Ruby red color. Cherry and bramble fruit aromas. Precise and intense on the palate. Blueberry, black cherry, bit of raspberry, bit of pepper. Fine tannins, beautiful acidity and balance. Finishes long with blackberries and eucalyptus. Beautiful Zin. Needs 2 to 3 years to develop then drink for another 4 to 5 years.
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Drank alongside 09 Carlisle Monte Rosso, great illustration of difference natural fermentation versus added yeasts. Both are fantastic wines, the Monte Rosso is still drinking beautifully. Both opened about four hours before pouring, the Monto Rosso was preferred but Carlisle paired better with grilled pork tenderloin. Both had some pepper, Monte Rosso more small fruit compared to the Carlisle where some sweet red fruit was present but strong spices of unknown origin but very pleasant.
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Still going strong. Almost a cinnamon note on the nose and back palate. Red and (mostly) black fruit still prominent - not what I would call bright nor muted - mature? No hurry to consume it but I would say it will begin a slow decline in the fruit department. However, I expect it will last several more years before reaching a "past its prime"point.
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Pours a dull mulberry color with an expressive nose of vanilla and purple fruits. The palate reveals gobs of ripe blackberries and vanilla. A bit of alcohol (15.2 abv) pokes through on the finish. Lacks some complexity. Well made, but far bigger than I normally like to drink. Add 2-3 points if if you're a fan of the style. Should drink well through end of decade.
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Not the subtlest of Carlisle zins, but damn tasty. Some red, blue but mostly black fruits on the nose and palate, with cocoa and vanilla. Not confected, and actually quite balanced overall, but this would not be my first choice of zin to serve to the AFWE crowd. Aromatically more enticing on day 2, suggesting it's still improving (the CT suggested end-maturity date of 2016 is way too early, at least for my palate). Threw a suprising amount of sediment for a 7-year old Carlisle zin.
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My last note said "one of the best Carlisles I've ever consumed" still holds with this bottle. I love zins made from the Monte Rosso vineyard and in my opinion it is one of the best zin vineyards in California. Awesome wine. Sorry that this is the last of six bottles that I purchased.
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Special stuff. Haunting, layered. In a great drinking window. darker purple fruit, rocks, subtle forest floor undertones. Some bramble but this is a more smooth zin profile. Complexity of flavor was the hallmark. A treat.
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I have really come to enjoy this wine. Decanted about 90 minutes. Purple hues. Lots of bold complex interesting black and blue fruits. One of the most interesting zins. Very nice.
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Same as the last bottle, amazing wine: Absolutely killer stuff. Dark purple color. Blackberry, a little cherry twizzler, smoke, and a little herbal hint. Gorgeous fruit, just delicious. Great balance, plenty of backbone to hold up the fruit. Decadent but not sloppy.
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Brought to JoJo for dinner with mom and dad. Wow, what a great bottle of new world wine. This drank really well right from the get go, although it did smooth out a bit and take on some extra nuances with a half hour of air (more spices emerged). Paired well with a variety of fare (which is one of the things I love about zin). My impressions are consistent with most of the notes here. What stands out most in the end is the impeccable balance that this achieves for such a big ripe wine with 15.2% alcohol. I'm very sensitive to heat and there was absolutely none here, even as it warmed to room temp. The acidity here is not as ripping as with the 09 Papera, but this Monte Rosso is a bit richer overall and there is enough acidity to keep it from being heavy. As far as CA winemaking goes, this is right up there with the very best in my view. Brilliant stuff. Wish I had more than one more bottle. We all loved it.
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One of the best Carlisle zins I can ever remember that is now in it's prime. If there's better zin than this I would like to know what it is. From one of the best zin vineyards in California this zin is amazing.
A pretty nose with red fruits, vanilla and dried herbs. The palate has soft but structured red cherries, red raspberries, vanilla and herbs. Just shy of medium acid/tannins, drinking great now but should last several more years. I can't tell if this is a touch sweet or it's just how fresh/bright the fruit is.
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Simply sensational. My first Monte Rosso. This is the Carlisle that we dream of. Smooth and rich, dark fruit with cherry and spice. A totally hedonistic experience from the first taste to the last drop. Knocked everyone out. Thank you Mike !!!
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Absolutely killer stuff. Dark purple color. Blackberry, a little cherry twizzler, smoke, and a little herbal hint. Gorgeous fruit, just delicious. Great balance, plenty of backbone to hold up the fruit. Decadent but not sloppy.
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Just as good as the last bottle. It doesn't get any better than this for Zinfandel a grape that I love. Monte Rosso my favorite Zinfandel vineyard and Carlisle is a great combination. What more can you ask for.
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From one of the world's greatest ancient vineyards, planted in 1886. Very expressive, very deep and with layers and layers of flavor. The fact that wine likes this exists for around $40 is amazing. Wonderful.
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Memorial Day 2013 events: What can you say, Carlisle is always a crowd pleaser, and maybe I would have rated it higher had it not disappeared so quickly (perhaps preventing it from evolving into something more interesting). Supple mouth feel, pure aromatics, with notes of black cherry and spice.
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Another great bottle that was just as good as the pervious bottle. One of the best carlisles I've had the pleasure to drink which is saying a lot since I've consumed a lot of them. Thrilled to have four more of these in my cellar that's for sure.
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Last bottle of this, and wished I'd waited. On day four this is still singing. The cough syrup note, heat, high alcohol and high extraction have given way to a more integrated, pruney, marvelously 'gritty tannin'-laced, mouth puckering Welch's grape jelly style of wine. It couldn't possibly work with food, and is horribly inelegant, but is so deeply delicious! I'm not normally on the Parker side of the spectrum, but in this case, it works. Despite all the individual elements that I'd consider "wrong," this is just so damn yummy. A hedonist's dream of a wine. It's so hard to give this four days in an open bottle without slurping the last drop, but it's worth it. Maybe this will even be good in 5 years, who'd a thunk?
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Rich, smooth, elegant mixed berry fruit with earthy, slightly dried raison/black raspberry flavors, excellent structure, long finish, one of the best Carlisle Zins, open and expansive
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Almost opaque black color with slight purple edges. Blackberry and olive tapenade nose. Cocoa powder, raspberry, a hint of oak, spice, a unique berry cuvee flavor after it opens. Concentrated, smooth, with a finish that goes for 30 seconds. Excellent.
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Here is what I said back in January: Dark, expressive, rich, deep, concentrated ... and yet balanced. Here we see the intersection between one of the world's great historic vineyards and a most worthy producer. Wonderful.
Ditto to that! I have one left, which I will probably sit on for a year or two. I'd expect it to be even better!
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Delicious. Very ripe and prob should have waited or decanted but enjoyed the fruit and the decent balance in this wine. Seemed like there was some petite sirah thrown in there for added complexity but maybe that's just the vineyard site. Low to moderate acidity and moderate (maybe even slightly rustic) tannins.
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An incredible zin that is only just beginning to enter its prime. Definitely needs at least an hour decant. As a huge zin nut this bottle brings out the best of all worlds. The monte rosso fruit which in my opinion produces some of the best zin grapes in California and the best maker of Zinfandel Carlisle. If you like Zinfandel it doesn't get any better than this. A wonderful zin that will continue to drink well for at least 5 years probably 10 years.
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Ripe, rich and round. Deep and dripping with candied, dark fruits. Nice touch of (substantial) oak (needed), and some granular tannins, to balance the huge fruit. Superbly delicious in a full throttle, full blown, decadent way. I loved it! This won't last long, though. Get it while it lasts, and enjoy the moment for what it is.
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Ran through an aerating decanter, this was so young and tight, but showed so much promise, lots of black and blue fruits, hints of spice such as coriander and sage, black pepper, really nice wine that needs a bit of time to fully come round.
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At BWC tasting. Nose just a little muted, with some black liquorice, violets, and anise. Some oak on the palate that has not receded yet, with rich black and blue fruits, pepper, and a good mineral component. Very concentrated fruit and big strong finish. Acidity not as stark as some of the other zins at tasting.
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Boerne Wine Club - Zinfandel (Scenic Loop Cafe, San Antonio, TX): Decanted for 2hrs 12hrs prior then returned to bottle. Shy nose with roasted coffee, cassis, raspberry, and with a floral component of violets and roses. Concentrated palate with fine tannic structure, and purple styled smooth fruit. Hangs on the palate for a LONG time, adding some briary fruit and hint of toast. Massively concentrated, seamless and sophisticated. Needs many years to unwind. My WOTN 93-95
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tight day one good day two awesome day three. fantastic nose of raspberries black pepper and flowers. the palate is full and ripe but elevated by bright fruity acid. great crisp finish that lasts and lasts. nice savory note as well. great wine
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This is my kind of Zin. Dry fruit, smoke and spice, gamey, peppery, chocolate. Not a syrupy fruit bomb. Lots of weight and structure. Popped and decanted, but started to drink immediately. Over about 3 hours, stayed consistent. One of the best Zins I've had in some time.
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Pop and pour and shared with a group. Very rich and robust; has some dried prune/port element to it. There is a meaty side that speaks old vines. Rich and sweet fruit lie in wait under the brushes. Let this sit for 6 hours and came back for another taste. It has softened and opened up suggesting that this wine needs a good long decant or more time in the bottle.
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One of the most dynamic Carlisles I've had, even at (or maybe because of?) it's young age. This starts out with pungent game aromas and pork fat. I had to keep checking the bottle to verify it was zin and not syrah. With air, the meat aromas give way to peppery blackberries. Great structure and acid throughout, with the winemaking completely transparent.
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Been waiting for a long time to see what Mike could do with fruit from Monte Rosso and Pagani, so this answers that for one of them. He did fine :) The nose shows plenty of jammy fruit, with some herbs and anise. Palate is large framed, ripe and juicy, but not jammy or overripe. There is plenty of sweet fruit, but it is in no way ponderous or overbearing, on the contrary it's quite elegant for a wine of its heft and ripeness level, putting me in mind of the proverbial elephant ballerina. The balance is there, with just enough acidity and tannic structure, and some nice complexity mixed in. Very nice.
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Popped and poured and followed over 5 hours. What a nose. This is giving off a full bouquet of blueberry jam, some chocolate espresso and lavender. It fills the room. Smells somewhat port like. At first, the wine is rich and sweet with blueberry jam and a port like level of heat and sweetness. I was concerned that this was going to be some "blackberry mochachinno" that gets some people in a tizzy. After an hour, however, it softens up and shows a more well developed and rounder personality. And i mean soften. This wine is very soft in the mouth. The sweetness has subsided. There is a fullness and softness to the wine; lots of blackberry and blueberry notes and vanilla. The heat is no longer showing, which is surprising given the initial impression upon opening and the 15.2% abv. Will revisit this on day two. And here we are at day two. Still soft and rich. Robust and showing sweet dark fruits. Got a strong backbone and looks you in the eyes when it says hello.
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4/7/2023 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Ruby red color. Cherry and bramble fruit aromas. Precise and intense on the palate. Blueberry, black cherry, bit of raspberry, bit of pepper. Fine tannins, beautiful acidity and balance. Finishes long with blackberries and eucalyptus. Beautiful Zin. Needs 2 to 3 years to develop then drink for another 4 to 5 years.
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6/19/2019 - andyrowe wrote: 92 Points
Drank alongside 09 Carlisle Monte Rosso, great illustration of difference natural fermentation versus added yeasts. Both are fantastic wines, the Monte Rosso is still drinking beautifully. Both opened about four hours before pouring, the Monto Rosso was preferred but Carlisle paired better with grilled pork tenderloin. Both had some pepper, Monte Rosso more small fruit compared to the Carlisle where some sweet red fruit was present but strong spices of unknown origin but very pleasant.
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11/30/2018 - skinut Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still going strong. Almost a cinnamon note on the nose and back palate. Red and (mostly) black fruit still prominent - not what I would call bright nor muted - mature? No hurry to consume it but I would say it will begin a slow decline in the fruit department. However, I expect it will last several more years before reaching a "past its prime"point.
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7/28/2018 - Ed B wrote: 91 Points
Decanted through a screen and drank over two hours. No detailed notes. Ruby, with beginning of orange rim. Medium body. Very nice.
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1/29/2018 - mdahar wrote: 92 Points
This is a big rich zin but very delicious
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9/17/2017 - CMN wrote: 88 Points
Pours a dull mulberry color with an expressive nose of vanilla and purple fruits. The palate reveals gobs of ripe blackberries and vanilla. A bit of alcohol (15.2 abv) pokes through on the finish. Lacks some complexity. Well made, but far bigger than I normally like to drink. Add 2-3 points if if you're a fan of the style. Should drink well through end of decade.
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11/24/2016 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not the subtlest of Carlisle zins, but damn tasty. Some red, blue but mostly black fruits on the nose and palate, with cocoa and vanilla. Not confected, and actually quite balanced overall, but this would not be my first choice of zin to serve to the AFWE crowd. Aromatically more enticing on day 2, suggesting it's still improving (the CT suggested end-maturity date of 2016 is way too early, at least for my palate). Threw a suprising amount of sediment for a 7-year old Carlisle zin.
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10/29/2016 - PIntag wrote:
Ripe, rich, liqueur-like zin. Not my favorite style, but I can see the appeal of it.
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6/19/2016 - Stumpy wrote: 92 Points
Another winner from these guys. Perfect with cheddar wurst around the campfire!
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5/12/2016 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 94 Points
My last note said "one of the best Carlisles I've ever consumed" still holds with this bottle. I love zins made from the Monte Rosso vineyard and in my opinion it is one of the best zin vineyards in California. Awesome wine. Sorry that this is the last of six bottles that I purchased.
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5/11/2016 - Mr T wrote:
excellent...loved by crowd who said their zins never taste like this
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2/11/2016 - btock Likes this wine: 93 Points
Special stuff. Haunting, layered. In a great drinking window. darker purple fruit, rocks, subtle forest floor undertones. Some bramble but this is a more smooth zin profile. Complexity of flavor was the hallmark. A treat.
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11/6/2015 - Stumpy wrote: 91 Points
A Carlisle zin-what else do you need to say.
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5/29/2015 - SpoochMan wrote:
Karen took to Lento for dinner with dept folks. Was liked by all.
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4/15/2015 - Mike V wrote: 90 Points
Great with Baby Back Ribs and Baked Beans
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3/19/2015 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 92 Points
great balance good acid to balance dark fruit. Long finish. Odd but good match to corned beef
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12/19/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have really come to enjoy this wine. Decanted about 90 minutes. Purple hues. Lots of bold complex interesting black and blue fruits. One of the most interesting zins. Very nice.
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10/15/2014 - michigan dogs Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent, rivals Papera Ranch for best zin ever, drinking great
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10/7/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Awesome. Yummy. Could drink forever.
Decanted 90 minutes. Ripe black and blue fruit - complex - rich - luscious finish. Excellent.
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8/30/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious zin filled with berry fruit and garrigue flavors. Give it a short decant to allow it to show its best. Delicious
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6/9/2014 - Sennma wrote:
So delicious...love the balance that these wines show.
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5/31/2014 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same as the last bottle, amazing wine: Absolutely killer stuff. Dark purple color. Blackberry, a little cherry twizzler, smoke, and a little herbal hint. Gorgeous fruit, just delicious. Great balance, plenty of backbone to hold up the fruit. Decadent but not sloppy.
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5/4/2014 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brought to JoJo for dinner with mom and dad. Wow, what a great bottle of new world wine. This drank really well right from the get go, although it did smooth out a bit and take on some extra nuances with a half hour of air (more spices emerged). Paired well with a variety of fare (which is one of the things I love about zin). My impressions are consistent with most of the notes here. What stands out most in the end is the impeccable balance that this achieves for such a big ripe wine with 15.2% alcohol. I'm very sensitive to heat and there was absolutely none here, even as it warmed to room temp. The acidity here is not as ripping as with the 09 Papera, but this Monte Rosso is a bit richer overall and there is enough acidity to keep it from being heavy. As far as CA winemaking goes, this is right up there with the very best in my view. Brilliant stuff. Wish I had more than one more bottle. We all loved it.
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5/4/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Carlisle Winemaker Dinner with Mike Officer (Luciana's, Dana Point, CA): Darker than the previous flight. Intriguing nose. Good palate, coffee, chalk, and blackberry. Nice mineral backbone. Mocha on the finish and the tannins are rounded out.
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5/3/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Carlisle In The OC: I found this quite spicy, underscoring this aspect in my notes. Has a richness but also great depth, too. Big blackberry fruit.
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4/18/2014 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 94 Points
One of the best Carlisle zins I can ever remember that is now in it's prime. If there's better zin than this I would like to know what it is. From one of the best zin vineyards in California this zin is amazing.
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2/7/2014 - snbernst wrote:
Shabbat with the family
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1/24/2014 - David_T wrote: 91 Points
A pretty nose with red fruits, vanilla and dried herbs. The palate has soft but structured red cherries, red raspberries, vanilla and herbs. Just shy of medium acid/tannins, drinking great now but should last several more years. I can't tell if this is a touch sweet or it's just how fresh/bright the fruit is.
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12/30/2013 - DPMc wrote: 95 Points
Rich, delicious, ready to go. A benchmark zin.
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11/25/2013 - oaxaca90049 wrote: 95 Points
Simply sensational. My first Monte Rosso. This is the Carlisle that we dream of. Smooth and rich, dark fruit with cherry and spice. A totally hedonistic experience from the first taste to the last drop. Knocked everyone out. Thank you Mike !!!
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11/16/2013 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Absolutely killer stuff. Dark purple color. Blackberry, a little cherry twizzler, smoke, and a little herbal hint. Gorgeous fruit, just delicious. Great balance, plenty of backbone to hold up the fruit. Decadent but not sloppy.
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11/8/2013 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. Zin can't get much better. Most notable, very mild but enticing vanilla note on the nose.
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9/4/2013 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Just as good as the last bottle. It doesn't get any better than this for Zinfandel a grape that I love. Monte Rosso my favorite Zinfandel vineyard and Carlisle is a great combination. What more can you ask for.
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7/6/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 95 Points
From one of the world's greatest ancient vineyards, planted in 1886. Very expressive, very deep and with layers and layers of flavor. The fact that wine likes this exists for around $40 is amazing. Wonderful.
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6/11/2013 - pgb67 wrote: 93 Points
Memorial Day 2013 events: What can you say, Carlisle is always a crowd pleaser, and maybe I would have rated it higher had it not disappeared so quickly (perhaps preventing it from evolving into something more interesting). Supple mouth feel, pure aromatics, with notes of black cherry and spice.
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4/16/2013 - kanab ram Likes this wine:
Rich, lush and seamless. Everything you would want in a wine. The best Carlisle Zinfandel I have had to date.
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1/26/2013 - wdb001 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had at a restaurant, so no formal notes, but this was delicious. Notes of blueberry, cherry and pepper. Full bodied with lush texture.
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1/25/2013 - Screameagle wrote: 93 Points
Another great bottle that was just as good as the pervious bottle. One of the best carlisles I've had the pleasure to drink which is saying a lot since I've consumed a lot of them. Thrilled to have four more of these in my cellar that's for sure.
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12/23/2012 - Mootsie wrote: 93 Points
Needs at least 90 minutes to open and then it turns into a real treat. Excellent with BBQ beef sandwiches.
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11/14/2012 - sawira wrote: 93 Points
Last bottle of this, and wished I'd waited. On day four this is still singing. The cough syrup note, heat, high alcohol and high extraction have given way to a more integrated, pruney, marvelously 'gritty tannin'-laced, mouth puckering Welch's grape jelly style of wine. It couldn't possibly work with food, and is horribly inelegant, but is so deeply delicious! I'm not normally on the Parker side of the spectrum, but in this case, it works. Despite all the individual elements that I'd consider "wrong," this is just so damn yummy. A hedonist's dream of a wine. It's so hard to give this four days in an open bottle without slurping the last drop, but it's worth it. Maybe this will even be good in 5 years, who'd a thunk?
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9/27/2012 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Rich, smooth, elegant mixed berry fruit with earthy, slightly dried raison/black raspberry flavors, excellent structure, long finish, one of the best Carlisle Zins, open and expansive
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9/23/2012 - Mootsie wrote: 93 Points
Almost opaque black color with slight purple edges. Blackberry and olive tapenade nose. Cocoa powder, raspberry, a hint of oak, spice, a unique berry cuvee flavor after it opens. Concentrated, smooth, with a finish that goes for 30 seconds. Excellent.
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9/12/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 94 Points
Here is what I said back in January: Dark, expressive, rich, deep, concentrated ... and yet balanced. Here we see the intersection between one of the world's great historic vineyards and a most worthy producer. Wonderful.
Ditto to that! I have one left, which I will probably sit on for a year or two. I'd expect it to be even better!
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9/1/2012 - DavidDay wrote: 94 Points
A near perfect zinfandel, certainly it will age for five more years, but why bother, drinking very well right now.
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8/27/2012 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Phat! Ditto previous note, this is on the extreme edge of ripeness for my tastes, but deep, rich and yummy.
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8/26/2012 - SUN-J wrote: 92 Points
Delicious. Very ripe and prob should have waited or decanted but enjoyed the fruit and the decent balance in this wine. Seemed like there was some petite sirah thrown in there for added complexity but maybe that's just the vineyard site. Low to moderate acidity and moderate (maybe even slightly rustic) tannins.
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7/29/2012 - Outplaying wrote: 92 Points
Alanr's note on 6/11/11 say's it all. I can't really add much more to it except that we really liked it.
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7/6/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 93 Points
One of the best of Mike's 2009 zins. I love this stuff and wish I had more. Incredible.
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6/15/2012 - Screameagle wrote: 93 Points
An incredible zin that is only just beginning to enter its prime. Definitely needs at least an hour decant. As a huge zin nut this bottle brings out the best of all worlds. The monte rosso fruit which in my opinion produces some of the best zin grapes in California and the best maker of Zinfandel Carlisle. If you like Zinfandel it doesn't get any better than this. A wonderful zin that will continue to drink well for at least 5 years probably 10 years.
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5/22/2012 - sawira wrote: 92 Points
Ripe, rich and round. Deep and dripping with candied, dark fruits. Nice touch of (substantial) oak (needed), and some granular tannins, to balance the huge fruit. Superbly delicious in a full throttle, full blown, decadent way. I loved it! This won't last long, though. Get it while it lasts, and enjoy the moment for what it is.
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5/14/2012 - H.W. Crabb wrote: 92 Points
A beautiful zinfandel with rich red and briar fruits. Nice balance and lengthy finish. My favorite Carlisle.
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3/30/2012 - cubswinws wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark and brooding. So rich and complex. Just great
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1/30/2012 - Mike Dildine wrote: 94 Points
Dark, expressive, rich, deep, concentrated ... and yet balanced.
Here we see the intersection between one of the world's great historic vineyards and a most worthy producer. Wonderful.
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1/12/2012 - vinoveritas wrote: 94 Points
Awesome wine. Best of tasting
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11/25/2011 - jdabrowski1027 wrote:
No formal notes taken, but it was delicious. Try zin with Thanksgiving!
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11/11/2011 - Vinomarcus wrote: 92 Points
Ran through an aerating decanter, this was so young and tight, but showed so much promise, lots of black and blue fruits, hints of spice such as coriander and sage, black pepper, really nice wine that needs a bit of time to fully come round.
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10/23/2011 - macker100 wrote: 91 Points
At BWC tasting. Nose just a little muted, with some black liquorice, violets, and anise. Some oak on the palate that has not receded yet, with rich black and blue fruits, pepper, and a good mineral component. Very concentrated fruit and big strong finish. Acidity not as stark as some of the other zins at tasting.
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10/23/2011 - Nutty08 wrote: 94 Points
Boerne Wine Club - Zinfandel (Scenic Loop Cafe, San Antonio, TX): Decanted for 2hrs 12hrs prior then returned to bottle. Shy nose with roasted coffee, cassis, raspberry, and with a floral component of violets and roses. Concentrated palate with fine tannic structure, and purple styled smooth fruit. Hangs on the palate for a LONG time, adding some briary fruit and hint of toast. Massively concentrated, seamless and sophisticated. Needs many years to unwind. My WOTN 93-95
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10/20/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
tight day one good day two awesome day three. fantastic nose of raspberries black pepper and flowers. the palate is full and ripe but elevated by bright fruity acid. great crisp finish that lasts and lasts. nice savory note as well. great wine
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8/11/2011 - MillerRoad wrote: 92 Points
This is my kind of Zin. Dry fruit, smoke and spice, gamey, peppery, chocolate. Not a syrupy fruit bomb. Lots of weight and structure. Popped and decanted, but started to drink immediately. Over about 3 hours, stayed consistent. One of the best Zins I've had in some time.
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8/5/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour and shared with a group. Very rich and robust; has some dried prune/port element to it. There is a meaty side that speaks old vines. Rich and sweet fruit lie in wait under the brushes. Let this sit for 6 hours and came back for another taste. It has softened and opened up suggesting that this wine needs a good long decant or more time in the bottle.
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6/27/2011 - Jody Smith wrote:
One of the most dynamic Carlisles I've had, even at (or maybe because of?) it's young age. This starts out with pungent game aromas and pork fat. I had to keep checking the bottle to verify it was zin and not syrah. With air, the meat aromas give way to peppery blackberries. Great structure and acid throughout, with the winemaking completely transparent.
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6/11/2011 - alanr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Been waiting for a long time to see what Mike could do with fruit from Monte Rosso and Pagani, so this answers that for one of them. He did fine :) The nose shows plenty of jammy fruit, with some herbs and anise. Palate is large framed, ripe and juicy, but not jammy or overripe. There is plenty of sweet fruit, but it is in no way ponderous or overbearing, on the contrary it's quite elegant for a wine of its heft and ripeness level, putting me in mind of the proverbial elephant ballerina. The balance is there, with just enough acidity and tannic structure, and some nice complexity mixed in. Very nice.
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5/7/2011 - t_moderne wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured and followed over 5 hours. What a nose. This is giving off a full bouquet of blueberry jam, some chocolate espresso and lavender. It fills the room. Smells somewhat port like. At first, the wine is rich and sweet with blueberry jam and a port like level of heat and sweetness. I was concerned that this was going to be some "blackberry mochachinno" that gets some people in a tizzy. After an hour, however, it softens up and shows a more well developed and rounder personality. And i mean soften. This wine is very soft in the mouth. The sweetness has subsided. There is a fullness and softness to the wine; lots of blackberry and blueberry notes and vanilla. The heat is no longer showing, which is surprising given the initial impression upon opening and the 15.2% abv. Will revisit this on day two.
And here we are at day two. Still soft and rich. Robust and showing sweet dark fruits.
Got a strong backbone and looks you in the eyes when it says hello.
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