With Burgers and Onion Rings…. Very similar to previous review from Martin Redmond. Can’t believe the fruit is so strong at year 10. Should go 8-10 years longer. Mild acidity….Probably better without food on a cold winters night. Beautiful!
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Opaque violet color with black and red fruit, baking spice, violets and pepper aromas. On the palate it's between medium and full bodied and fresh with velvety tannins. It shows black raspberry, macerated mulberry, ripe black and red cherry, and baking spice flavors with a very satisfying finish.
It was very good paired with Spaghetti with Italian Sausage.
This predominantly old-vine bottling comes from vineyard sites across Sonoma County all planted between 1881 and 1932. Many of the sites are registered with the Historic Vineyard Society including Bedrock, Montafi, Pagani, Papera, and Saitone Ranch.
Bright red with slight fading at rim. Lovely blackberry nose. Sweet, plush fruit, black cherries, blackberries, cracked black pepper. Fine tannins, lovely acidity, great balance. Finishes long with black fruits and a hint of eucalyptus. Lovely, a classic Zin. Drinking great right now and may last 4 to 5 years more.
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My last of these and it is still going strong. PnP and drank with burgers. Plenty of fruit and a pleasant acid balance. even a touch of tannin. Drink or hold.
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Previous bottle was almost exactly one year ago, and it has improved. Still racy and vibrant, etc., etc., but the abrupt finish I noted last year has somehow evolved into a pretty damned good finish. Only two months left in 2019, but I'm almost certain that this will be my bargain wine of the year (unless I try a Carlisle Sonoma syrah between now and December 31st).
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Full bodied, full flavored big and lush. Dark purple fruit with lots of tar, tobacco and a bit of violets. Good smokey oak. Nice dark finish. Not terribly complex and a little soft and lacking structure, but this is a very good basic level Zin. Good value for $20. Ready to drink.
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Consumed over two evenings. First night vanilla was in your face with red fruits, a little pepper and spice. Night two more red to black fruits and the vanilla has toned down a bit of earthiness creeps in at the finish. Tannins are move evident on 2nd night but not out of place. Pleasant QPR bottle but not a deep thinker.
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Better than your average bottle of zinfandel. Ref fruit, pepper and spice. The flavor on the finish is clipped but there is lingering acidity. This is enjoyable, but I'd prefer 1 bottle of Papera or Montafi for 2 bottles of this.
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Having been underwhelmed by a 2010 Ridge Lytton just a couple days ago, this was a breath of fresh air. Nice, fairly assertive nose - various red, blue, and black berries. Same on the palate, with no traces of heat, sweetness, or Port-like characteristics. Surprisingly rich and vibrant, although the finish was a little abrupt. Matched up well with grilled strip steaks. Holding up just fine and an almost astonishing value.
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Still big with dark & ripe red fruit on the nose and palate. Black raspberry pie, white pepper and medium tannins. The alcohol is noticeably high and will likely burn off with age.
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Less full bodied and a little more linear than the single vineyard Carlisles I’ve had from 2012 (which have a been terrific). The acidity is notable on this one, and calls for food. This is a good QPR, but I’d say Bedrock’s Old Vine Zin is still my favorite in this price range.
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Delivered the goods. A more muscular rendition of the County blend, continues to hold up very nicely. Mix of red & black fruits, firmer in the glass. Food wine, a zin for cab drinkers and this has more focus on precision than many. Another great QPR. Was disappointed to learn that no '16 County blend was made as it's a perennial go-to for us. Will just have to enjoy the ones in the cellar and hope for its return next year.
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Very nice, very well liked at a recent group tasting. The blend, which includes some field blend plus additional non-zin grapes, works very well. The overall impression is a somewhat bright yet very balanced wine. Great to drink on its own and it would go well with a variety of foods. And this is Carlisle's entry level zin!
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Followed a couple of big Napa Cabs, but this was delicious in its own right. Seems to be in a good spot where it’s settled down a bit. Great wine and value as always.
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Friend brought this to a get together. Not bad, but not as great IMO as some have rated it. The group didn’t think it was any better than the comparable non-vineyard specific Seghesio
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What a crazy good bottle for the price. K loved it. I really enjoyed as well. Would get a case of this. Rich, big, complex, great flavors. Not out of whack in any way.
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Had with New York steaks, great nose, lots of sweet fruit. Taste smooth and full berry fruit and little tannins, finish long and smooth with a little tannin feel. Great wine, sorry it is my last bottle.
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Solid! Youthful, fresh, good structure. Good all night, intensity there throughout. Red fruit core, nice depth, Enjoyable and food friendly given the acidity/zip. another county level winner. Good now, can hold a few more years.
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Old Vine Zinfandel with a clean and rather stylish first impression this effort is actually a very nice example of this varietal. The nose offers up the classical Zinfandel fruit, but there is also a lot of red fruit like red currant and barely ripe strawberry. The palate is nicely integrated with no hard edges and very very subtle tannins. A lovely example of a Zinfandel - and certainly worth some merit.
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Started out fruity, but after 30 minutes of air it opened up and got more complex and the dryness come out. Still nice fruit and more complexity. I like this wine, very nice for the price. I have 2 more bottles to drink as it ages.
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First of 4 bottles. Really nice zin, the perennial QPR champ does it again. Great zin berry fruit, darker purple complexion, bit of the RRV fruit nose that I think is a Carlisle signature. Loamy, plumy and then the acidity is present on the palate. Enjoyed over two nights, both great showings.
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Consumed over 2 nights. Violets, red to black fruit, vanilla, spices on night one. Night two much kick on the spiciness, black fruits. Tannins more prevalent on night two plus alcohol creeps in a little then where it was hardly noticeable on the first night. Still at $20 lots to like.
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Drank over two nights. Surprisingly tight on day one. Not completely closed but a bit rustic with dark fruit. On day two the wine softened revealing a much more pleasant texture and the fruit emerged to the forefront - dark berry fruit along with some spice notes. This is consistenetly one of my favorite Carlisles and is a tremendous value. Perfect as an after glass of wine to be enjoyed on its own. Well done.
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Good not great Carlisle - firm in texture with superfine tannins. Predominant notes include violet, plum, currant. Not as powerful or finessed as its siblings.
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Not as fruity or bright as the RRV Old Vine blend. Tastes like an old school zin. Some mint/pine/eucalyptus type note I find very attractive if misplaced.
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Violet color with black and red fruit, smoke, leather, spice and a bit of violet aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied and fruit forward with a lush texture but its acidity and dusty tannins keep it on the rails. It shows black raspberry, black cherry, baking spice with hints of peppery spice with a long sweet finish. Blend of fruit from throughout Sonoma sourced form vineyards planted between 1895 and 1934 (except for the 2% Petite Sirah) 15% abv 672 cases. $25 SRP. Great QPR
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Good. Very nice nose, mouthfeel is nice and thick, a bit of spicy fruit, would not really call it brambly (at least not like DCV zin). The finish is lacking, too much alcohol.
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Tasted over three days. Plenty of everything here. A great core of very attractive fruit, plenty of structure - a big Zin but also controlled and civilized. A prominent cocoa note and some oak tannin at the forefront, but this softened and integrated a bit by the second day. This is enjoyable now, but I'd love to see what this turns into in 5 or 10 years.
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Nose: Blackberry and earthy aromas. Palate: Blackberry flavors and savory earth. It's been almost a year since the last notes (on 5/27/15) and man has this hit its stride. Super clean finish and now 91 points. Glad I have one more left although wish I had more.
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Pop and pour. Nose of boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry and violets. Very explosive nose on this. Bit restrained on the palate though with flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, espresso, black pepper and blackberry. Probably just needs some air but still a noble effort from Carlisle.
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Delicious. Oaky, but has the fruit to balance it. Extremely tasty and quaffable. Sweet deep bright creamy red and purple fruit. Yum! No signs of closing up.
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Drank well as a PnP, really classic Zin, strawberry, raspberry, subtle spices, good length and extraction with background oak throughout, but balanced very well to the fruit. Great value!
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Deep ruby color. Berry fruit and brambly spice. Fairly rich with a little tannic structure on the finish. Exceptional QPR. I think the 2013 is notch above the 2012 Sonoma County.
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Scrumptious! Plenty of bright fruit and oaky vanilla, yet woven together and detailed. Somehow Mike pulls off this balancing act so consistently! Delicious in every way, and consistent with earlier notes - no sign of tightening with this bottle.
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Unpleasantly astringent after popping, a quick 30m decant worked it wonders. Out came a nose of fennel, leather, eucalyptus, tobacco, iron, and very rich, ripe, dark fruit. No doubt the old vines made some good soup. Longish finish brings smoke and spice. Big but beautiful. Or maybe I'm just biased because it's $20, and I feel I'm getting away with something.
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Teeth staining inky-black. Aromas of ripe sweet plums and cracked peppercorn. Complex on entry, with turkish coffee, candied red fruits, all kinds of spice and a kick of jalapeno. Very long finish. This is an outstanding value at $20.
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Pop and pour, I had a glass, then went to see the new Star Wars movie. It was good, but tight. Came home, and my wife had left me one glass in the bottle. Much better. This really improved with all that air. Despite being his value offering, give this some air. Lots of black and red raspberry notes. Some licorice. Great texture. Smooth finish. Great value. Delicious wine.
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Deep purple color. Nose full of fruit. Jammy, round, soft and supple. Well balanced, with cherries, blackberries, and blueberries. Medium to full bodied. Delightful
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Starting to tighten up. On first pulling the cork, this was mute for the first hour, eventually blossoming to that beautifully fruited, suave and stylish, easy drinker that I've come to expect from the 13 Sonoma County up til now. Consistent with previous notes once it opened.
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Pop and pour but let sit in the glass for 30 minutes. Nose of black pepper, boysenberry, blueberry and lavender. Flavors of berry pie, blueberry, raspberry and licorice. This is a beautiful, easy drinking Zin from a master winemaker.
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Maybe my bottle was flawed, but did not seem corked. Drank a bottle previously, and see I left no notes or remarks. Only tasted of tart fruit; no other dimensions.
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Deep ruby color. Nose of smoky boysenberry syrup. Silky and very well balanced on the palate, medium to full bodied with great presence and length. Really shines on the palate.
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Dark brambly fruit, smokey subtle pepper spice finish. Paired well with carne asada. Burned through the 4 bottles quickly. Hope I'm allocated more next year.
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I can't say that I get this wine, but maybe it's zinfandel that I don't get. It does have good aromas but hot. Maybe good in small quantities but not something that I want to keep coming back to.
Gotta admit that this is better on day two. Not as rough around the edges.
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Violet in color. 15% ABV. The nose is a little subdued at this point but some vanilla, black fruits and baking spice emerge with aggressive swirling. Medium body with perfect acidity and balance. The fruit is brambly, exotic and lush. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry and a touch of pepper. As I drink this wine I can't help but think how good some of the single vineyard wines from this vintage will be. Drink over the next few years.
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Another QPR gem. A bit larger scales than the 2012 but so gracefully balanced one hardly notices. Aromatically so much more alluring and complex than most zin at this price point. 91-92
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Pours a nice ruby-purple. Aromatics are a little restrained. Dark fruit flavors with plenty of spice. Medium body with good ripeness. Still young with room to age, excellent QPR.
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This is my second Carlisle I have tried now that I am on the list first the syrah sonoma coast and now this. Wow. These wines drink for double the price you pay. Tons of beautiful fruit and great texture. Primary yes, but for $20 this baby is a steal. Pop and poured and it was singing from first pour. Good finish that lasts too
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we bought some 2 oz pourers from the restaurant supply store and we tested them out using this bottle. 12 of them actually, so by the time we drank the wine, it had been poured out, two ounces at a time, 36 times or more. The wine was quite smooth and easy to drink. Enjoyable, but hard to conclude anything given the treatment. Still, the bottle was emptied quite quickly.
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Great fruit forward Zin for the price. This is a steal at this price point. Ripe, dark red fruit- black cherry and plenty of deep spice to go around. Lingering finish. 15% and shows it. But drink it now and enjoy the gobs of fruit for about $20.
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Spicy and briary classic zin fruit. A little high toned, and some distracting heat does poke through on the palate. Touch of vanilla on the finish. Still, very strong offering for the price.
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I pulled this last night for a gathering of work colleagues here at the house. I over-predicted the red wine consumption and at the end of the night, the bottle was open and untouched. Ah heck. So today, poured off a glass to have a go. Wow, this is damn good. I can see why there has been so many positive TNs crossing through CT recently. Graphite aromatic. The palate is laden with fruit but it lacks any distracting heaviness so what ends up happening for me is the wine just rolls across the palate with a dark berry feel, lovely balance and some zesty acidity, just enough to keep it fresh, along with a kiss of vanilla. With more time in the glass, the fruit gets more intense, adds some brawn and just sings like a bugga. As I enjoy this bottle, I think about 2 more things. First, how Mike can turn out wine like this for 20 bucks, like the SC syrah he makes, is just a marvel to me. And finally, if this basic assembled AVA 2013 zin tastes like as good as this, how good will it be then to see Montafi, Carlisle and Papera zins, maybe the others from his SV 2013s roll out and be in my glass. If it lines up like this wine, those out to be some really nice bottlings.
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Nose: Fresh, floral aromas with dusty black fruits. Pretty complex nose for a base level bottling...but this is Carlisle. Palate: Great upon pop and pour with black fruits and spice. Also some vanilla traces present. Very solid base bottling from Carlisle.
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My first taste of any Carlisle Zin and it did not disappoint. Great QPR. Tons of fruit and fantastic to drink I wish I had bought more than half a case.
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Not sure if it was my palate, bottle shock, or an off bottle or what, but this bottle showed much better than the bottle I opened a couple of months ago. There was some subtle oak, and the wine as a whole was beautiful and expressive, showing a nice core of dark fruit and good balance and depth. Fantastic accompaniment to BBQ pork spare ribs.
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How does mike officer make such an amazing wine for $20+? Varietal correctness, beautiful color, touch of oak, bursting red fruit, wildness and underbrush, so complex yet quaffable. Doesn't get better for the price.
As others have noted: this is excellent juice! Fantastic QPR. slightly tannic; benefits from a decant and 30+ minutes of air. Dark fruits. Well balanced. Hint of vanilla; oak. Tasted alone for notes but also paired with fish tacos and surprisingly that worked well.
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Hard to beat Carlisle Sonoma County series - this is all typical SC zin, could the finish be a bit longer and firmer, maybe, but you won't get that in any bottle near this price. Stellar QPR. Instantly ready at PnP - real crowd pleaser over a tour of the grille dinner.
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I challenge anyone to find a better QPR on a good bottle of Zin. I'm very impressed with how approachable this latest 2013 release is. Only problem I see is that I have but 1 bottle left.
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Yumm - full lifted nose of sweet blackberry jam, herbs and spice. Palate is full bodied with copious moderately concentrated blackberry and raspberry fruit. Juicy acidity provides lift and persistence. Long, flavorful, savory finish. Terrific appellation wine.
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Something was a bit off with this bottle on night one. A bit awkward and showing lots of alcohol. Much better on the third and even fourth day. I might let the rest sit for another six months.
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Clear deep ruby color. Nicely layered primary and secondary aromas- showing blueberry, rhubarb, dried earth, tea and vanilla, with medium intensity. Well layered on the palate showing silky fruit and secondary depth with flavors consistent from the nose. Medium body, ample acid, and very fine & polished, but fleshy tannins that show through a full, dry, and juicy finish. Outstanding.
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Solid zin. Medium body, slightly sweet. Red fruits upfront leading into dark fruits and bramble. Good spice and acidity. Slight touch of heat on the finish. Great weekday or party wine. Well crafted. Served at room temp, pop n pour. Opens in 30 minutes or so. Drink or hold. Day 2 update. More integrated. Great QPR. 91+
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Consumed over 2 nights. Night one just got a small taste after PnP: velvety smooth, vanilla, dark fruits. Second night blue and black fruits, some baking spices, vanilla is gone.
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Dark purple fruit, smoky oak, tar, blackberry, and a little brambly. This is such a nice style of zin: restrained, dark, serious, but also with lots of energy and zip. Has a bit of flowers too. Not up to some of the top zins, but really nice for the price. Firm bitter finish. This is good to drink now and for the medium term. B
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Decanted for an hour. She is very aromatic and adorable. There's no reason to wait. Roasted garham cracker, rum-soaked blueberries, red brick and briary notes. Complex in terms of palate designation. Drink now - 2022.
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Was going to drink over two days, but it went in 3 hours. It was that good. Opened up really well. Was jammy at first. Moved to well-integrated oak, medium/soft tannins, red berry and bramble. Some secondary leathery notes. Hint of vanilla. A little heat on the end.
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Started out with overwhelming oak and harsh oak tannins and some tart and thin fruit. Lots of aeration did little to help it, so I vacuvin'd it and left overnight. Much better on the second day as the fruit emerged and the oak integrated and the harshness smoothed out a bit. Still, IMHO, there's too much oak and the fruit doesn't stand up to it at this point. I know this is very young, so I would expect that a year or two will allow this to improve. However, my oak tolerance is pretty low so this may never get into my wheelhouse. I enjoyed the 2011 and 2012s much more at this stage.
Nice array of fruit, spice, earth, and a touch of oak. Shows pretty well early with about 30 minutes of air. I like this one almost as much as the 2011 which rocked for my palate and the money. 6 more bottles to enjoy and watch the progress over the next few years. Tasty!
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Bright and superbly tasty the first night, devolving a bit the second night to more of a cough syrupy messiness (heat) on the tail end - this seems young still. I bet these will need some time, maybe 3-5 years to be in that sweet spot. The vintage's vibrant ripeness shines through, as this is a bit more ripe and full bodied, with more substantive mid-palate than 10 and 11.
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Decanted for about 30 mins prior to first glass. Needs time but promising. Some heat noticeable at first but with some air that blew off. Pretty much what you come to expect from this wine from Carlise, I think classic Zin. Great value. Nice brambly fruit, spice and little bit of earthiness. Nice acidity.
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Amazing wine, forgetting the fact that it is also an outstanding value! Big, rich, unctuous, but never flabby or hot. Aromatics give away the use of mixed blacks, and the wine exhibits a beautiful, long finish. The alcohol adds body and is merely the vehicle for the fruit to glide. Herbs and flowers, earthy but "purple", a living wine that slowly unfolds more and more streamlined notes of blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry. Buy a lot of it, as there is nothing like it in its price category.
1/29/2023 - JoeDwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
With Ribs Conf. Champ Football …..
Same as 2 weeks ago.
Great depth and seems to be peaking.
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1/19/2023 - JoeDwine Likes this wine: 91 Points
With Burgers and Onion Rings….
Very similar to previous review from Martin Redmond.
Can’t believe the fruit is so strong at year 10.
Should go 8-10 years longer.
Mild acidity….Probably better without food on a cold winters night.
Beautiful!
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6/15/2022 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opaque violet color with black and red fruit, baking spice, violets and pepper aromas. On the palate it's between medium and full bodied and fresh with velvety tannins. It shows black raspberry, macerated mulberry, ripe black and red cherry, and baking spice flavors with a very satisfying finish.
It was very good paired with Spaghetti with Italian Sausage.
This predominantly old-vine bottling comes from vineyard sites across Sonoma County all planted between 1881 and 1932. Many of the sites are registered with the Historic Vineyard Society including Bedrock, Montafi, Pagani, Papera, and Saitone Ranch.
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12/13/2021 - redz wrote: 90 Points
a little tight still. Should improve.
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11/14/2021 - Pete535 wrote:
Great. Spicy. Dave’s house during Pat’s game.
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11/2/2021 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bright red with slight fading at rim. Lovely blackberry nose. Sweet, plush fruit, black cherries, blackberries, cracked black pepper. Fine tannins, lovely acidity, great balance. Finishes long with black fruits and a hint of eucalyptus. Lovely, a classic Zin. Drinking great right now and may last 4 to 5 years more.
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7/31/2021 - Pete535 wrote:
Dave’s after Woosox game. Sale pitched.
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9/19/2020 - redz wrote: 91 Points
Nicely mellowed zin, in a good place.
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4/23/2020 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking well. Brambly fruit but softer. Minimal heat despite alcohol. In a good end window for primary enjoyment.
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2/7/2020 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last of these and it is still going strong. PnP and drank with burgers. Plenty of fruit and a pleasant acid balance. even a touch of tannin. Drink or hold.
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1/12/2020 - JayAAllen Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ripe fruit flavors still coming through, but competing a bit with signs of age - cedar and tobacco on the palate.
Drink up!
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11/12/2019 - budman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid wine. Sadly, it was my last bottle.
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11/7/2019 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
What wonderful QPR. Delicious. Drink or hold.
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10/26/2019 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Previous bottle was almost exactly one year ago, and it has improved. Still racy and vibrant, etc., etc., but the abrupt finish I noted last year has somehow evolved into a pretty damned good finish. Only two months left in 2019, but I'm almost certain that this will be my bargain wine of the year (unless I try a Carlisle Sonoma syrah between now and December 31st).
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8/29/2019 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much improved from the last bottle consumed in 2016.
Red fruit, elegance.
2nd bottle of night
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5/2/2019 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. My review from October 2016 still stands with more red fruit than black.
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4/4/2019 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent on PnP. Deep rich syrah. Good QPR
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3/1/2019 - budman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle yet. Red and black fruit. Long finish. Yum.
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1/23/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Full bodied, full flavored big and lush. Dark purple fruit with lots of tar, tobacco and a bit of violets. Good smokey oak. Nice dark finish. Not terribly complex and a little soft and lacking structure, but this is a very good basic level Zin. Good value for $20. Ready to drink.
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12/30/2018 - Bellissimo wrote:
Consumed over two evenings. First night vanilla was in your face with red fruits, a little pepper and spice. Night two more red to black fruits and the vanilla has toned down a bit of earthiness creeps in at the finish. Tannins are move evident on 2nd night but not out of place. Pleasant QPR bottle but not a deep thinker.
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12/30/2018 - galewskj wrote: 89 Points
Better than your average bottle of zinfandel. Ref fruit, pepper and spice. The flavor on the finish is clipped but there is lingering acidity. This is enjoyable, but I'd prefer 1 bottle of Papera or Montafi for 2 bottles of this.
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12/24/2018 - djpo wrote: 91 Points
Exceptional at any price
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10/26/2018 - budman Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent QPR.
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10/22/2018 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 Points
Having been underwhelmed by a 2010 Ridge Lytton just a couple days ago, this was a breath of fresh air. Nice, fairly assertive nose - various red, blue, and black berries. Same on the palate, with no traces of heat, sweetness, or Port-like characteristics. Surprisingly rich and vibrant, although the finish was a little abrupt. Matched up well with grilled strip steaks. Holding up just fine and an almost astonishing value.
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10/9/2018 - dlduchon wrote: 88 Points
Great reasonably priced Zin.
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9/23/2018 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Rich and seamless with nice Zin field blend character. Perhaps the 2013s are finally starting to come around.
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9/6/2018 - Buhever Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still big with dark & ripe red fruit on the nose and palate. Black raspberry pie, white pepper and medium tannins. The alcohol is noticeably high and will likely burn off with age.
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7/23/2018 - EMTAME wrote: 88 Points
Less full bodied and a little more linear than the single vineyard Carlisles I’ve had from 2012 (which have a been terrific). The acidity is notable on this one, and calls for food. This is a good QPR, but I’d say Bedrock’s Old Vine Zin is still my favorite in this price range.
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7/13/2018 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delivered the goods. A more muscular rendition of the County blend, continues to hold up very nicely. Mix of red & black fruits, firmer in the glass. Food wine, a zin for cab drinkers and this has more focus on precision than many. Another great QPR. Was disappointed to learn that no '16 County blend was made as it's a perennial go-to for us. Will just have to enjoy the ones in the cellar and hope for its return next year.
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4/27/2018 - mac-eye Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice, very well liked at a recent group tasting. The blend, which includes some field blend plus additional non-zin grapes, works very well. The overall impression is a somewhat bright yet very balanced wine. Great to drink on its own and it would go well with a variety of foods. And this is Carlisle's entry level zin!
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4/24/2018 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Serviceable Zin, good balance, not overdone.
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4/7/2018 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
Yumm
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3/31/2018 - B Paul wrote:
Followed a couple of big Napa Cabs, but this was delicious in its own right. Seems to be in a good spot where it’s settled down a bit. Great wine and value as always.
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3/17/2018 - jhemming Likes this wine:
Hard to find a better value
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3/4/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice dark fruits. Very smooth. Tasty
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2/27/2018 - ginfizz wrote: 89 Points
Seems a bit light compared to what I expected but could be the vintage. Solid for the price.
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12/22/2017 - nefarm Likes this wine:
Friend brought this to a get together. Not bad, but not as great IMO as some have rated it. The group didn’t think it was any better than the comparable non-vineyard specific Seghesio
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11/29/2017 - kenthargis wrote: 93 Points
What a crazy good bottle for the price. K loved it. I really enjoyed as well. Would get a case of this. Rich, big, complex, great flavors. Not out of whack in any way.
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11/12/2017 - mwrock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had with New York steaks, great nose, lots of sweet fruit. Taste smooth and full berry fruit and little tannins, finish long and smooth with a little tannin feel. Great wine, sorry it is my last bottle.
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11/10/2017 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid! Youthful, fresh, good structure. Good all night, intensity there throughout. Red fruit core, nice depth, Enjoyable and food friendly given the acidity/zip. another county level winner. Good now, can hold a few more years.
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10/24/2017 - MRichman wrote:
Good solid zin. Drinking well, no rush.
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10/14/2017 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Old Vine Zinfandel with a clean and rather stylish first impression this effort is actually a very nice example of this varietal. The nose offers up the classical Zinfandel fruit, but there is also a lot of red fruit like red currant and barely ripe strawberry. The palate is nicely integrated with no hard edges and very very subtle tannins. A lovely example of a Zinfandel - and certainly worth some merit.
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10/4/2017 - mwrock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Started out fruity, but after 30 minutes of air it opened up and got more complex and the dryness come out. Still nice fruit and more complexity. I like this wine, very nice for the price. I have 2 more bottles to drink as it ages.
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7/2/2017 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
First of 4 bottles. Really nice zin, the perennial QPR champ does it again. Great zin berry fruit, darker purple complexion, bit of the RRV fruit nose that I think is a Carlisle signature. Loamy, plumy and then the acidity is present on the palate. Enjoyed over two nights, both great showings.
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7/1/2017 - Bellissimo wrote:
Consumed over 2 nights. Violets, red to black fruit, vanilla, spices on night one. Night two much kick on the spiciness, black fruits. Tannins more prevalent on night two plus alcohol creeps in a little then where it was hardly noticeable on the first night. Still at $20 lots to like.
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6/24/2017 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent Zin and great QPR.
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5/1/2017 - dlduchon Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good all around zin. Quite impressive for the price.
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3/7/2017 - GARDEN Likes this wine: 92 Points
91 on night one and 92 on night two
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2/23/2017 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Drank over two nights. Surprisingly tight on day one. Not completely closed but a bit rustic with dark fruit. On day two the wine softened revealing a much more pleasant texture and the fruit emerged to the forefront - dark berry fruit along with some spice notes. This is consistenetly one of my favorite Carlisles and is a tremendous value. Perfect as an after glass of wine to be enjoyed on its own. Well done.
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1/29/2017 - TC16 wrote: 90 Points
Drinking nicely, but not exceptional. Tannins a bit astringent. Medium body. Cherry and spice. A touch of vanilla at the end.
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1/22/2017 - pgb67 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good not great Carlisle - firm in texture with superfine tannins. Predominant notes include violet, plum, currant. Not as powerful or finessed as its siblings.
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1/5/2017 - rama wrote:
Not as fruity or bright as the RRV Old Vine blend. Tastes like an old school zin. Some mint/pine/eucalyptus type note I find very attractive if misplaced.
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12/26/2016 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Similar to notes on 4/18/16. In a perfect place now. Pop and pour.
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12/22/2016 - sawira wrote: 91 Points
Scrumptious! Classic red raspberries and creamy oak from Carlisle. Drinking at a perfect peak for me, and for another 3-4 years.
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12/18/2016 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Violet color with black and red fruit, smoke, leather, spice and a bit of violet aromas. On the palate it's medium-bodied and fruit forward with a lush texture but its acidity and dusty tannins keep it on the rails. It shows black raspberry, black cherry, baking spice with hints of peppery spice with a long sweet finish. Blend of fruit from throughout Sonoma sourced form vineyards planted between 1895 and 1934 (except for the 2% Petite Sirah) 15% abv 672 cases. $25 SRP. Great QPR
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12/1/2016 - Bellissimo wrote:
PnP. Deep rich, brambly zin. A little mocha and vanilla to boot. 15.0 ABV hides its weight well.
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11/6/2016 - FlyPig Likes this wine: 93 Points
Hard to imagine a zin that's even close to how good this is at the price. Bravo.
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10/16/2016 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
I brought this to a non-wine party. Pop and pour. This seemed young, vanilla oak was noticable, quite fruity and a little sweet. Try again in 2018.
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10/13/2016 - Tubulus wrote: 88 Points
Good. Very nice nose, mouthfeel is nice and thick, a bit of spicy fruit, would not really call it brambly (at least not like DCV zin). The finish is lacking, too much alcohol.
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10/6/2016 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
PnP. Huge aroma of lush fruit. Palate is blackberry and raspberry with bramble in a deep and lush package. Great QPR.
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9/18/2016 - Geoff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great brambly nose with pure fruit, moderate tannins and long finish. Not too over the top. Delightful.
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8/24/2016 - sawira wrote:
No formal notes, I remember this as having sweet, juicy fruit, and quite a bit of sweet vanillin oak.
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8/20/2016 - Stumpy wrote: 90 Points
Very solid zin punching right where it should at this price.
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7/20/2016 - kcp Likes this wine: 91 Points
Holding up well from a year ago. A surprisingly good quaff for the price.
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7/11/2016 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
consistent with notes of 6/26/2015
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7/4/2016 - sawira wrote: 89 Points
No formal notes. Seems crisp and a bit subdued right now. Fruit buried by the oak. I'd give this a year or so.
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6/29/2016 - sawira wrote: 90 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
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6/26/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Delicious as always. Great value. Purple in color. Nose is spicy with black raspberries. On the palate, bright fruit. A crowd favorite.
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5/22/2016 - sawira wrote:
No formal notes.
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5/14/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great QPR, as usual from Carlisle with this cheaper bottlings.
Me - 90, Wife - 92
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4/29/2016 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Tasted over three days. Plenty of everything here. A great core of very attractive fruit, plenty of structure - a big Zin but also controlled and civilized. A prominent cocoa note and some oak tannin at the forefront, but this softened and integrated a bit by the second day. This is enjoyable now, but I'd love to see what this turns into in 5 or 10 years.
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4/18/2016 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Nose: Blackberry and earthy aromas. Palate: Blackberry flavors and savory earth. It's been almost a year since the last notes (on 5/27/15) and man has this hit its stride. Super clean finish and now 91 points. Glad I have one more left although wish I had more.
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4/17/2016 - slywka7 wrote: 90 Points
Pop and pour. Nose of boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry and violets. Very explosive nose on this. Bit restrained on the palate though with flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, espresso, black pepper and blackberry. Probably just needs some air but still a noble effort from Carlisle.
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4/17/2016 - sawira wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Oaky, but has the fruit to balance it. Extremely tasty and quaffable. Sweet deep bright creamy red and purple fruit. Yum! No signs of closing up.
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3/25/2016 - imbibe wrote:
- Brick color.
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3/3/2016 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank well as a PnP, really classic Zin, strawberry, raspberry, subtle spices, good length and extraction with background oak throughout, but balanced very well to the fruit. Great value!
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3/1/2016 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Berry fruit and brambly spice. Fairly rich with a little tannic structure on the finish. Exceptional QPR. I think the 2013 is notch above the 2012 Sonoma County.
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3/1/2016 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
Really drinking well with some air. Delicious. Lots of depth. Good fruit. Goes well with food.
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2/27/2016 - sawira wrote: 90 Points
Scrumptious! Plenty of bright fruit and oaky vanilla, yet woven together and detailed. Somehow Mike pulls off this balancing act so consistently! Delicious in every way, and consistent with earlier notes - no sign of tightening with this bottle.
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2/27/2016 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Really solid Zin at this price point with a lot of upfront fruit. Drink over the next couple of years with BBQ and other hearty foods.
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1/22/2016 - yaCellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Unpleasantly astringent after popping, a quick 30m decant worked it wonders. Out came a nose of fennel, leather, eucalyptus, tobacco, iron, and very rich, ripe, dark fruit. No doubt the old vines made some good soup. Longish finish brings smoke and spice. Big but beautiful. Or maybe I'm just biased because it's $20, and I feel I'm getting away with something.
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1/22/2016 - mzimberg Likes this wine: 92 Points
Teeth staining inky-black. Aromas of ripe sweet plums and cracked peppercorn. Complex on entry, with turkish coffee, candied red fruits, all kinds of spice and a kick of jalapeno. Very long finish. This is an outstanding value at $20.
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1/2/2016 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened up and rounded out nicely after first 90 minutes
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12/26/2015 - zinfomaniac Likes this wine: 90 Points
I continue to be amazed with the deft touch in which Mr. Officer exhibits the beauty of Zinfandel. I am a true fan.
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12/22/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Similar as before. Still prefer the OV to this rendition, slightly better tempering to pull down the fruit.
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12/18/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour, I had a glass, then went to see the new Star Wars movie. It was good, but tight. Came home, and my wife had left me one glass in the bottle. Much better. This really improved with all that air. Despite being his value offering, give this some air. Lots of black and red raspberry notes. Some licorice. Great texture. Smooth finish. Great value. Delicious wine.
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12/14/2015 - Robwild wrote: 91 Points
Deep purple color. Nose full of fruit. Jammy, round, soft and supple. Well balanced, with cherries, blackberries, and blueberries. Medium to full bodied. Delightful
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12/9/2015 - Geoff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice fruit, balance, tannins mild. Not complex or profound, but a very tasty satisfying wine.
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12/6/2015 - sawira wrote: 89 Points
Starting to tighten up. On first pulling the cork, this was mute for the first hour, eventually blossoming to that beautifully fruited, suave and stylish, easy drinker that I've come to expect from the 13 Sonoma County up til now. Consistent with previous notes once it opened.
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11/29/2015 - slywka7 wrote: 91 Points
Pop and pour but let sit in the glass for 30 minutes. Nose of black pepper, boysenberry, blueberry and lavender. Flavors of berry pie, blueberry, raspberry and licorice. This is a beautiful, easy drinking Zin from a master winemaker.
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11/18/2015 - alr6767 wrote:
Brought to a tasting for Zinfandel Day. No formal notes. Better than '12 but not by much. 15%
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10/29/2015 - burgbob wrote: 90 Points
Consistent and delicious. Excellent value on a par with Turley Juveniles.
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10/25/2015 - sawira Likes this wine: 89 Points
A little more rough, rugged, brambly and clumsy than previous bottles. In a short term slightly closed phase is my guess.
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10/23/2015 - burgbob wrote: 91 Points
Plush and yummy with just enough structure. Fully ready to pop and pour.
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10/21/2015 - MillerRoad Does not like this wine:
Maybe my bottle was flawed, but did not seem corked. Drank a bottle previously, and see I left no notes or remarks. Only tasted of tart fruit; no other dimensions.
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10/18/2015 - Geoff Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious young zin. Plenty of fruit forward flavors, balanced and not "hot."
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10/16/2015 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Nose of smoky boysenberry syrup. Silky and very well balanced on the palate, medium to full bodied with great presence and length. Really shines on the palate.
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10/12/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
These are disappearing too fast - fantastic bottle and QPR.
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10/11/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark brambly fruit, smokey subtle pepper spice finish. Paired well with carne asada. Burned through the 4 bottles quickly. Hope I'm allocated more next year.
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10/10/2015 - DuaneT wrote: 88 Points
I can't say that I get this wine, but maybe it's zinfandel that I don't get. It does have good aromas but hot. Maybe good in small quantities but not something that I want to keep coming back to.
Gotta admit that this is better on day two. Not as rough around the edges.
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10/9/2015 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Violet in color. 15% ABV. The nose is a little subdued at this point but some vanilla, black fruits and baking spice emerge with aggressive swirling. Medium body with perfect acidity and balance. The fruit is brambly, exotic and lush. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry and a touch of pepper. As I drink this wine I can't help but think how good some of the single vineyard wines from this vintage will be. Drink over the next few years.
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10/2/2015 - The Wine Sherpa Likes this wine: 91 Points
Absolute jammy fruit bomb. Fun to drink.
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9/21/2015 - suburbanfrog Likes this wine: 90 Points
A great Zin for the price. Very well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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9/13/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 90 Points
Stellar QPR
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9/12/2015 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Same as prior TN's... This is a great Jammy Zin with spice and character. Lots of wine for this price point.
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8/12/2015 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decant recommended. Best after an hour or two.
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8/5/2015 - JBNH Likes this wine: 90 Points
Enjoyable zin. It will probably be better with another 6-12 months bottle age, but is hard to resist now.
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8/3/2015 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 91 Points
See previous note(s)... A goregeous Zinfandel blend from some top sites in Sonoma County. As always, a wonderful value.
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8/2/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great balance and flavor, true zin in every sense of the word, extremely good QPR!!
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8/1/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth Zinfandel. Black raspberry and red fruit with hint of smokey oak and pepper spice. Well integrated and balanced. Paired with Grazianos pizza.
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7/17/2015 - jmull wrote: 91 Points
Another QPR gem. A bit larger scales than the 2012 but so gracefully balanced one hardly notices. Aromatically so much more alluring and complex than most zin at this price point. 91-92
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7/6/2015 - Grillgod Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fruit forward but very balanced. Nice round dark berries and white pepper on the palate.
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6/29/2015 - Ilikadajuice wrote: 92 Points
Helpless!
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6/28/2015 - cartime wrote: 89 Points
I found this to be a bit too rich and silky with not enough acidity or structure. Not bad, but not what I'm looking for.
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6/26/2015 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great value wine, ripe black cherry, currant, blackberry balanced with youthful energy. No need to wait here...drinking great now.
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6/23/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Another superbly solid bottle!
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6/17/2015 - sawira wrote:
Consistent with previous notes.
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6/17/2015 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pours a nice ruby-purple. Aromatics are a little restrained. Dark fruit flavors with plenty of spice. Medium body with good ripeness. Still young with room to age, excellent QPR.
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6/16/2015 - kcp Likes this wine: 90 Points
A promising young well-priced zin. Med/light body, solid fruit, spice background. I would expect the latter to integrate.
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6/11/2015 - Matt T wrote: 87 Points
Not quite as good as earlier versions of this wine.
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6/5/2015 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good mid-range Zin - not too rich, not too thin but just about right.
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6/4/2015 - Griffeyfan04 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is my second Carlisle I have tried now that I am on the list first the syrah sonoma coast and now this. Wow. These wines drink for double the price you pay. Tons of beautiful fruit and great texture. Primary yes, but for $20 this baby is a steal. Pop and poured and it was singing from first pour. Good finish that lasts too
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6/4/2015 - Jahull03 wrote:
a bit of cedar needs to blow off upon opening - very good, best on day 2 by far. at that point, surprisingly herbaceous and light
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6/3/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
we bought some 2 oz pourers from the restaurant supply store and we tested them out using this bottle. 12 of them actually, so by the time we drank the wine, it had been poured out, two ounces at a time, 36 times or more. The wine was quite smooth and easy to drink. Enjoyable, but hard to conclude anything given the treatment. Still, the bottle was emptied quite quickly.
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6/2/2015 - WineCPA wrote: 92 Points
Great fruit forward Zin for the price. This is a steal at this price point. Ripe, dark red fruit- black cherry and plenty of deep spice to go around. Lingering finish. 15% and shows it. But drink it now and enjoy the gobs of fruit for about $20.
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5/29/2015 - Nutty08 wrote: 88 Points
Spicy and briary classic zin fruit. A little high toned, and some distracting heat does poke through on the palate. Touch of vanilla on the finish. Still, very strong offering for the price.
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5/28/2015 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I pulled this last night for a gathering of work colleagues here at the house. I over-predicted the red wine consumption and at the end of the night, the bottle was open and untouched. Ah heck. So today, poured off a glass to have a go. Wow, this is damn good. I can see why there has been so many positive TNs crossing through CT recently. Graphite aromatic. The palate is laden with fruit but it lacks any distracting heaviness so what ends up happening for me is the wine just rolls across the palate with a dark berry feel, lovely balance and some zesty acidity, just enough to keep it fresh, along with a kiss of vanilla. With more time in the glass, the fruit gets more intense, adds some brawn and just sings like a bugga. As I enjoy this bottle, I think about 2 more things. First, how Mike can turn out wine like this for 20 bucks, like the SC syrah he makes, is just a marvel to me. And finally, if this basic assembled AVA 2013 zin tastes like as good as this, how good will it be then to see Montafi, Carlisle and Papera zins, maybe the others from his SV 2013s roll out and be in my glass. If it lines up like this wine, those out to be some really nice bottlings.
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5/27/2015 - Mattshank wrote: 90 Points
Nose: Fresh, floral aromas with dusty black fruits. Pretty complex nose for a base level bottling...but this is Carlisle. Palate: Great upon pop and pour with black fruits and spice. Also some vanilla traces present. Very solid base bottling from Carlisle.
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5/26/2015 - The Wine Sherpa Likes this wine: 92 Points
My first taste of any Carlisle Zin and it did not disappoint. Great QPR. Tons of fruit and fantastic to drink I wish I had bought more than half a case.
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5/25/2015 - PIntag wrote: 91 Points
Not sure if it was my palate, bottle shock, or an off bottle or what, but this bottle showed much better than the bottle I opened a couple of months ago. There was some subtle oak, and the wine as a whole was beautiful and expressive, showing a nice core of dark fruit and good balance and depth. Fantastic accompaniment to BBQ pork spare ribs.
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5/23/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 91 Points
Classic Zin flavores, good balance and extraction , great qpr!!!
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5/22/2015 - texaswinelover wrote:
Notes similar to last. Nose reticent for 30+ mins but opened beautifully. Delicious and complex.
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5/21/2015 - mpricher wrote: 91 Points
Nice value bottle from Mike Officer. Lots; of Zin Jammy fun, but had some extra depth thanks to the added All Blacks components.. Was enjoyed by all
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5/17/2015 - MRichman wrote:
This bottle felt a little too soft, lush, sweet. Didn't have the gravitas I remember. Good fruit for the price, but looking for a little more.
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5/10/2015 - texaswinelover wrote: 92 Points
How does mike officer make such an amazing wine for $20+? Varietal correctness, beautiful color, touch of oak, bursting red fruit, wildness and underbrush, so complex yet quaffable. Doesn't get better for the price.
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5/7/2015 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
As others have noted: this is excellent juice! Fantastic QPR. slightly tannic; benefits from a decant and 30+ minutes of air. Dark fruits. Well balanced. Hint of vanilla; oak. Tasted alone for notes but also paired with fish tacos and surprisingly that worked well.
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5/6/2015 - Dale M wrote:
Ripping through these like tap water. Excellent again.
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5/3/2015 - corkcork wrote: 91 Points
Beautiful
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4/27/2015 - Xfactor wrote: 91 Points
Hard to beat Carlisle Sonoma County series - this is all typical SC zin, could the finish be a bit longer and firmer, maybe, but you won't get that in any bottle near this price. Stellar QPR. Instantly ready at PnP - real crowd pleaser over a tour of the grille dinner.
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4/26/2015 - LongViewCellars Likes this wine: 91 Points
I challenge anyone to find a better QPR on a good bottle of Zin. I'm very impressed with how approachable this latest 2013 release is. Only problem I see is that I have but 1 bottle left.
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4/26/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Catching up, Lots of Syrah and others from the week; 4/23/2015-4/27/2015 (Around town): This is delicious. Great value. A nose of black raspberries, bramble, c
charred oak. Luscious texture. Great fruit. Just as good on day 2. Again, I know I should wait a bit on these, but my guess is they won't see autumn.
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4/24/2015 - Nanda Likes this wine: 91 Points
Yumm - full lifted nose of sweet blackberry jam, herbs and spice. Palate is full bodied with copious moderately concentrated blackberry and raspberry fruit. Juicy acidity provides lift and persistence. Long, flavorful, savory finish. Terrific appellation wine.
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4/24/2015 - Matt T wrote: 88 Points
Something was a bit off with this bottle on night one. A bit awkward and showing lots of alcohol. Much better on the third and even fourth day. I might let the rest sit for another six months.
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4/23/2015 - bajayngo wrote:
Great pairing with dry rub spare ribs. Briar patch, cherry fruit, fresh loam, pretty oak, and amazing back end acids.
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4/22/2015 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 91 Points
Very nice.
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4/21/2015 - corkcork wrote: 92 Points
Day two it reached it's peak, just wonderful and a pleasure drink
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4/21/2015 - MattMauldin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Clear deep ruby color. Nicely layered primary and secondary aromas- showing blueberry, rhubarb, dried earth, tea and vanilla, with medium intensity. Well layered on the palate showing silky fruit and secondary depth with flavors consistent from the nose. Medium body, ample acid, and very fine & polished, but fleshy tannins that show through a full, dry, and juicy finish. Outstanding.
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4/20/2015 - Dale M wrote:
Has all the potential to be one of the great SC Zins from Carlisle. Just needs 2 years or so to develop.
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4/17/2015 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid zin. Medium body, slightly sweet. Red fruits upfront leading into dark fruits and bramble. Good spice and acidity. Slight touch of heat on the finish. Great weekday or party wine. Well crafted. Served at room temp, pop n pour. Opens in 30 minutes or so. Drink or hold.
Day 2 update. More integrated. Great QPR. 91+
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4/17/2015 - gossba Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lots going on here. Fruit and pepper co-mingled on front with a light finish. Great quality for the price.
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4/15/2015 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Consumed over 2 nights. Night one just got a small taste after PnP: velvety smooth, vanilla, dark fruits. Second night blue and black fruits, some baking spices, vanilla is gone.
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4/15/2015 - MRichman wrote:
Dark purple fruit, smoky oak, tar, blackberry, and a little brambly. This is such a nice style of zin: restrained, dark, serious, but also with lots of energy and zip. Has a bit of flowers too. Not up to some of the top zins, but really nice for the price. Firm bitter finish. This is good to drink now and for the medium term.
B
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4/14/2015 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. She is very aromatic and adorable. There's no reason to wait. Roasted garham cracker, rum-soaked blueberries, red brick and briary notes. Complex in terms of palate designation. Drink now - 2022.
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4/6/2015 - sawira wrote: 89 Points
Delicious!
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4/4/2015 - TC16 wrote: 92 Points
Was going to drink over two days, but it went in 3 hours. It was that good. Opened up really well. Was jammy at first. Moved to well-integrated oak, medium/soft tannins, red berry and bramble. Some secondary leathery notes. Hint of vanilla. A little heat on the end.
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3/28/2015 - PIntag wrote: 87 Points
Started out with overwhelming oak and harsh oak tannins and some tart and thin fruit. Lots of aeration did little to help it, so I vacuvin'd it and left overnight. Much better on the second day as the fruit emerged and the oak integrated and the harshness smoothed out a bit. Still, IMHO, there's too much oak and the fruit doesn't stand up to it at this point. I know this is very young, so I would expect that a year or two will allow this to improve. However, my oak tolerance is pretty low so this may never get into my wheelhouse. I enjoyed the 2011 and 2012s much more at this stage.
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3/26/2015 - fisk15 wrote: 92 Points
Dark and big boned, gutsy Sonoma blend!! Best one in a while.
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3/26/2015 - Jahull03 wrote:
All the right pieces but could use 6 months to settle in. 2013 looking like another good year for these!
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3/25/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great Cali Zin clean and balanced. Good black and red fruit with a hint of earth, spice and oak. Paired well with a charcoaled grilled burger.
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3/24/2015 - pakabear Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best appellation zins Mike has produced, great balance, extraction and purity. This is awesome and is great on day 2 as well.
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3/24/2015 - Recoveringimporter wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful, very young but very approachable. A fantastic value.
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3/23/2015 - swillpower wrote:
Enticing core of fruit, but very wound-up and backwards. Needs 6 months or more.
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3/22/2015 - Djfermentation Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice array of fruit, spice, earth, and a touch of oak. Shows pretty well early with about 30 minutes of air. I like this one almost as much as the 2011 which rocked for my palate and the money. 6 more bottles to enjoy and watch the progress over the next few years. Tasty!
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3/20/2015 - BobMilton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good red fruit (cherries dominate) without being jammy. Went surprisingly well with a lemony chicken picatta.
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3/19/2015 - Randito Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent Zin with a core of red fruit, a hint of earth, spice, and oak. A truly amazing value.
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3/8/2015 - sawira wrote: 89 Points
Bright and superbly tasty the first night, devolving a bit the second night to more of a cough syrupy messiness (heat) on the tail end - this seems young still. I bet these will need some time, maybe 3-5 years to be in that sweet spot. The vintage's vibrant ripeness shines through, as this is a bit more ripe and full bodied, with more substantive mid-palate than 10 and 11.
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3/6/2015 - dky Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for about 30 mins prior to first glass. Needs time but promising. Some heat noticeable at first but with some air that blew off. Pretty much what you come to expect from this wine from Carlise, I think classic Zin. Great value. Nice brambly fruit, spice and little bit of earthiness. Nice acidity.
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3/5/2015 - DrewGoin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing wine, forgetting the fact that it is also an outstanding value! Big, rich, unctuous, but never flabby or hot. Aromatics give away the use of mixed blacks, and the wine exhibits a beautiful, long finish. The alcohol adds body and is merely the vehicle for the fruit to glide. Herbs and flowers, earthy but "purple", a living wine that slowly unfolds more and more streamlined notes of blackberry, raspberry, and black cherry. Buy a lot of it, as there is nothing like it in its price category.
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