May 12, 2020 - Bursting with black fruit, cassis, dried herb, and melted licorice intensity, this is one of the most flamboyant Zinfandels I’ve had. It’s unapologetically big and unctuous, and yet tremendously balanced, striking a chord between youthful freshness and bottle age complexity. Layers of decadent fruit successfully mask the whopping 15.9% ABV, while notes of barbecue and a galore of spices segue into a long, sapid, crushed rock finish.
April 2, 2016 - Tasted at the Carlisle pickup. I can't add much to the good descriptions already noted, other than to say that I really enjoyed this wine and agree that it almost had a cabernet like profile. If I knew they were all going to age this well, I wouldn't drink any of the Carlisle I just picked up for the next decade.
April 2, 2016 - Carlisle Pickup Tasting (Windsor): Poured at the Carlisle pickup alongside the 2014 Carlisle Rosella's Syrah and 2014 Carlisle Saitone Zinfandel.
As noted by SAWIRA (3 years ago), this is truly an aged Zinfandel on its downward slope. However, even today it still had a little verve and energy left to make for an interesting sip. Purple-brick in color, with a hint of reduction (a little brine) and leather. The secondary and tertiary notes have now been pushed to the forefront, with more red currant, ripe red plum, muddled ripe black cherry, wet brick, and leather notes. MATT SCOTT called it perfectly with the vermouth note as well.
Surprisingly, nothing hollow mid-palate nor astringent; just a nicely aged red wine all the way around. Drank almost like a classic Cabernet with 20 years on it.
Personally, I would drink now before it totally loses its spine and falls apart. It could likely go a number of years, but I would worry about it becoming a little too thin and leathery for my palate.
April 2, 2016 - Kalamata olive, vermouth, tart cherry, white pepper and black fruit. Suave and still very youthful. Long and polished, with still some silky tannins. Drink now - 2020.
January 16, 2013 - The last of nine bottles, I've chased this since release every time it shows up on wb.c or elsewhere. A great wine comes to the end of its run. This remains, after many years on Mike's list, my single favorite zin he's ever produced. (Some have been close.) This bottle is just beginning to fade, and lose its Pet oriented structure. Still outstanding however, with huge, fat, almost cab-like notes of red and black fruit with deliciously granular tannins fading to the background. Mike, if you're reading this, go for the high Pet formula at Dry Creek again when the vintage permits. This wine is a revelation, thank you for the great run. Drink up, and enjoy!
December 10, 2011 - I know, I know - 95 pts for a Zinfandel. True tho. This is Mike Officer's best Zin to date, IMHO. My 8th bottle of this elixir since this was released. Wafting, hugely expressive nose of pure, freshly made raspberry jam. Palate clear and incisive - not at all cloying or syrupy in the least, yet tremendously primary fruit-filled, in the best way. Red fruits galore. The most accurate descriptor I can come up with is "Pure." This is clear, bright, detailed, very balanced with its quite adequate acidity, and super long. Medium bodied, integrated, and - yep - pure pleasure. Hugely delicious. Perfect with middle eastern marinated sirloin kebobs and tahini sauce. It was this bottling that has led me to more patience with Mike's Zins, for which, so far, I have been greatly rewarded and grateful. Brilliant! This bottle at a perfect crescendoed peak. Drink now and enjoy!
July 28, 2011 - Sappy, deep and delicious. Couldn't ask for more. Complex, hedonistic, balanced, long, and at an elevated peak. Kudos Mike! Drink up now for max pleasure.
May 24, 2011 - I wanted to try this again soon after the last bottle, which was declining. This bottle well stored and spectacular, but also a bit tired at the end. Explosive, focused, brambly red fruited nose, with whiffs of vanillin and sweet white flowers. Raspberry compote, grapesickle, earthy, sweet and sour fruit, briney, metallic, laserlike palate. Velvety mouthfeel. Plush, yet still detailed. Plenty of alcohol, oak, fruit - this is big time new world and very much still in the pocket, but starting to fall down at the hour mark. Drink up and enjoy! This, for me, absolutely confirms Mike's drinking window.
May 15, 2011 - Red fruited profile. Phenomenal two years ago, excellent last year, this is now lacking focus, on both nose and palate. This bottle is on the downhill slide, and wish I hadn't waited this long. I do like Mike's single vineyard offerings with some age and complexity, but this is too much on the loganberry syrup side of things. My first Carlisle Zin to be this limpid, it gives me some aging parameters. And I doubted his website's drinking windows because why?
Better the second night, with more focus and and structure. Still on the downhill slide from previous bottles though.
December 27, 2010 - This bottle from a different source, and was stored at 80 degrees for three days when I first received it before I noticed. Pop and pour. Still delicious, but this bottle softer and less focused than previous bottles. Mulberry fruit profile, and lacking crispness. If more bottles like this, drink up. Hard to say if the warmth had this effect, but I'd guess yes.