, 2010 - Wonderful petite that is all about balance. At this stage in it's life the tannins are well integrated. There are loads of black fruit, mostly blackberry with chocolate/cocoa and graham cracker notes. All things I expect in a great petiite. The finish is rich, pure blackberry with sweet tannins and a touch of white pepper. Beautiful, harmonious wine. Bravo Mike!!!
April 17, 2010 - Just over 2 years since I drank this wine, blind tasting it for Mike O at the winery. Since that time, was able to find one more on Wine Bid, which is fortunate since there is only about 65 cases made. I suspect I won't see this wine again but again this bottle showed great. Given the knock by some on petite that it can be too dense, too syrupy, too hot and over the top, not this wine--really no alcohol to speak of, no raisiny notes, just once again nicely balanced, dark and yet rich. Hint of stone fruit on the nose, black fruits, with some chocolate cherry and drinking terrific, as good as 2 years ago. Note--make sure you decant carefully, as the wine is throwing quite a bit.
February 6, 2009 - Smoothest Petite Syrah I have ever tasted. Paired with a very rich Veal Shank. Excellent.