PnP - dark with no bricking. Complex aromas of herbs, bacon and black raspberries. Well-balanced on the palate with smoky black and blue fruits, more herbs and maybe some cassis. Lush, very slightly sweet finish with no heat (served ~ 68F) and fine, integrated tannins. Seems to be at prime now with a few years of gorgeous drinking ahead. A fair amount of fine sediment, so a decant might be in order.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed over three days. Inky, purply iodine thick and full bodied. Fruit paste, bubble yum, sweet plum, dense chewy tooth staining reserves of iodine blues and blacks. There's an interesting humid freshness on the nose still. Tangy, nice sweetness, thick boysenberry, blueberry jam, smooth, voluptuous. Final glass on night 4 or 5 - forgot to vac-u-vin so this has been out. Finally a bit flabby and oxidixed - heavy jammy fruit and corpulence. Still all good, just tasting like one of those knock-off fruit bomb cheap wines at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple. Ripe blackberry aroma. Full bodied, with lush black fruit, followed by earthy notes and some black pepper. Still youthful with ripe tannins and ample acidity. Should drink well for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last of 3, last tasted 5 years ago to the date (RANDOM).
Nose shows oak (vanilla and wood) with a sense of alcohol over blue and black fruits. On the palate blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and just a bit of pepper. A little hot (alcoholic) on the finish but nice acids up front, and soft silky tannins mostly mask the alcohol.
Gone are the pepper / gamey / Syrah notes and this is mostly a fruit driven wine.
Overall, not sure if I waited too long but seemed more impressed previously.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A supriseingly moderate to full bodied syrah with pure dark grape flavors with mild additional notes, mild tannins, smooth mouthfeel, balance and even perhaps sophistication. There was a minimum of the whole cluster green note on the finish, but mostely integrated otherwise. Enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque violet color and aromatically complex with black and blue fruit, smoked meat, cedar, balsamic, crushed violet, black pepper, and a whiff of olive tapenade. On the palate it's medium-bodied, and elegant with fine grained tannins and mouth-watering acidity that is a beautiful counter point to its ample ripe blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, savory spice flavors accented a hint of graphite minerality. 100% Syrah.14.5% abv
The wine is named after the owner's father, known as Papa to his grandchildren. It's a special 2-acre block planted to Carlisle's specifications within the larger fog-shrouded Atoosa's Vineyard located west of Santa Rosa in the Russian River Valley. Planted on Huichica Loam.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This 10 y.o. Syrah was very enjoyable and mouth coating. The flavors of blackberry fruit, cedar and spices of blackpepper and sage are in harmony. The light tannic finish is smooth with the pleasant fruit and sage flavors lingering. Went great with the leftover Tennessee BBQ meats we brought back from Knoxville.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured (about twenty minutes later). Nice "Rhoney" nose - plenty of grilled meat, minerals, and herbs to go with the mixed berries. Didn't really hit its stride until two or three hours later. Tasted a little flat to me, but other tasters liked it, so I suspect that was due to recent acid reflux issues. Think it will benefit from another couple years of age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very lush fruit concentrated Syrah with excellent spices counterbalancing the fruit. The highly aromatic nose had dark brambly fruits of black raspberry and dates with black pepper. Complementary flavors of stewed blackberry, plum and raisin fruit, along with a vibrant spice of black pepper and lavender that roll into tasty lingering dry medium- tannic finish. An OK pairing with our roasted root vegetables buckwheat grain bowl, as this wine was a bit dominant, but was Awesome with chocolate Easter eggs 😋
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vinturied into decant, Sublime at this point with tension, esp for a Sonoma Syrah, drinking more like WA state WW wine, A beautiful effort. Drink now thru 2023++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured blind. I last had this wine in 2017 when I drank my final bottle from my own cellar. Last night's was from Brig's cellar, stored since release I believe. Light aroma of pepper. Dark cherry, charcoal, tar, yet fruit driven that remains vivid and well-defined. Finishes with a touch of dark chocolate. Going into its 10th year now, the wine is doing just fine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think this was probably better as a younger wine. There is ample blackberry and some meaty leather, but the finish becomes a bit unfocused and the alcohol is prominent. My general experience has been that Carlisle Syrah tends to be best in youth, and their Zins better with some medium-term age (5-8 yrs).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It’s fitting that my 100th wine review is a redeux of a previous review. We drank this wine a few years ago and were unimpressed. What a difference time in bottle makes! I must say that unlike the first go-round, this was a spectacular drinking experience. On the nose, leather, smoke, licorice, and blackberries. In the glass after decanting for an hour, many of the same dark fruits as before - blackberry and dark cherries...deeper this time - but also an earthiness along with spice and pepper that weren’t evident before. Fine grained tannins and acidity in wonderful harmony add to the long finish. Shame on me for doubting Mike and Co at Carlisle! This was my first ever PB, and I can’t believe how far it has progressed! I think it has a few good years left if you’re so inclined, but I assure you the wine is amazing now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple in color. 14.5% ABV. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, smoke, licorice and coffee. Full bodied with perfect acidity. Plush, polished and well balanced. Blackberry, blueberry, charred meats and a hint of pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Exceptional Syrah from an average vintage. Best over the next 1-2 years.
Vertical Madness (Prior Lake, MN): Small tasting pour - Vertical of 2011, 2012, and 2014. No score given - too many big wines by this point of the night. A BIG syrah. meaty. This surprised me as I expected it to lag the 2012 and 2014 due to the perceived low quality of the 2011 vintage, but this was on par.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and decanted. Notes come after 2 hours. Aromas of violets, game, bacon fat and raspberry. Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, game and touch of bacon fat. Ends with a long blueberry finish of 30 seconds. Really enjoyed this. Think with some age these smooth out the rough edges.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of black cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A full bodied red, with black cherry, plum and smoky peppery flavors, spiced finish. Drink or hold. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is open for business now with great fruit and spice flavors. Stew prune and plum fruit with bold spice flavors of nutmeg and black pepper. Nice cedar notes. The finish is smooth, long and tasty. Went perfect with Bob's chili.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking well now. Notes largely unchanged from before but ready to go on day one and everything well integrated. I still don’t love it quite as much as many here but it’s 90+ and should easily last beyond its 10th birthday.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still youthful and best on second day. Lots of minerals and bright red fruit. 2011 is a bargain vintage for California Syrah because it was bad for Cabernet. Works for Syrah though if you don't mind a cool style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I opened this for our 1/12/19 beef tenderloin dinner with our neighbors. It had a rich, deep, fragrant and earthy nose of floral, smoked meat, underbrush, plum, blackberry, mocha, cocoa, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dry with flavors of toast, plum, blackberry, mocha, cocoa, herb, spice and minerals. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted thirty minutes, drank over next hour and a half. Blue fruit and some chocolate really emerged about an hour in. Nice little bit of savory and pepper too — splits the diff between old world and new world in some ways. Plush and pleasurable enough, but high enough acid too. A touch hot on the alc for my current style preferences but altogether an outstanding wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good Syrah. Flavors were of blackberry and dark cherries and dark chocolate but were somewhat muted despite decent time to breath in the glass before drinking. Last glass was consumed about four hours after opening. Very light tannins. Mainly fruit and no spice or pepper that a Carlisle wine is known for. Honestly, a little disappointed based on others’ reviews. But maybe this was all I could expect from a 2011. I have another bottle and hope #2 is better. This was my first PB and not the life changing experience I expected. Perhaps other vintages in my cellar will live up to the reputation of this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We had this with grilled Ribeyes on 5/18/18. It had a rich, deep, earthy bouquet of smoked meat, underbrush, blackberry, blueberry, plum, clove, herb, spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dry with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, burnt toast, herb and spice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of smoke, soapstone, plum, currant and spice. Flavors of cherries and raspberries dominate. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gave this a ton of air, glad I did. 5 hrs in the decanter. Classic CA Syrah aromas, but I'm guessing the cool year toned down the olive notes, which were there, but no quite as pronounced as previous vintages. Dark blackberry fruit has integrated nicely, good thrust of structure, almost a creamy feel mid palate. Certainly will hold a few years, but I agree with others that this is in a very good place and not likely to develop further.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This had a rich, earthy bouquet of smoked meat, underbrush, clove, herb, spice, blackberry and blueberry aromas. The palate was rich, dry and complex with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, burnt toast, herb and spice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose when first opened made me suspicious it was over the hill. The first taste was yuk. After three hours, I gave up, but kept it over night. The next day, I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite nice. I am surprised as the blog posts of it being so good on the first day. Bottle variation? I have another of the same vintage and will be anxious to see how that plays out. I have several other vintages of the same wine in my cellar and will consult the posts before opening
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Always concerned about opening or drinking these too soon, I brought this along to Christmas Eve dinner and reached for a decanter early in the evening to give it plenty time. Much to my surprise, this baby was raring to go! As I slowly poured, my ‘nose-buds’ were immediately assaulted with macerated blackish blue fruit but with a depth that included layers of spice and savory notes. Immediately enjoyable, we poured & passed the bottle around, barely able to keep it in the glass. Finally, a Carlisle opened in its drinking window and so, an accurate representation of just how amazing these wines can be!..if you have the patience and timing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop & pour: This wine has mellowed out with time and is less multidimensional than I recall. Very smooth and easy to drink though. Smokey initially, but not as spicy/peppery as this designation usually is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I saw some of this on Winebid this week so figured I'd open my final bottle with the option to backfill. I opened this bottle about 90 mins ago, and started sipping on it. FWIW, this bottle too was sourced from Winebid, and my point isn't to make a veiled poke at that source, but this bottle was not from my own mailing list allocation. Take that as simply a data point. Now, why do I say this? I say it because this bottle stars out boring to me. It lacks energy and complexity. Yes, I know this is 2011 and this was not a great vintage--I know that. But, this bottle is simple in tone. Some pepper, a little bit of steak sauce, some tang and then some finishing light chocolate but very little structure and all together, disappointing.........moving along, I did give this another 90 mins and I have to say it changed and that 2nd glass got me thinking I missed the call on this note. The tang, what is the citrus quality, increased to give energy to the wine and the palate filled in, with a bittersweet chocolate note coming into better focus, with both qualities better carrying the wine. Think of a really dark chocolate note, something in the 70-80% cocoa range, melted over a grapefruit pith, influenced by the whole cluster in the aromatic, adding a savory rosemary. The lesson here is that sometimes a wine needs more air and that extra time helps, and even after drinking wine for so many years, even I can jump the gun. As for a drink window, I like it now and I still think this drinks best now, given the flavor set and what's here.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted this bottle but it still improved on day two. Won't be any left for day three. Plenty of black fruit and some pepper but I'm not finding the herbs and olives of some reviewers. 90+ and I am guessing it will improve for a few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent notes with my earlier bottle. Everything from Carlisle seems claret like; very civilized, nice to drink with great flavors and balance. No execption here, and drinking well. Better second night under pump, so no rush.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over 2 nights. Blackberry, black raspberry, violets are all in the foreground. Black olive, pepper, cured meats are all in the background. Well integrated tannins, lovely acids, no sense of the 14.5% alcohol on this. Lovely (if fruit driven) CA Syrah.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Corked unfortunately, this is only the 2nd or 3rd corked bottle I've had in 6 cases of Carlisle wines so they do a great job fighting this flaw. Also, as usual Mike provided GREAT customer service in solving this issue, one of the many reasons why I will continue to buy Carlisle for many years to come...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Xmas/Hanukah Wines (Epoch, Carlisle, Rhys) (Home): Much better than I had anticipated considering the vintage. I probably would have waited, but I have a hard time not drinking my Carlisle's and this seemed like a good time. Although still young, it is drinking well. Purple in color. Pop and pour, this took about 30 minutes to get going, then the bottle was soon gone. The nose has black raspberries,black olives, slight roasted meat, violets and slight black pepper. On the palate, firm tannins. Black raspberry fruit. Some black olives with good acidity. Nice finish. It all comes together nicely but I suspect from here, it starts to gain some complexity. Loved the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pulled from the cellar, popped and poured without giving time to warm or settle. Left it in the glass and watched and tasted it as it evolved. A very full, yet balanced black fruit mélange of blackberry, plum and enough acidity to give it backbone. Very well integrated through mid palate and finish. It just seemed to get fuller and better throughout the bottle. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
See previous notes. This has not aged at all and is still primary. It is not the deepest Papa's Block, however, it is the most nuanced and has the most striking palate. This shows more acidity than any other vintage, and the most backbone as well. A totally different animal than the amazing '14. I decanted for three hours. Some of the '11s from Carlisle are meant to be consumed young. This, however, is not. Drink now - 2030.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really dark black fruits, tar, integrated oak with a silky finish. It drinks well as a PnP but improves with a couple hours of air. Good wine in a difficult vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Much more mature than last bottle on 10/11/2014 with aromas of spicy plums, herbs, olive tapenade and vanilla hints. Palate: Much more austere than a year and half ago with muted blackberry flavors, soft tannins and an elegant finish. This wine was so different from the last bottle that I was concerned about it being off, but not so. It is drinking great. Would advise drinking soon based on this experience as I don't see much upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, plums, currants, pepper and black berries. Flavors of boysenberries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Couldn't find the '10, so I popped the '11 at the family Hanuakkah party. No notes. A few tannins. Really dark color. Certainly not like other Papa's Blocks that I've tasted. Considering all the talk about this, I was disappointed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Softer than most years, but still with a fine tannic spice. A nice blend of forward purple fruit, pepper, spice, vanilla, and coffee. Solid cali syrah with plenty of pepper and spice character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Couldn't help myself. Drank my three bottles too soon ... Before the window even started per the WA review. But this was my first vintage of this producer and this great vineyard, so I was anxious to pop them. No disappointment. Floral, grilled meat, blackberry, and nice acidity to cleanse the palate on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured, with admittedly some high hopes, as I had a '11 Rosella's syrah last night that left me a bit disappointed. Ah, much better. Juicy, tangy, with aromas of pepper, florals and embers. The vintage also helps here, to pull back on the throttle, as this is a lot different in weight and density in comparison to the '10 I drank last month. That was measurably bigger and while I like both, I do have a fondness with the '11 Carlisle vintage over the '10, regardless of the varietal or vineyard. Has the cooked meat and dark fruit quality that I wanted today, with the buffering acidity and really terrific palate weight. Oh, and this is with just 30 mins of air....finished about 4 hrs later, actually at what would be a fairly warm room temp of 75. Dark, inky, with whole cluster, good dollop of dark fruit, herb. Very good for a '11 and worth a reload!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big, deep, broodingly dark wine. Although currently not my style preference, there is no arguing that this is an amazing bottle of juice. Great aromatics from the first glass to the final sip. Unique, in that it is not at all Rhone-like but also, far from the Cali-typical sappy, over-ripe fruit bomb. Though I had to muscle through it, I enjoyed it enough to drain the bottle and appreciated the quality. Footnote: I bought this wine four years ago and it's just now moving into its drinking window. Testament to how huge these wines are. I didn't decant it but it could have benefited from a little air time. I did however, run a taste through the Vinturi and, as I long ago discovered, doing so occasionally throws a wine into a state of disjointedness, which is what happened here and so, it was poured right from bottle to glass, maintaining the intended profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby color. Floral and earthy aromas. Nice blueberry fruit with undertones of lavender and violet. Medium body with soft tannins. Very lively and youthful at this point but everything is in great balance. Very tasty Sonoma syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured...agree with an earlier post about a lack of fruit...likely needs more time and certainly would have benefited from a decant as it was some "heat" at first that needed to blow off...hoping for better on Day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very similar to last notes on 3/9/14 (see those for more detail). Just a stellar wine! The big fruits and amazingly complex nose along with a solid acidic spine providing lift and verve. It is showing so well now yet certainly can age, but why wait? Went great with New York Strips and boneless Ribeye on the Weber charcoal grill. This is one mailing list I do not think I will ever leave!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Too early. Decanted for about an hour. Only after about 2 hours did I get much on the nose...dark fruit and some floral components. solid tannins and acidity. more dark fruit on the palate with some of the floral component along with some earthiness.
Second bottle this year, with prior bottle being part of the Carlisle dinner we did in May. That bottle was part of a dozen others we tasted so the bottle for the note here is being tasted alone, with a day of air and proper temp. So what's here this time? There is certainly acid, and as compared to past Papa's, say 2007, I enjoy this 2011 better. Mix of some purple flower aromatics and light stem/cluster, with a palate of tar, zesty licorice, red and black charry fruit and some espresso. I find some creaminess too that adds a plushness and all together, the wine has moderate complexity and a good, zesty finish. And for the 3rd day, the last glass, this wine has picked up enough weight that it's quite nice now and the fruit is nicely present. Yes, acidity is here but the red fruit has made its way over to blue and black and it's lively, balanced and quite good. All in, Mike did a fine job with this wine. Drink window? I don't see this being a long ager, and in fact I would recommend to drink now and for the next 3-4 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours then consumed over two days. Rating is based upon day one which displayed pleasant, if light, fruit and a sleek structure beginning to come together. The wine disassembled by day two turning noticeably acidic.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
this really surprised me given the vintage. I do think this is somewhat of an early drinker but it was very tasty. Big nose of dark fruit and black pepper along with a smoky meat characteristic. Drank really well. No noticeable heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Carlisle In The OC: This was part of the 3 bottle Papa's flight, joining the 2007 and 2012. Of the three, this 2011 is the leanest, more rugged and the vintage here shows its presence. The aromatic is distinctive, as at first reminding me of alcohol but in thinking more about the wine last night, my thought is that the whole cluster and vintage defined the aromatic. I found some lavender and a juicier wine here and so for me, simply a leaner version of Papa's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Soft and elegant on the nose. On the palate it is still a little oaky for me with the vanilla soda dominating over blue / black fruits and some pepper. Given what others had written I was hoping for a more open, integrated experience. My recommendation is wait 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: Very complex nose of moss, earth, fresh mint, buttery oak, and black fruits. Palate: Soft styled with black fruits, spice, really soft and evolved tannins, good acidity, and a medium-long finish. As others have noted this is ready for prime time at an early age (hence my desire to open the first of three bottles) and is showing well now. Given the balance I see a good life ahead but if you have a few do not hesitate to open that first bottle now to establish a baseline. 92+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of black cherries, blackberries, grilled meat and mocha. The palate matches with more cocoa than grilled meat. Medium tannins/acid. This took a 24 hour slow-o (going that route vs a full decant) to open up at this point. Young and shows potential but doesn't impress me at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark and mouth coating, herbal blackberry with a touch of pepper and mocha. Really tasty with a lot of complex flavors in the mouth. Years to go for this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little leaner and more vibrant (acidic) than some other recent years. Better on night 2 as the oak (cluster?) integrated some. Smoke, toast, pepper, and violets on the palate. Palate was mostly crunchy purple fruit, pepper, some floral character. Toast and mocha finish, with the slightly angular acidity more prominent than the tannins. Needs some years to flesh out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Youthful, full-bodied, blackberry/blueberry fruit with earthy and spicey flavors, excellent structure, tight, needs time to soften and open up, a little disappointing given my preference for Papa's Block
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clearly drinking these first ever Carlisle's too soon, but wanted to get another taste since this is only the second or third bottle I have ever had. Will go ahead and lengthen my drinking window setting now to help avoid drinking the rest far too soon.
Definitely great value. Blackberry compote, smoking hickory bbq pit, wild boar. Still showing a little heat on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit and pepper on the nose. along with iodine and leather, a little dirt, and some floral notes at the end. Rich and juicy on the palate, with sweet black fruit, earth and leather, plus some meat and iodine on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Two bottles, one great one not so good. Not corked, just not quite right. On the good one the nose is big and brawny with meat, smoke, wood and some vanilla. The palate is big but smooth with loads of ripe dark berries and game. Long and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had to go ahead and get a taste of this, even though it is not really ready to drink. Blackberry, cedar, game and smoke. Great wine and a really nice QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP last minute decision. Wow nose, full of black and blue fruits, black pepper and olives. I usually find young Cal syrahs are all about the fruit for the 1st hour and then the savory notes start showing through, this wine had everything going on from start to finish. Blackberry, licorice, black pepper, smoked meat, iron and even a slight citrus component. Lingering smokey finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First Carlisle syrah I've had. Really nice. Not too much licorice, which is often a problem with American and Australian Syrah. Lots of flavor and depth. Excellent even 4th night under pump.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clean and refreshing. Good fruit, ok complexity but it's overall a very nice syrah. It would be rated higher if not for a finish with a bit of metallic taste. Drinkable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last second impulse PnP. To no surprise, this version of Papa’s is really tight and not showing a whole heck of a lot at present. Crushed blackberry skins competed against a pretty formidable tannic structure, sneaky acidity, and just a touch of new barrel. Yet, it had a very fine textural feel, good grip, and lingering Syrah qualities on the finish. Should age very well, really needs 3 to 5 +.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am astonished by this pure form of Syrah. Truly an effervescently enamored colour of violet and garnet, with a sanguine and purpling rim. The purity and length are immeasurable, with the most seamless structure ever from this hardly superfluous vineyard. Magnetic on the nose, exemplifying Blueberry cobbler, thyme, cedar, sweet 'n' sour sauce, sun-drenched earth and soy sauce. Layers and layers of structured fruit, showing a long finish of forest floor qualities. The mid palate shows the strength and inveterately chiseled qualities of marble. Truly classic in every sense of the word. Drink 2015 - 2027.
2/12/2024 - BHRH Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP - dark with no bricking. Complex aromas of herbs, bacon and black raspberries. Well-balanced on the palate with smoky black and blue fruits, more herbs and maybe some cassis. Lush, very slightly sweet finish with no heat (served ~ 68F) and fine, integrated tannins. Seems to be at prime now with a few years of gorgeous drinking ahead.
A fair amount of fine sediment, so a decant might be in order.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2023 - Senso-beak wrote: 93 Points
Enjoyed over three days. Inky, purply iodine thick and full bodied. Fruit paste, bubble yum, sweet plum, dense chewy tooth staining reserves of iodine blues and blacks. There's an interesting humid freshness on the nose still. Tangy, nice sweetness, thick boysenberry, blueberry jam, smooth, voluptuous. Final glass on night 4 or 5 - forgot to vac-u-vin so this has been out. Finally a bit flabby and oxidixed - heavy jammy fruit and corpulence. Still all good, just tasting like one of those knock-off fruit bomb cheap wines at this point.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2022 - winepaw Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep purple. Ripe blackberry aroma. Full bodied, with lush black fruit, followed by earthy notes and some black pepper. Still youthful with ripe tannins and ample acidity. Should drink well for many more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2022 - Bellissimo wrote:
Last of 3, last tasted 5 years ago to the date (RANDOM).
Nose shows oak (vanilla and wood) with a sense of alcohol over blue and black fruits. On the palate blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and just a bit of pepper. A little hot (alcoholic) on the finish but nice acids up front, and soft silky tannins mostly mask the alcohol.
Gone are the pepper / gamey / Syrah notes and this is mostly a fruit driven wine.
Overall, not sure if I waited too long but seemed more impressed previously.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
A supriseingly moderate to full bodied syrah with pure dark grape flavors with mild additional notes, mild tannins, smooth mouthfeel, balance and even perhaps sophistication. There was a minimum of the whole cluster green note on the finish, but mostely integrated otherwise. Enjoyable wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2022 - brigcampbell wrote:
Final bottle from the 2011 vintage. Still drinking very well, fruit has pulled back slightly but that just results in a more elegant wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2021 - jsebiri wrote:
Nice juice, mature , masculine , very small secondary nose , holding up nicely but u should drink this up up up up ………
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2021 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opaque violet color and aromatically complex with black and blue fruit, smoked meat, cedar, balsamic, crushed violet, black pepper, and a whiff of olive tapenade. On the palate it's medium-bodied, and elegant with fine grained tannins and mouth-watering acidity that is a beautiful counter point to its ample ripe blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, savory spice flavors accented a hint of graphite minerality. 100% Syrah.14.5% abv
The wine is named after the owner's father, known as Papa to his grandchildren. It's a special 2-acre block planted to Carlisle's specifications within the larger fog-shrouded Atoosa's Vineyard located west of Santa Rosa in the Russian River Valley. Planted on Huichica Loam.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2021 - Bob in NC wrote: 89 Points
This 10 y.o. Syrah was very enjoyable and mouth coating. The flavors of blackberry fruit, cedar and spices of blackpepper and sage are in harmony. The light tannic finish is smooth with the pleasant fruit and sage flavors lingering. Went great with the leftover Tennessee BBQ meats we brought back from Knoxville.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2021 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Popped and poured (about twenty minutes later). Nice "Rhoney" nose - plenty of grilled meat, minerals, and herbs to go with the mixed berries. Didn't really hit its stride until two or three hours later. Tasted a little flat to me, but other tasters liked it, so I suspect that was due to recent acid reflux issues. Think it will benefit from another couple years of age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2021 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very lush fruit concentrated Syrah with excellent spices counterbalancing the fruit. The highly aromatic nose had dark brambly fruits of black raspberry and dates with black pepper. Complementary flavors of stewed blackberry, plum and raisin fruit, along with a vibrant spice of black pepper and lavender that roll into tasty lingering dry medium- tannic finish. An OK pairing with our roasted root vegetables buckwheat grain bowl, as this wine was a bit dominant, but was Awesome with chocolate Easter eggs 😋
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2021 - Redrunners Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice wine for the tough 2011 vintage.
Popped and poured and had over several nights.
Smooth tannins and well integrated with flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, tobacco and spice.
Very nice wine and in a good spot
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2020 - Matt and Rebecca Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. I wish I had waited a couple more years to open it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2020 - wino121 wrote: 93 Points
Vinturied into decant,
Sublime at this point with tension, esp for a Sonoma Syrah, drinking more like WA state WW wine,
A beautiful effort.
Drink now thru 2023++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2020 - UMRich Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well-balanced and in its prime
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Poured blind. I last had this wine in 2017 when I drank my final bottle from my own cellar. Last night's was from Brig's cellar, stored since release I believe. Light aroma of pepper. Dark cherry, charcoal, tar, yet fruit driven that remains vivid and well-defined. Finishes with a touch of dark chocolate. Going into its 10th year now, the wine is doing just fine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2020 - jaumealaska Likes this wine: 92 Points
No notes taken. But thought it was expressive and drinking well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2020 - nectar14 wrote:
I think this was probably better as a younger wine. There is ample blackberry and some meaty leather, but the finish becomes a bit unfocused and the alcohol is prominent.
My general experience has been that Carlisle Syrah tends to be best in youth, and their Zins better with some medium-term age (5-8 yrs).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2020 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 93 Points
It’s fitting that my 100th wine review is a redeux of a previous review. We drank this wine a few years ago and were unimpressed. What a difference time in bottle makes! I must say that unlike the first go-round, this was a spectacular drinking experience. On the nose, leather, smoke, licorice, and blackberries. In the glass after decanting for an hour, many of the same dark fruits as before - blackberry and dark cherries...deeper this time - but also an earthiness along with spice and pepper that weren’t evident before. Fine grained tannins and acidity in wonderful harmony add to the long finish. Shame on me for doubting Mike and Co at Carlisle! This was my first ever PB, and I can’t believe how far it has progressed! I think it has a few good years left if you’re so inclined, but I assure you the wine is amazing now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2020 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Purple in color. 14.5% ABV. Sublime nose of black and blue fruits, smoke, licorice and coffee. Full bodied with perfect acidity. Plush, polished and well balanced. Blackberry, blueberry, charred meats and a hint of pepper on the palate. The finish is long and supple. Exceptional Syrah from an average vintage. Best over the next 1-2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/5/2020 - smokeandmirrors wrote: 90 Points
paired with lamb shanks
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2020 - ELH wrote: 89 Points
Plums, prunes, blueberries, and dark cherry. Earthy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2019 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine:
Vertical Madness (Prior Lake, MN): Small tasting pour - Vertical of 2011, 2012, and 2014.
No score given - too many big wines by this point of the night.
A BIG syrah. meaty.
This surprised me as I expected it to lag the 2012 and 2014 due to the perceived low quality of the 2011 vintage, but this was on par.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2019 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and decanted. Notes come after 2 hours. Aromas of violets, game, bacon fat and raspberry. Flavors of raspberry, blueberry, game and touch of bacon fat. Ends with a long blueberry finish of 30 seconds. Really enjoyed this. Think with some age these smooth out the rough edges.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2019 - corkscrews Likes this wine: 90 Points
A nose of black cherry and spice, dark garnet in color. A full bodied red, with black cherry, plum and smoky peppery flavors, spiced finish. Drink or hold. www.winelx.com
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2019 - depdoc wrote: 88 Points
I gave it 2 hours of decanting, perhaps not enough. Fruit is rather subtle. Not worth the wait in my cellar to get to this point.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2019 - Bob in NC Likes this wine: 89 Points
This wine is open for business now with great fruit and spice flavors. Stew prune and plum fruit with bold spice flavors of nutmeg and black pepper. Nice cedar notes. The finish is smooth, long and tasty. Went perfect with Bob's chili.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2019 - David_T wrote: 90 Points
Drinking well now. Notes largely unchanged from before but ready to go on day one and everything well integrated. I still don’t love it quite as much as many here but it’s 90+ and should easily last beyond its 10th birthday.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2019 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex. Didn’t change much over 2 hours after being decanted. No hurry to drink others.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2019 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still youthful and best on second day. Lots of minerals and bright red fruit. 2011 is a bargain vintage for California Syrah because it was bad for Cabernet. Works for Syrah though if you don't mind a cool style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2019 - garambler Likes this wine: 93 Points
I opened this for our 1/12/19 beef tenderloin dinner with our neighbors. It had a rich, deep, fragrant and earthy nose of floral, smoked meat, underbrush, plum, blackberry, mocha, cocoa, herb and spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dry with flavors of toast, plum, blackberry, mocha, cocoa, herb, spice and minerals. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2018 - twelch wrote:
stemmy earthy
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2018 - kenv wrote:
WCC US Syrah Blind (Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY): [Pop and pour.] Bitter, tannic. Needs more time. Judgement reserved.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2018 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to previous tastings, this one out of magnum was well balanced but should probably be drunk up fairly soon.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2018 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Out of magnum, drinking better as the years go on, drinking very well right now, dark red fruits, cooking spices, ham, great freshness. Very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2018 - BarryPaulPrice Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted thirty minutes, drank over next hour and a half. Blue fruit and some chocolate really emerged about an hour in. Nice little bit of savory and pepper too — splits the diff between old world and new world in some ways. Plush and pleasurable enough, but high enough acid too. A touch hot on the alc for my current style preferences but altogether an outstanding wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2018 - Hover low 64 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good Syrah. Flavors were of blackberry and dark cherries and dark chocolate but were somewhat muted despite decent time to breath in the glass before drinking. Last glass was consumed about four hours after opening. Very light tannins. Mainly fruit and no spice or pepper that a Carlisle wine is known for. Honestly, a little disappointed based on others’ reviews. But maybe this was all I could expect from a 2011. I have another bottle and hope #2 is better. This was my first PB and not the life changing experience I expected. Perhaps other vintages in my cellar will live up to the reputation of this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 92 Points
We had this with grilled Ribeyes on 5/18/18. It had a rich, deep, earthy bouquet of smoked meat, underbrush, blackberry, blueberry, plum, clove, herb, spice aromas. The palate was rich, dense and dry with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, burnt toast, herb and spice.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2018 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind. Opened and served immediately. Followed over about two hours.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of smoke, soapstone, plum, currant and spice. Flavors of cherries and raspberries dominate. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannin, medium to full bodied. Drink over the next few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2018 - Dale M wrote: 92 Points
Gave this a ton of air, glad I did. 5 hrs in the decanter. Classic CA Syrah aromas, but I'm guessing the cool year toned down the olive notes, which were there, but no quite as pronounced as previous vintages. Dark blackberry fruit has integrated nicely, good thrust of structure, almost a creamy feel mid palate. Certainly will hold a few years, but I agree with others that this is in a very good place and not likely to develop further.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2018 - garambler Likes this wine: 93 Points
This had a rich, earthy bouquet of smoked meat, underbrush, clove, herb, spice, blackberry and blueberry aromas. The palate was rich, dry and complex with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, plum, burnt toast, herb and spice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2018 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
PnP. No formal notes but very enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2018 - Outplaying Likes this wine:
I liked this. Not too big or heavy.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2018 - depdoc Likes this wine: 89 Points
The nose when first opened made me suspicious it was over the hill. The first taste was yuk. After three hours, I gave up, but kept it over night. The next day, I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite nice. I am surprised as the blog posts of it being so good on the first day. Bottle variation? I have another of the same vintage and will be anxious to see how that plays out. I have several other vintages of the same wine in my cellar and will consult the posts before opening
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - golfwine wrote: 92 Points
Always concerned about opening or drinking these too soon, I brought this along to Christmas Eve dinner and reached for a decanter early in the evening to give it plenty time. Much to my surprise, this baby was raring to go! As I slowly poured, my ‘nose-buds’ were immediately assaulted with macerated blackish blue fruit but with a depth that included layers of spice and savory notes. Immediately enjoyable, we poured & passed the bottle around, barely able to keep it in the glass. Finally, a Carlisle opened in its drinking window and so, an accurate representation of just how amazing these wines can be!..if you have the patience and timing.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2017 - mdaniel wrote: 91 Points
Pop & pour: This wine has mellowed out with time and is less multidimensional than I recall. Very smooth and easy to drink though. Smokey initially, but not as spicy/peppery as this designation usually is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2017 - mye wrote:
dark purple. not over the top but has a sweetness to the finish.
Smokey, with plumminess. not a big fan..
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2017 - joet626 wrote: 88 Points
Had that funky smell and taste that Syrah's have a lot. was just OK
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2017 - Quiet Lion wrote: flawed
Overwhelmed with Bret. Seemed like there was some yummy chocolatey fruit underneath.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I saw some of this on Winebid this week so figured I'd open my final bottle with the option to backfill. I opened this bottle about 90 mins ago, and started sipping on it. FWIW, this bottle too was sourced from Winebid, and my point isn't to make a veiled poke at that source, but this bottle was not from my own mailing list allocation. Take that as simply a data point. Now, why do I say this? I say it because this bottle stars out boring to me. It lacks energy and complexity. Yes, I know this is 2011 and this was not a great vintage--I know that. But, this bottle is simple in tone. Some pepper, a little bit of steak sauce, some tang and then some finishing light chocolate but very little structure and all together, disappointing.........moving along, I did give this another 90 mins and I have to say it changed and that 2nd glass got me thinking I missed the call on this note. The tang, what is the citrus quality, increased to give energy to the wine and the palate filled in, with a bittersweet chocolate note coming into better focus, with both qualities better carrying the wine. Think of a really dark chocolate note, something in the 70-80% cocoa range, melted over a grapefruit pith, influenced by the whole cluster in the aromatic, adding a savory rosemary. The lesson here is that sometimes a wine needs more air and that extra time helps, and even after drinking wine for so many years, even I can jump the gun. As for a drink window, I like it now and I still think this drinks best now, given the flavor set and what's here.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2017 - spicy1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Double decanted this bottle but it still improved on day two. Won't be any left for day three. Plenty of black fruit and some pepper but I'm not finding the herbs and olives of some reviewers. 90+ and I am guessing it will improve for a few years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2017 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
Consistent notes with my earlier bottle. Everything from Carlisle seems claret like; very civilized, nice to drink with great flavors and balance. No execption here, and drinking well. Better second night under pump, so no rush.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2017 - budman Likes this wine: 93 Points
Even better than the first bottle. Intense red fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2017 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Consumed over 2 nights. Blackberry, black raspberry, violets are all in the foreground. Black olive, pepper, cured meats are all in the background. Well integrated tannins, lovely acids, no sense of the 14.5% alcohol on this. Lovely (if fruit driven) CA Syrah.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2017 - maxmanx wrote:
Ready to go. A little lighter than I expected, but must be the year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2017 - Matt T Likes this wine: 93 Points
Smooth, dark and lush. At peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2017 - spendergast Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Deep purple with loads of dark fruit, spice, cedar with well integrated tannins. An excellent value.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2017 - Matt T Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth, lots of red fruit, very approachable. Definitely at peak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2017 - pakabear wrote: flawed
Corked unfortunately, this is only the 2nd or 3rd corked bottle I've had in 6 cases of Carlisle wines so they do a great job fighting this flaw. Also, as usual Mike provided GREAT customer service in solving this issue, one of the many reasons why I will continue to buy Carlisle for many years to come...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2016 - Matt T Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a nice place. Fully integrated tannins. Fruit forward with raspberry, vanilla, spice, and tobacco on a long finish. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
Xmas/Hanukah Wines (Epoch, Carlisle, Rhys) (Home): Much better than I had anticipated considering the vintage. I probably would have waited, but I have a hard time not drinking my Carlisle's and this seemed like a good time. Although still young, it is drinking well. Purple in color. Pop and pour, this took about 30 minutes to get going, then the bottle was soon gone. The nose has black raspberries,black olives, slight roasted meat, violets and slight black pepper. On the palate, firm tannins. Black raspberry fruit. Some black olives with good acidity. Nice finish. It all comes together nicely but I suspect from here, it starts to gain some complexity. Loved the wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - tgkswine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pulled from the cellar, popped and poured without giving time to warm or settle. Left it in the glass and watched and tasted it as it evolved. A very full, yet balanced black fruit mélange of blackberry, plum and enough acidity to give it backbone. Very well integrated through mid palate and finish. It just seemed to get fuller and better throughout the bottle. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2016 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP off a restaurant wine list. Needed some time in the glass to show best. This has great dark fruit with many layers and great acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 97 Points
See previous notes. This has not aged at all and is still primary. It is not the deepest Papa's Block, however, it is the most nuanced and has the most striking palate. This shows more acidity than any other vintage, and the most backbone as well. A totally different animal than the amazing '14. I decanted for three hours. Some of the '11s from Carlisle are meant to be consumed young. This, however, is not. Drink now - 2030.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2016 - ravbik wrote: 93 Points
Ripe red fruits. Wonderful Syrah . Well balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really dark black fruits, tar, integrated oak with a silky finish. It drinks well as a PnP but improves with a couple hours of air. Good wine in a difficult vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2016 - joet626 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice dark fruit flavors. Rich and full, this kept getting better in the glass.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2016 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Nose: Much more mature than last bottle on 10/11/2014 with aromas of spicy plums, herbs, olive tapenade and vanilla hints. Palate: Much more austere than a year and half ago with muted blackberry flavors, soft tannins and an elegant finish. This wine was so different from the last bottle that I was concerned about it being off, but not so. It is drinking great. Would advise drinking soon based on this experience as I don't see much upside.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2016 - Bluffan wrote: 91 Points
Very nice, smooth, quite fruity, but not as complex as might have hoped.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2016 - Silveradoup wrote: 96 Points
Getting better!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2016 - hanasowner wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour...has settled down in the past year with less alcohol on the nose and dark fruit coming through, but more mineral and spice as well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2016 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, plums, currants, pepper and black berries. Flavors of boysenberries, raspberries and plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2015 - dhammer53 wrote:
Couldn't find the '10, so I popped the '11 at the family Hanuakkah party. No notes. A few tannins. Really dark color. Certainly not like other Papa's Blocks that I've tasted. Considering all the talk about this, I was disappointed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2015 - burgbob wrote: 91 Points
A bit toned down and leaner than the Carlisle zins. Good integration and length, but missing any extra excitement. Not sure if aging will help or not.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2015 - cstir Likes this wine: 91 Points
Full flavored, nice balance with good depth and complexity; tart dark red fruit; lasting finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2015 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Solid full bodied black and blue fruit forward wine. Pleasant, integrated, long finish. Very typical Carlisle wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2015 - maxmanx wrote:
This really needs a lot of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Softer than most years, but still with a fine tannic spice. A nice blend of forward purple fruit, pepper, spice, vanilla, and coffee. Solid cali syrah with plenty of pepper and spice character.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2015 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Couldn't help myself. Drank my three bottles too soon ... Before the window even started per the WA review. But this was my first vintage of this producer and this great vineyard, so I was anxious to pop them. No disappointment. Floral, grilled meat, blackberry, and nice acidity to cleanse the palate on the finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Opened and poured, with admittedly some high hopes, as I had a '11 Rosella's syrah last night that left me a bit disappointed. Ah, much better. Juicy, tangy, with aromas of pepper, florals and embers. The vintage also helps here, to pull back on the throttle, as this is a lot different in weight and density in comparison to the '10 I drank last month. That was measurably bigger and while I like both, I do have a fondness with the '11 Carlisle vintage over the '10, regardless of the varietal or vineyard. Has the cooked meat and dark fruit quality that I wanted today, with the buffering acidity and really terrific palate weight. Oh, and this is with just 30 mins of air....finished about 4 hrs later, actually at what would be a fairly warm room temp of 75. Dark, inky, with whole cluster, good dollop of dark fruit, herb. Very good for a '11 and worth a reload!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2015 - Castle Peak wrote: 93 Points
A big yet elegant wine. Wonderful balance and really fun to drink. Day two it softened and had a creamy texture from entry to the lengthy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2015 - docvino.com wrote: 92 Points
Good balance and finish length, lighter than past years but still great juice!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautifully balanced, medium bodied syrah. Could age it longer but it's pretty hard to resist now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2015 - BigWineMan Likes this wine: 93 Points
No formal note. I enjoyed this too much to think about it too hard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2015 - golfwine wrote: 92 Points
Big, deep, broodingly dark wine. Although currently not my style preference, there is no arguing that this is an amazing bottle of juice. Great aromatics from the first glass to the final sip. Unique, in that it is not at all Rhone-like but also, far from the Cali-typical sappy, over-ripe fruit bomb. Though I had to muscle through it, I enjoyed it enough to drain the bottle and appreciated the quality.
Footnote: I bought this wine four years ago and it's just now moving into its drinking window. Testament to how huge these wines are. I didn't decant it but it could have benefited from a little air time. I did however, run a taste through the Vinturi and, as I long ago discovered, doing so occasionally throws a wine into a state of disjointedness, which is what happened here and so, it was poured right from bottle to glass, maintaining the intended profile.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2015 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Did well with some air as it was a little tight on first pour. Enjoyed over 2 days. Good acid/fruit, balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby color. Floral and earthy aromas. Nice blueberry fruit with undertones of lavender and violet. Medium body with soft tannins. Very lively and youthful at this point but everything is in great balance. Very tasty Sonoma syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2015 - hanasowner wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured...agree with an earlier post about a lack of fruit...likely needs more time and certainly would have benefited from a decant as it was some "heat" at first that needed to blow off...hoping for better on Day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2015 - bundydavis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted next to the 2012 Papa's and I much preferred the 2012 vintage. This wine was lacking the fruit that 2012 had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2014 - BklynNeophyte wrote:
Big, and heavily fruited at this early point. Much better the second night. All the Syrah characterics show here, except subtlety.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2014 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Very similar to last notes on 3/9/14 (see those for more detail). Just a stellar wine! The big fruits and amazingly complex nose along with a solid acidic spine providing lift and verve. It is showing so well now yet certainly can age, but why wait? Went great with New York Strips and boneless Ribeye on the Weber charcoal grill. This is one mailing list I do not think I will ever leave!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2014 - jamieirving wrote: 95 Points
Full bodied, ripe fruit, white pepper. Excellent!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2014 - dky Likes this wine:
Too early. Decanted for about an hour. Only after about 2 hours did I get much on the nose...dark fruit and some floral components. solid tannins and acidity. more dark fruit on the palate with some of the floral component along with some earthiness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/22/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Second bottle this year, with prior bottle being part of the Carlisle dinner we did in May. That bottle was part of a dozen others we tasted so the bottle for the note here is being tasted alone, with a day of air and proper temp. So what's here this time? There is certainly acid, and as compared to past Papa's, say 2007, I enjoy this 2011 better. Mix of some purple flower aromatics and light stem/cluster, with a palate of tar, zesty licorice, red and black charry fruit and some espresso. I find some creaminess too that adds a plushness and all together, the wine has moderate complexity and a good, zesty finish. And for the 3rd day, the last glass, this wine has picked up enough weight that it's quite nice now and the fruit is nicely present. Yes, acidity is here but the red fruit has made its way over to blue and black and it's lively, balanced and quite good. All in, Mike did a fine job with this wine. Drink window? I don't see this being a long ager, and in fact I would recommend to drink now and for the next 3-4 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2014 - jeagle wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 3 hours then consumed over two days. Rating is based upon day one which displayed pleasant, if light, fruit and a sleek structure beginning to come together. The wine disassembled by day two turning noticeably acidic.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2014 - twelch wrote: 92 Points
this really surprised me given the vintage. I do think this is somewhat of an early drinker but it was very tasty. Big nose of dark fruit and black pepper along with a smoky meat characteristic. Drank really well. No noticeable heat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2014 - brigcampbell wrote:
Carlisle Winemaker Dinner with Mike Officer (Luciana's, Dana Point, CA): Lightest color in the flight of Papa's which is a theme for '11. Not giving up much on the nose. Sweet blackberry and a delicate palate. Drinking beautifully right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Carlisle In The OC: This was part of the 3 bottle Papa's flight, joining the 2007 and 2012. Of the three, this 2011 is the leanest, more rugged and the vintage here shows its presence. The aromatic is distinctive, as at first reminding me of alcohol but in thinking more about the wine last night, my thought is that the whole cluster and vintage defined the aromatic. I found some lavender and a juicier wine here and so for me, simply a leaner version of Papa's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2014 - Bellissimo wrote:
Soft and elegant on the nose. On the palate it is still a little oaky for me with the vanilla soda dominating over blue / black fruits and some pepper. Given what others had written I was hoping for a more open, integrated experience. My recommendation is wait 3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2014 - Mattshank wrote: 92 Points
Nose: Very complex nose of moss, earth, fresh mint, buttery oak, and black fruits. Palate: Soft styled with black fruits, spice, really soft and evolved tannins, good acidity, and a medium-long finish. As others have noted this is ready for prime time at an early age (hence my desire to open the first of three bottles) and is showing well now. Given the balance I see a good life ahead but if you have a few do not hesitate to open that first bottle now to establish a baseline. 92+ points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2014 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Previous notes apply, but wine has opened up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2014 - David_T wrote: 90 Points
Aromas of black cherries, blackberries, grilled meat and mocha. The palate matches with more cocoa than grilled meat. Medium tannins/acid. This took a 24 hour slow-o (going that route vs a full decant) to open up at this point. Young and shows potential but doesn't impress me at the moment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2014 - haldolugr wrote: 91 Points
Dark and mouth coating, herbal blackberry with a touch of pepper and mocha. Really tasty with a lot of complex flavors in the mouth. Years to go for this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2013 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
A little leaner and more vibrant (acidic) than some other recent years. Better on night 2 as the oak (cluster?) integrated some. Smoke, toast, pepper, and violets on the palate. Palate was mostly crunchy purple fruit, pepper, some floral character. Toast and mocha finish, with the slightly angular acidity more prominent than the tannins. Needs some years to flesh out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - Amerique wrote: 92 Points
Youthful, full-bodied, blackberry/blueberry fruit with earthy and spicey flavors, excellent structure, tight, needs time to soften and open up, a little disappointing given my preference for Papa's Block
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2013 - VinoDiver Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very good nose and finish. lacked mid-palate and body. This was much thinner than years past and may be a vintage characteristic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2013 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
Legendary and pure. Watch this evolve for some time and the layers of berry are magnificent. Drink or hold; see previous notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2013 - brianngibson wrote: 92 Points
Clearly drinking these first ever Carlisle's too soon, but wanted to get another taste since this is only the second or third bottle I have ever had. Will go ahead and lengthen my drinking window setting now to help avoid drinking the rest far too soon.
Definitely great value. Blackberry compote, smoking hickory bbq pit, wild boar. Still showing a little heat on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 90 Points
More or less the same as a couple months ago, but I did not enjoy it as much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2013 - mmurry Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit and pepper on the nose. along with iodine and leather, a little dirt, and some floral notes at the end. Rich and juicy on the palate, with sweet black fruit, earth and leather, plus some meat and iodine on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2013 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Two bottles, one great one not so good. Not corked, just not quite right. On the good one the nose is big and brawny with meat, smoke, wood and some vanilla. The palate is big but smooth with loads of ripe dark berries and game. Long and delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - cadamson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice dark fruits, almost sweet-like, with tons on flavors. Hints of herbs and meat. A little heat on the finish. Good stuff for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2013 - shadow wrote: 92 Points
Nose is mix of sweet and meat, Little heat on the palate as the fruit and leather rush by. Drinkable now but far from peaking
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2013 - brianngibson wrote: 93 Points
Had to go ahead and get a taste of this, even though it is not really ready to drink. Blackberry, cedar, game and smoke. Great wine and a really nice QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/15/2013 - bobpsi wrote:
PnP last minute decision. Wow nose, full of black and blue fruits, black pepper and olives. I usually find young Cal syrahs are all about the fruit for the 1st hour and then the savory notes start showing through, this wine had everything going on from start to finish. Blackberry, licorice, black pepper, smoked meat, iron and even a slight citrus component. Lingering smokey finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2013 - levinml wrote: 93 Points
First Carlisle syrah I've had. Really nice. Not too much licorice, which is often a problem with American and Australian Syrah. Lots of flavor and depth. Excellent even 4th night under pump.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2013 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clean and refreshing. Good fruit, ok complexity but it's overall a very nice syrah. It would be rated higher if not for a finish with a bit of metallic taste. Drinkable now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2013 - Dale M wrote:
Last second impulse PnP. To no surprise, this version of Papa’s is really tight and not showing a whole heck of a lot at present. Crushed blackberry skins competed against a pretty formidable tannic structure, sneaky acidity, and just a touch of new barrel. Yet, it had a very fine textural feel, good grip, and lingering Syrah qualities on the finish. Should age very well, really needs 3 to 5 +.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
I am astonished by this pure form of Syrah. Truly an effervescently enamored colour of violet and garnet, with a sanguine and purpling rim. The purity and length are immeasurable, with the most seamless structure ever from this hardly superfluous vineyard. Magnetic on the nose, exemplifying Blueberry cobbler, thyme, cedar, sweet 'n' sour sauce, sun-drenched earth and soy sauce. Layers and layers of structured fruit, showing a long finish of forest floor qualities. The mid palate shows the strength and inveterately chiseled qualities of marble. Truly classic in every sense of the word. Drink 2015 - 2027.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)