March 15, 2024 - Opened, poured and let sit about 30 min. Then: Maybe some dark reddish fruit on the nose. Taste, etc is very similar to my 10/3/2023 note, except the fruit is not as distinctive and more generalized; and there's not much to the finish. Closer to my idea of zin than most of Carlisle's SVD zins; none of the over-ripe sensation and the alcohol doesn't show. Tasty and enjoyable, but has lost half a step compared to the 10/3/2023 bottle.
January 10, 2024 - Decent, balanced Zin. Good QPR.
January 2, 2024 - 1) This wine is good. Full stop. 2) For the price, this wine is outstanding!
Carlisle's Drinkability Chart [https://www.carlislewinery.com/drinkability-chart]
suggests this wine can last until 2027. I can't disagree. It is excellent now and I suspect it will only get better - though more mellow - in the next couple of years.
October 3, 2023 - Opened, poured and let sit about 30 min. Pretty much agree with notes from Charlie C and Wilypod, particularly about this being more interesting that many of the Carlisle SV zins. This seems a bit fresher, more zin-like with the berry/brambly fruit. Although it lists as 15% abv, there only seems to be a sense of the warmth and not the heat that high-abv zins can display. To slightly disagree with one of the notes, I wouldn't push this out over the next 5-6 years and take the chance that the freshness and berry/brambly fruit may diminish over that timeframe. Just my personal preference, but I'll be drinking this over the next 12 months at most.
September 16, 2023 - Ruby red, translucent at the edges. Bright berry aromas. Bright and lovely on the palate, raspberry, blueberry. Fine, dusty tannins, lovely acidity, nice balance. Blueberry notes deepen with some air. Finishes moderately long and pleasant with black cherry, raspberry and spice. Lovely Zin, fun to drink. Drink next 5 to 6 years.
May 19, 2023 - Just outstanding. Plush, dark fruit, with raspberry and blackberry essences, orange zest, loamy earth, and a brambly Zin garrigue. This multi-vineyard blend of old vine fruit has more complexity than some other Carlisle single vineyard bottlings.
November 28, 2022 - Solid zin that belies its non-named-vineyard roots. Really opened up quickly and delivered full-body and strong flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and blueberry, accompanied by nice tannins and mouthfeel. This one is a beauty that we drank while decorating our Christmas tree with our son who is visiting from NYC. It’s in a great spot now; so open ‘em if you got ‘em!
May 11, 2022 - Returned to this after approximately 18 months. Still had some dustiness to it that I don't expect from a Zin but the fruit was fighting through. A more enjoyable experience than the previous two bottles but not what I expected from a high-quality producer like Carlisle.
I think I'll sit on my last bottle for a couple of years or share it with people that "like" wine but aren't super into wine.
December 8, 2021 - Not great
December 1, 2021 - 15% ABV. Primarily Zin from Mounts Ranch, Teldeschi Ranch and Carlisle Vineyard with a sprinkle of Alicante Bouschet from Pagani Ranch and Petite Sirah from Rossi Ranch. Super nose of red and black fruits, licorice and baking spices. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and exceptional balance. Bright, juicy fruit in spades. Strawberry, raspberry, pepper and a hint of cocoa on the palate. Tremendous length on the finish. It should come as no surprise that the '18 Sonoma County is exceptional. Great vineyards and a great vintage. Best over the next 2-4 years.