A rich nose of blackberry jam. The palate follows suit with blackberries, currants, licorice, a bit of tartness. The tannins are still dominant and need some time to soften. Great acidity. A long finish of dark fruits. Nice now but a couple of years will take this to another level. Be patient.
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Jammy fruit in the nose with blueberries, raspberries, and hints of floral. Big berry fruit in the flavor along with cherries and some minerality on the finish. Nearly 16% alcohol, yet not noticeable at all. Well balanced zin with a smooth medium to long finish.
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Pop and pour, then consumed over 2 nights. This wine didn't not change at all on day 2. I am a fan of the Carlisle style, but I am not a fan of this wine. As indicated by my score, it is still a relatively nice wine, just lacking balance. It is quite dense, grapey, jammy, with lots of chocolate and a blackberry pie liqueur type of flavor. It was also quite hot. It reminds me of a much less refined zinfandel from California. Without any other info, I would assume that this wine needs a few years to settle. But that is at odds with the cellarktracker and Carlise drinking windows. So I don't know what to think, other than I won't be buying this bottling again.
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Remarkable. This is a different kind of zin. Tons of black pepper on the nose, and roasted/charcoal. Savory, meaty, dark black fruit and a bit of earth in the background. I'm an unabashed zin fruit guy, and so enjoyed being surprised by this flavor profile. Was unexpected and very engaging. Good structure to the wine, still several years of good drinking ahead of it.
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Great Zinfandel. Good bite, tannic finish that I love. This wine can last quite a few more years. Not overtly fruity in a positive way. Just enough Zinfandel coarseness to tantalize my palate.
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Fresh and full on the nose with plums, raspberries and even a hint of mint. The palate is medium bodied and bright with raspberries, plum, some wet leaves, and a hint of black pepper. Very compelling wine that is hitting on all cylinders.
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This is a delicious wine, BUT, if drinking now be sure to decant for a couple of hours as the alcohol is sticking out like a sore thumb. I poured an ounce upon opening and the wine was almost undrinkable. Poured through a Vinturi and it became an entirely different experience. The wine displays delicious sappy blackberry and dark cherry fruit with some nice spiciness on the medium length finish. Wish more had been produced but with just 55 cases this was my only bottle.
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Bruiser on day 1 with a brilliant Carlisle Zin nose. Delicious on day 2 but the whole was not greater than the sum of its parts. Should have held this another 2+ years I think. Ultimately not my favorite Carlisle, and not a good weeknight wine.
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A bit surprised that initially the nose on this one yielded very little. Did give up some fruit but the palate had some heat consistent with other reviews. Settled down on the second day and was enjoyable.
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Grapesickle. Creamy, vanilla, huge crushed berries. High alcohol. But.... scrumptious 'til it started showing heat - unfortunately at about the 6 minute mark. Nowhere but down, drink up and enjoy the bachannalian, hedonistic rush. 92 pts - short burst of pleasure, 84 pts - actual vinified quality, especially from Mike's stable. Call it 86pts.
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15.8% alcohol. Dark red-purple color. Very jammy and super ripe on the nose. In the mouth, just too ripe and quite viscous. Hot on the finish. A rare disappointment. B
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Medium bodied with moderate tannins. Balanced fruit and earthiness with plenty of structure. Somewhat more rustic than other Carlisle zins. Drink now or hold for 3-4 years.
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Full-bodied mixed berry fruit, young, fresh, and briary flavors, a little sappy and almost sweet, excellent structure, lacked depth and richness of other Carlisle Zins
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red fruits, although nearly the level of fruit i've come to expect in mike's zins. earth and spice in the mix as well. full body. good balance. a tad hot. this was drink probably on the young side, but i wanted to get a feel for this offering. will probably buy more next year.
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Had a hard time getting into this, as it had quite a bit of heat and prominent alcohol that didn't get much better when cooled below room temp. Nose of briary red fruits. A little spice on the palate. Plenty of creamy vanilla notes. This was disappointing given my experience with this producer--I never noticed heat before, always well balanced complex wines.
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3/12/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 90 Points
A rich nose of blackberry jam. The palate follows suit with blackberries, currants, licorice, a bit of tartness. The tannins are still dominant and need some time to soften. Great acidity. A long finish of dark fruits. Nice now but a couple of years will take this to another level. Be patient.
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1/5/2017 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Jammy fruit in the nose with blueberries, raspberries, and hints of floral. Big berry fruit in the flavor along with cherries and some minerality on the finish. Nearly 16% alcohol, yet not noticeable at all. Well balanced zin with a smooth medium to long finish.
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9/6/2015 - dabovino Likes this wine: 93 Points
One thing about Mike, dude knows how to make Zin.
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8/28/2015 - galewskj wrote: 87 Points
Pop and pour, then consumed over 2 nights. This wine didn't not change at all on day 2. I am a fan of the Carlisle style, but I am not a fan of this wine. As indicated by my score, it is still a relatively nice wine, just lacking balance. It is quite dense, grapey, jammy, with lots of chocolate and a blackberry pie liqueur type of flavor. It was also quite hot. It reminds me of a much less refined zinfandel from California. Without any other info, I would assume that this wine needs a few years to settle. But that is at odds with the cellarktracker and Carlise drinking windows. So I don't know what to think, other than I won't be buying this bottling again.
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7/25/2015 - btock Likes this wine: 94 Points
Remarkable. This is a different kind of zin. Tons of black pepper on the nose, and roasted/charcoal. Savory, meaty, dark black fruit and a bit of earth in the background. I'm an unabashed zin fruit guy, and so enjoyed being surprised by this flavor profile. Was unexpected and very engaging. Good structure to the wine, still several years of good drinking ahead of it.
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10/21/2014 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great Zinfandel. Good bite, tannic finish that I love. This wine can last quite a few more years. Not overtly fruity in a positive way. Just enough Zinfandel coarseness to tantalize my palate.
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10/14/2014 - carendt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Showing beautifully.
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7/21/2014 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Fresh and full on the nose with plums, raspberries and even a hint of mint. The palate is medium bodied and bright with raspberries, plum, some wet leaves, and a hint of black pepper. Very compelling wine that is hitting on all cylinders.
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2/13/2014 - RussW Likes this wine:
This is a delicious wine, BUT, if drinking now be sure to decant for a couple of hours as the alcohol is sticking out like a sore thumb. I poured an ounce upon opening and the wine was almost undrinkable. Poured through a Vinturi and it became an entirely different experience. The wine displays delicious sappy blackberry and dark cherry fruit with some nice spiciness on the medium length finish. Wish more had been produced but with just 55 cases this was my only bottle.
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1/27/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 88 Points
I thought this wine needed more cellar time. Pretty rough around the edges for a Carlisle.
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9/30/2013 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
Not the most interesting or hedonistic of Carlisle wines nevertheless enjoyed by all.
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8/21/2013 - silton wrote: 90 Points
Bruiser on day 1 with a brilliant Carlisle Zin nose. Delicious on day 2 but the whole was not greater than the sum of its parts. Should have held this another 2+ years I think. Ultimately not my favorite Carlisle, and not a good weeknight wine.
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8/9/2013 - jfkwines wrote: 89 Points
With Carne Asada. Did not work. Blueberry pie and no tannin. Left it for the next day and it was a fine wine. I think this drinking window is off.
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3/10/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not shy at 15.8% alcohol, but seductive and poised, with that patented Carlisle balance. Years ahead of this one.
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11/9/2012 - bubbachumps wrote: 90 Points
Simple but delicious. Not a very complex zin, but quintessential brambly notes, in a high toned package. Great with pizza for tonight!
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7/28/2012 - Sennma wrote: 86 Points
A bit surprised that initially the nose on this one yielded very little. Did give up some fruit but the palate had some heat consistent with other reviews. Settled down on the second day and was enjoyable.
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5/12/2012 - wap1961 wrote: 89 Points
Solid Zinfandel, but I think would have been better with more age.
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5/3/2012 - sawira wrote: 86 Points
Grapesickle. Creamy, vanilla, huge crushed berries. High alcohol. But.... scrumptious 'til it started showing heat - unfortunately at about the 6 minute mark. Nowhere but down, drink up and enjoy the bachannalian, hedonistic rush. 92 pts - short burst of pleasure, 84 pts - actual vinified quality, especially from Mike's stable. Call it 86pts.
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3/12/2012 - gutt22 wrote:
15.8% alcohol. Dark red-purple color. Very jammy and super ripe on the nose. In the mouth, just too ripe and quite viscous. Hot on the finish. A rare disappointment. B
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3/10/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 92 Points
Berry fruit on the nose, medium bodied, balanced, medium long finish
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1/1/2012 - rdf58 wrote: 91 Points
Medium bodied with moderate tannins. Balanced fruit and earthiness with plenty of structure. Somewhat more rustic than other Carlisle zins. Drink now or hold for 3-4 years.
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11/4/2011 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
Full-bodied mixed berry fruit, young, fresh, and briary flavors, a little sappy and almost sweet, excellent structure, lacked depth and richness of other Carlisle Zins
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10/15/2011 - etherscreen wrote:
red fruits, although nearly the level of fruit i've come to expect in mike's zins. earth and spice in the mix as well. full body. good balance. a tad hot. this was drink probably on the young side, but i wanted to get a feel for this offering. will probably buy more next year.
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5/30/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 87 Points
Had a hard time getting into this, as it had quite a bit of heat and prominent alcohol that didn't get much better when cooled below room temp. Nose of briary red fruits. A little spice on the palate. Plenty of creamy vanilla notes. This was disappointing given my experience with this producer--I never noticed heat before, always well balanced complex wines.
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