Took about an hour of air to get to the happy place but thereafter the nose, mouth, depth, acid, balance and finish were all very pleasant. A softer aged zin at this point but lots to like.
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A nice zin and holding up well considering the vintage. Red fruits and earth on the nose. Medium bodied, good bright fruit, orange rind and a hint of pepper with Asian spice. Nice acidity on the finish. Food friendly. Well made wine. Drink up.
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popped and poured, definitely needed some air. let sit for an hour, nice hit of Bramble, Zin spice not sure the end date window is accurate here, this wine has time. But it will not be a young fresh Zin it will be a beautifully aged Zin
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Light red in color. 13.9% ABV. Sublime nose of red fruits, peach cobbler and earth. Medium body with just enough acidity. Surprising light and elegant. Black cherry, salmonberry, orange rind and a hint of pepper on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Well made Zinfandel but certainly an outlier from what I expect from Carlisle. Clearly a product of the challenging '11 vintage. Drink over the next year or so.
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My only bottle, opened last night and finished with family. As others have noted in their TNs previously, this is lighter in tone and weight than other more intense Carlisle vintages, so it's fair to say that 2011 is at play in how this wine turned out. There are some briary, zin-berry notes here, yet there is also some dried red fruited tones, too. Just a lighter bodied Carlisle yet it drinks with a clean expression and energy, as well. Hey, not every wine Mike makes needs to be powerful or intense, and I do personally prefer (and continue to buy) the lighter side of the things Mikes makes. I don't need 16% ABV Zin in my glass--this is labeled 13.9%, and I do like the part of Mike's portfolio that drinks in the lower ABV register.
This would be a fine zin blend if I didn't know how engaging this vineyard has been in other vintages. Has a history of savory notes and garrique, but really none of that here. Simpler/softer zin berry fruit. Didn't perform up to its price point. Darker red fruits, soft palate. Pleasant finish but not a standout wine. Ready now.
Disappointing for a Carlisle, but apparently typical for the vintage. Lean and austere with at best a medium body. Fruit was somewhat muted, but it was quite well balanced. Decent finish. Probably time to drink up.
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I lover the lighter style of the 2011's. No overt overripeness, good balance. Briary, Zin restrained nose. A touch of balancing astringency on the finish, but I enjoy a little more bite. Perhaps it was there in its youth.
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Brought to the beach to pair with Sous Vide, grill finished ribs. Followed the '11 Dupratt which I liked more. This was much more red fruited, more raspberry, and much lighter in body and profile.
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Pretty great from the get go. Great fruity nose that has a sweet liquor element to it. Palate is medium to light in body, but nice freshness. Moderate length. Still a bit primary and grapey, but quite enjoyable.
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Took just a while to open, then was singing. Delightful win, not as heavy bodied as some, but that seemed a good thing. Well made, balanced, great fruit. Nice wine.
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Classic new world Zin, nice balance, a bit more oak but still in balance with the fruit. Very good, but all in at just over 40 it's pushing the boundary what I'd be willing to pay for a very good zin.
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Absolute delight! After looking up the wine on this site, I learned that this would be a lighter style of Carlisle Zin, which I was just in the mood for tonight, and this puppy delivered exactly what I hoped! Bright and lively zinberry and -spice in a lighter than usual format with energizing acidity, that still wasn't overpowering. Lovely.
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Almost translucent red in color. Lighter bodied zin. Nice aromatics with tart cherry flavors and food friendly acidity. Good varietal character. Definitely not a powerhouse.
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An interesting wine. Lighter in color than I expected. Nose of brambly fruit, saline, spice, bit of pepper. Palate comes across as rather light and elegant, with a little high-toned red and blue fruits. Much less powerful than one would expect. Moderate finish, with a definite stoney quality. Is rather nuanced and elegant for a Zin, but lacks some impact and is a little ho-hum. Seems a bit young and has the structure and balance to age. Overall, I think this will fill out with time. Hold.
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5/8/2022 - Winokdub wrote: 92 Points
Took about an hour of air to get to the happy place but thereafter the nose, mouth, depth, acid, balance and finish were all very pleasant. A softer aged zin at this point but lots to like.
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11/27/2021 - bergkamp10 wrote: 90 Points
A nice zin and holding up well considering the vintage. Red fruits and earth on the nose. Medium bodied, good bright fruit, orange rind and a hint of pepper with Asian spice. Nice acidity on the finish. Food friendly. Well made wine. Drink up.
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5/31/2020 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
popped and poured, definitely needed some air. let sit for an hour, nice hit of Bramble, Zin spice not sure the end date window is accurate here, this wine has time. But it will not be a young fresh Zin it will be a beautifully aged Zin
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12/15/2019 - rwerner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lots of life left in this big luscious wine. Delicious red fruit and long finish. Great balance. Glad I'm on Mike's customer list!
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11/23/2018 - DeadheadKurt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with Jackstraw. Good job by the Carlisle crew!
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11/21/2018 - Jackstraw212 wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful ruby and garnet. Floral, red berries, and allspice. Very elegant tannins. Drink over the next year. Lovely!
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11/18/2018 - ChrisWagner Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great. I wouldn’t hold much longer. Nice balance at this point.
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8/21/2018 - Jettoy1992 wrote: 91 Points
- Crimsom color - Complex but soft and light. Almost Pinot like. Drink soon
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8/13/2018 - tomlee wrote: 90 Points
Light red in color. 13.9% ABV. Sublime nose of red fruits, peach cobbler and earth. Medium body with just enough acidity. Surprising light and elegant. Black cherry, salmonberry, orange rind and a hint of pepper on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Well made Zinfandel but certainly an outlier from what I expect from Carlisle. Clearly a product of the challenging '11 vintage. Drink over the next year or so.
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2/18/2018 - dougie Likes this wine: 91 Points
A balanced zin that is 13.9 alc. Beautiful. Kind of got Concord grapey flavors after being open for 5 hours- so not too many years left.
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11/1/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
My only bottle, opened last night and finished with family. As others have noted in their TNs previously, this is lighter in tone and weight than other more intense Carlisle vintages, so it's fair to say that 2011 is at play in how this wine turned out. There are some briary, zin-berry notes here, yet there is also some dried red fruited tones, too. Just a lighter bodied Carlisle yet it drinks with a clean expression and energy, as well. Hey, not every wine Mike makes needs to be powerful or intense, and I do personally prefer (and continue to buy) the lighter side of the things Mikes makes. I don't need 16% ABV Zin in my glass--this is labeled 13.9%, and I do like the part of Mike's portfolio that drinks in the lower ABV register.
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10/25/2017 - btock wrote: 87 Points
This would be a fine zin blend if I didn't know how engaging this vineyard has been in other vintages. Has a history of savory notes and garrique, but really none of that here. Simpler/softer zin berry fruit. Didn't perform up to its price point. Darker red fruits, soft palate. Pleasant finish but not a standout wine. Ready now.
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10/21/2017 - Night Train Likes this wine: 88 Points
Disappointing for a Carlisle, but apparently typical for the vintage. Lean and austere with at best a medium body. Fruit was somewhat muted, but it was quite well balanced. Decent finish. Probably time to drink up.
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3/1/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 92 Points
I lover the lighter style of the 2011's. No overt overripeness, good balance. Briary, Zin restrained nose. A touch of balancing astringency on the finish, but I enjoy a little more bite. Perhaps it was there in its youth.
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1/12/2017 - Amerique wrote: 90 Points
Light body, raisony flavors, very good structure, seemed to lack characteristic Carlise backbone of strength, full-bodied fruit, rich complex flavors
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7/3/2016 - gzim Likes this wine: 89 Points
Brought to the beach to pair with Sous Vide, grill finished ribs. Followed the '11 Dupratt which I liked more. This was much more red fruited, more raspberry, and much lighter in body and profile.
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5/5/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid zin. Seemed to be a crowd pleaser.
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3/1/2016 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pretty great from the get go. Great fruity nose that has a sweet liquor element to it. Palate is medium to light in body, but nice freshness. Moderate length. Still a bit primary and grapey, but quite enjoyable.
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1/27/2016 - MikeCW wrote: 93 Points
Wow - this wine really impressed me. One of my favorite Carlisles of all time. Really enjoying the 2011's.
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3/12/2014 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took just a while to open, then was singing. Delightful win, not as heavy bodied as some, but that seemed a good thing. Well made, balanced, great fruit. Nice wine.
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3/9/2014 - Ex-Ray wrote: 85 Points
Pleasant, but doesn't really declare itself as a zin. Nondescript. I won't rush to buy more Carlisle.
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3/6/2014 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic new world Zin, nice balance, a bit more oak but still in balance with the fruit. Very good, but all in at just over 40 it's pushing the boundary what I'd be willing to pay for a very good zin.
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2/24/2014 - SineQuaNon wrote: 91 Points
Absolute delight! After looking up the wine on this site, I learned that this would be a lighter style of Carlisle Zin, which I was just in the mood for tonight, and this puppy delivered exactly what I hoped! Bright and lively zinberry and -spice in a lighter than usual format with energizing acidity, that still wasn't overpowering. Lovely.
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11/28/2013 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Almost translucent red in color. Lighter bodied zin. Nice aromatics with tart cherry flavors and food friendly acidity. Good varietal character. Definitely not a powerhouse.
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9/20/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lighter in color but nice zin flavors.
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9/14/2013 - Nutty08 wrote: 90 Points
An interesting wine. Lighter in color than I expected. Nose of brambly fruit, saline, spice, bit of pepper. Palate comes across as rather light and elegant, with a little high-toned red and blue fruits. Much less powerful than one would expect. Moderate finish, with a definite stoney quality. Is rather nuanced and elegant for a Zin, but lacks some impact and is a little ho-hum. Seems a bit young and has the structure and balance to age. Overall, I think this will fill out with time. Hold.
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8/22/2013 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 91 Points
Coming around and now spicy fruit profile with softer edges. Still needs a year or two to show its best.
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5/24/2013 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well behaved and delicious.
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