November 13, 2021 - Sous bois on the nose- some black pepper, dark fruits. Black pepper, sweet; dark brambles on the palate. Still a touch of sweet tannin and plenty of acidity to carry everything. Past its prime, but an absolute delight. Paired beautifully with tri-tip fajitas and associated accoutrements. High alcohol and a fine specimen…
March 28, 2011 - As much as I hate to say this, as I am a rabid Carlisle person, I had to dump this out. Before dinner on Saturday, I pulled this wine to give it a test drive, check for TCA. I had planned to pair it with coq au vin, which at Marche Moderne here in the OC is just a smashing good dish and the usual Carlisle style would have paired great to it. When I opened it Saturday, I tasted it and it just came off as a bit dull, sweet and very little syrah typicity. So, reluctantly I put the cork back in the bottle and tossed it back into the cellar, instead going to a 2007 Lucia Susan's Hill syrah, which showed rock solid. Tonight, I went back to the cellar and pulled the Carlisle again out, removed the cork and tasted it. Same result: dull, showing nothing syrah and more like a zin, I dumped it out. I also drank a 2004 Sonoma County zin recently, which was better but really came off as big and ripe. I'll go to war for Mike Officer, as flat out love his syrahs as I think they are some of the best in CA, but with these two 2004s, they do not seem to aging that well.
March 20, 2011 - Decanted an hour. Fragrant nose of blackberry jam with cocoa and vanilla and hint of camphor and meat. Lush fruit, oak, acidity balanced on the palate with a little heat on the finish.
May 20, 2010 - Nice wine. A great QPR, even at the $10 over retail I picked it up for. Lots of stuffing in this wine.Intense color, red meat, blueberries, a touch of oak. Popped and poured and this was singing. Lots of structure and fruit in the wine. Would think it could go for another few years.
May 14, 2010 - Drinking very nice. Picked 3 up today and had to pop one. Some garrigue, dried meat, black/ blue fruit. long finish. very nice syrah for the $$.
April 13, 2010 - Dark fruit and iodine. Enjoyed
September 22, 2009 - Nice syrah. Wish I had more
July 20, 2009 - This was not my favorite Carliisle after a P&P but after two additional days after opening it really showed it's stuff. Turned into another beautiful Carlisle. I've loved Mike's syrahs since the first commercial release the '99 Sonoma and this one is no exception. Just a beautiful wine.
June 9, 2009 - Popped and poured. Medium to full-bodied wine that is inky purple in color. On the nose, dark berries, minerals, and bacon fat. On the palate, blackberries, blueberries, licorice, and a touch of vanilla oak on the very long 30-40 second finish. Nice acidity and balance to this wine, and another great QPR from Carlisle!
May 1, 2009 - So good, i could hardly stand it!