Not much has changed with this wine since the prior data point in August of last year. The abundance of brambly zin fruit, molasses, smoked herbs, cherries, plum all come through in spades. But the dominant note is the coffee at this point, particularly on the finish. “Deftly balanced” and very claret like, as noted previously. This is simply a delight to drink and enjoy. A blend of 61% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard, 29% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch, 10% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch. The back label advises that 470 cases made while the website advises only 465 cases made. Not a grain of sediment. 15% alc. Without any food; just for sipping. 03.15.24. Recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottling drank exceptionally well off a PNP. Dark enveloping fruits, velvety mouthfeel, enough acidity to keep things from getting cloying, and some noticeable alcohol (but it works with the overall presentation). This bottle is one of the better, maybe even the best, Carlisle Zinfandels that I have opened in recent memory - so good that I had another glass right before bed which is always a marginal call for me. That said, the wine completely fell apart overnight. I left the bottle outside in 50ish degree weather with no gas and opened it this evening to find a completely different wine. My two cents - drink the whole bottle in one sitting - I wish I had. I would guess this bottling is at peak with another 12 - 18 months of prime drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
No real notes beyond this bottling is drinking very well off a PNP - plush fruit, good acid, and a great nose. If you like your wine with a little energy, do not hesitate. This wine is a sleeper value at Carlisle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, allspice, and bramble, same on the palate, very tasty, medium/big body, smooth for a Zinfandel, rich tasting, and a long, flavorful finish and lovely aftertaste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What a stunning example of Zinfandel! Loads of brambly zin fruit with a touch of molasses. Smoked herbs, cherries, plum and dark fruits dominate the attack and carry all the way to a delightfully long finish. Deftly balanced. One of the most claret like Zins I’ve had in many a year. Almost reminds me of a Geyserville, yet even more refined … as if that’s possible. A blend of 61% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard, 29% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch, 10% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch. The back label advises that 470 cases made while the website advises only 465 cases made. Not a grain of sediment. 15% alc. With grilled (beef) burgers. 08.17.23. Recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark fruit, garrigue, integrated oak and delicate spices create an intellectual wine with expressions of enjoyment and delicacy. Well balanced and delicious. Good juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Crimson in color. 15% ABV. Mostly Carlisle Vineyard fruit but also includes fruit from Papera Ranch and Montafi Vineyard. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, peach, licorice and pepper. Medium body with perfect acidity. Bursting with bright, juicy red fruits. Cherry, strawberry, raspberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and silky. This wine embodies everything I love about Russian River Valley Zinfandel. Best over the next 1-2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured over about 2 hours. At first was quite vanilla oaky but give it about 30 minutes and you get nice brambly red fruited flavors, low acid and tannin, moderate finish, nice
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tonight, this wine started out slowly and evolved as the evening progressed. I am not always one who enjoys zins, but the zins that Carlisle makes are just so well balanced. I suspect this one will get better with bottle age, but it was still quite good tonight!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a beautiful wine but it needs to breath for at least two hours…peaked at 2 1/2. This certainly has more cellaring time but in a very enjoyable now with citrus and cherry flavors and an incredibly soft mouth feel. If you don’t decant and let sit for at least two hours you will probably agree with the commentary of other lower rated reviews as it needs time to come together.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Agree with the other tasters that this is not the best Carlisle effort.
Nose was better on Day 1 with perfumed underbrush, forest pine, fresh picked spring flowers, nutmug spice, and very faint wild red berry.
Palate was better on Day 2 showing dark red cherry, black raspberry, tar, and earthy spice flavors that are nice and silky on the tongue. Intensity falls off a bit on the finish, still quite delicious, just used to the other vineyards and this was the first time trying this one. Drink now - 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Agree with MARK1NPT that this has flattened out. I recall some nice bright fruit upon release but tonight it was even a bit pruney on the finish. Not bad, just so-so. (15% alc)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kinda disappointing......the nose portends a 93-94 for the first hour it's open, but alas, the wine doesn't measure up. It's thin in the mouth and almost devoid of flavor, if that's at all possible. Don't know that I've ever had a wine do that before? 1-2 hours in some zin fruit appears along with a tad of zin spice, but it's pretty tart on the back end and the beautiful nose disappears, almost completely. I think 88 may be a point or two generous on this one. This was better a year ago. Seems like it's falling apart already. It is a '17 after all......
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP at cellar temp. Although the nose is slightly muted and this is less spicy than some of Carlisle's Zins, It evolved very nicely over the following two and a half hours. It is drinking very nicely but likely to hold well for at least a couple more years. The mixture of fruit and light acidity makes for a nice accompaniment to rich foods (leftover turkey, dressing and gravy) but would be enjoyable on its own. The finish lingers as is so common for Carlisle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The spring shipping influx is pushing out a few iffy holdings from the cellar, so my 2nd bottle of this didn't last the year I intended to give it. It was more smooth than bottle #1, it got more air time, but it was still pretty generic on the palate for a Carlisle Zin. 89-90
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured...a bit more heft than other Carlisle bottlings...very enjoyable and improved after a couple hours...wife said it was the best bottle from Carlisle she has ever had.
A nice bottle given the vintage. Good acidity, lighter mouth feel, perfumed black fruit. Quite nice. Very drinkable right now. I think it is, what it is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Hard to go wrong with any Carlisle zin. This Piner -Olivet one is more mid weight than most other vineyards bottlings from Carlisle. Very nice blueberry and red berry aromas. Pretty much consistent flavors on the palate and a nice smooth finish. We recently had the 2016 Piner-Olivet which my notes tell me was enjoyed a little more. Still, a really good wine.
Has some angular acids and a less effusive nose than I was hoping for. Admittedly, the most recent Zin I had before this bottle was a 2014 Carlisle Carlisle so my hopes were perhaps inflated. Needs another year?
Decanted for 2.5 hours. Aromas of huckleberry, boysenberry, blueberry, wild cherry and pepper. Flavors pretty much match the aromas. Ends with a long finish of 30+ seconds with boysenberry notes. This is quite the blend!
Energetic and full of life type of Zin. Juicy blood orange notes dominate. Not at its peak yet, but very approachable with some brief decanting already.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So Rhône like, such an amazing depth of fruit, the finish goes on and on. This is a special one from Mike and I probably should have waited on it. Another year should do the trick.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Difficult to assess......tried over 3 days with the smaller bore 'vintage' Coravin needle. At times I want to give it a 91, at others a 94 and still others, everything in between. Seems to be consistently better with 1-2 hours of air and room temp. Nice pepper/spicebox and wonderful black zin fruit. Unmistakable in that regard. The fruit is just beautiful, espcially given the crummy vintage overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark color, medium to full body, almost floral nose. A little lighter than most zins, but appealingly so and also a bit more complex. Lingering finish. Very enjoyable wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One hour decant. Whit pepper, tea leaves and raspberry on the herbal nose. Smooth, dry palate, with zesty acidity. Firm, hot tannins on the medium long finish. This is very young and should improve dramatically in the next year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Everyone seems to love this bottle and Carlisle says it's ready to drink but they also don't mention much beyond the fruit. There is plenty of that, both red and black and the tannins are still dominant but I am not finding much else even after a decant and drinking over two nights. Will wait at least a year before my next bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright ruby-garnet. Juicy acidity with burst of up front cherry-berry fruit. Perhaps lacking a bit of complexity but very enjoyable. Good things coming out the 2017 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Higher acid than the Sonoma Zin. Fine tannins, medium weight, good acidic lift. Tobacco & tar. Medium high toned. Prettier than the SoCo, give this a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured through an aerator into a decanter, where it sat for 75 minutes. (I now think a 1-hour decant would have been plenty.) Darkish purple with a hint of red. Lightening at the rim. VG nose and EXC flavors of sappy red fruit, some oak and zin spice, plus something darker at the end. Great entry, seamlessly expands in mouth and coats the palate through the middle and the 40-second finish. Perfectly in balance, with the acidity and fine, plush tannins to keep it all together. Mid-weight wine, but “iron fist in velvet glove” comes to mind. I do love me some Carlisle zins! This bottle is great now, and I expect it's going to get better. 92-94 points. Bought three and will wait until next year to pop the next bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So open and ready, with black and red fruit, baking spice, a little blood orange and flower shop. Lush and with a full-bodied persona. More concentrated than the ‘16, and just tasty. What a stunning example of the Piner-Olivet terroir. Drink 2019 - 2028.
45m decant, served just above cellar temp. Initial notes closer to VM, after another couple hours of air closer to the release notes. Red fruit and spice on the nose. Creamy & silky in the mouth. Initially citrus notes: orange, lemon, lifted perfume along with a healthy dose of berry and red fruit. Later the citrus faded and a stronger backbone emerged and the finish lengthened. Did lovely with sweet & spicy chicken and lemongrass rice. A healthy decant will help if drinking soon and no surprise the best may be yet to come on this one, but quite good now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
5/15/2024 - djpo wrote: 93 Points
Wow. Very tasty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2024 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Didn't wow me as did a prior bottle. Quite average.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2024 - timewithwine Likes this wine:
Not much has changed with this wine since the prior data point in August of last year. The abundance of brambly zin fruit, molasses, smoked herbs, cherries, plum all come through in spades. But the dominant note is the coffee at this point, particularly on the finish. “Deftly balanced” and very claret like, as noted previously. This is simply a delight to drink and enjoy. A blend of 61% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard, 29% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch, 10% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch. The back label advises that 470 cases made while the website advises only 465 cases made. Not a grain of sediment. 15% alc. Without any food; just for sipping. 03.15.24. Recommended.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2024 - Dnacabernet Likes this wine: 93 Points
This bottling drank exceptionally well off a PNP. Dark enveloping fruits, velvety mouthfeel, enough acidity to keep things from getting cloying, and some noticeable alcohol (but it works with the overall presentation). This bottle is one of the better, maybe even the best, Carlisle Zinfandels that I have opened in recent memory - so good that I had another glass right before bed which is always a marginal call for me. That said, the wine completely fell apart overnight. I left the bottle outside in 50ish degree weather with no gas and opened it this evening to find a completely different wine. My two cents - drink the whole bottle in one sitting - I wish I had. I would guess this bottling is at peak with another 12 - 18 months of prime drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2023 - Dnacabernet Likes this wine: 91 Points
No real notes beyond this bottling is drinking very well off a PNP - plush fruit, good acid, and a great nose. If you like your wine with a little energy, do not hesitate. This wine is a sleeper value at Carlisle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2023 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, allspice, and bramble, same on the palate, very tasty, medium/big body, smooth for a Zinfandel, rich tasting, and a long, flavorful finish and lovely aftertaste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2023 - timewithwine Likes this wine:
What a stunning example of Zinfandel! Loads of brambly zin fruit with a touch of molasses. Smoked herbs, cherries, plum and dark fruits dominate the attack and carry all the way to a delightfully long finish. Deftly balanced. One of the most claret like Zins I’ve had in many a year. Almost reminds me of a Geyserville, yet even more refined … as if that’s possible. A blend of 61% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Carlisle Vineyard, 29% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Papera Ranch, 10% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Montafi Ranch. The back label advises that 470 cases made while the website advises only 465 cases made. Not a grain of sediment. 15% alc. With grilled (beef) burgers. 08.17.23. Recommended.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2023 - Oldmanzin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark fruit, garrigue, integrated oak and delicate spices create an intellectual wine with expressions of enjoyment and delicacy. Well balanced and delicious. Good juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2023 - Mtnmd1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a good spot
Medium bodied/fruit and finish
ADDENDUM: second night with better integration and rounded fruit. A restrained balanced wine. Bumped up the score a point to 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2023 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Took awhile to open up and just didnt seem to have the polishes fruit I love in a carlisle zin. Still good, just different. This may need more time?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2022 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Crimson in color. 15% ABV. Mostly Carlisle Vineyard fruit but also includes fruit from Papera Ranch and Montafi Vineyard. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, peach, licorice and pepper. Medium body with perfect acidity. Bursting with bright, juicy red fruits. Cherry, strawberry, raspberry and pepper on the palate. The finish is long and silky. This wine embodies everything I love about Russian River Valley Zinfandel. Best over the next 1-2 years.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2022 - Teaky Likes this wine:
Popped and poured over about 2 hours. At first was quite vanilla oaky but give it about 30 minutes and you get nice brambly red fruited flavors, low acid and tannin, moderate finish, nice
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2022 - JERB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tonight, this wine started out slowly and evolved as the evening progressed. I am not always one who enjoys zins, but the zins that Carlisle makes are just so well balanced. I suspect this one will get better with bottle age, but it was still quite good tonight!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2022 - PMTinfv Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is a beautiful wine but it needs to breath for at least two hours…peaked at 2 1/2. This certainly has more cellaring time but in a very enjoyable now with citrus and cherry flavors and an incredibly soft mouth feel. If you don’t decant and let sit for at least two hours you will probably agree with the commentary of other lower rated reviews as it needs time to come together.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2022 - SchlaepDog Likes this wine: 90 Points
Agree with the other tasters that this is not the best Carlisle effort.
Nose was better on Day 1 with perfumed underbrush, forest pine, fresh picked spring flowers, nutmug spice, and very faint wild red berry.
Palate was better on Day 2 showing dark red cherry, black raspberry, tar, and earthy spice flavors that are nice and silky on the tongue. Intensity falls off a bit on the finish, still quite delicious, just used to the other vineyards and this was the first time trying this one.
Drink now - 2025.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2022 - BoulderWine wrote: 89 Points
Agree with MARK1NPT that this has flattened out. I recall some nice bright fruit upon release but tonight it was even a bit pruney on the finish. Not bad, just so-so. (15% alc)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 88 Points
Kinda disappointing......the nose portends a 93-94 for the first hour it's open, but alas, the wine doesn't measure up. It's thin in the mouth and almost devoid of flavor, if that's at all possible. Don't know that I've ever had a wine do that before? 1-2 hours in some zin fruit appears along with a tad of zin spice, but it's pretty tart on the back end and the beautiful nose disappears, almost completely. I think 88 may be a point or two generous on this one. This was better a year ago. Seems like it's falling apart already. It is a '17 after all......
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2021 - mvick wrote: 92 Points
PNP at cellar temp. Although the nose is slightly muted and this is less spicy than some of Carlisle's Zins, It evolved very nicely over the following two and a half hours. It is drinking very nicely but likely to hold well for at least a couple more years. The mixture of fruit and light acidity makes for a nice accompaniment to rich foods (leftover turkey, dressing and gravy) but would be enjoyable on its own. The finish lingers as is so common for Carlisle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - burgbob wrote: 88 Points
A bit of heat from alcohol which takes away from nuances of flavor. A nice big spicy zin but not my favorite Carlisle
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2021 - silton Likes this wine:
The spring shipping influx is pushing out a few iffy holdings from the cellar, so my 2nd bottle of this didn't last the year I intended to give it. It was more smooth than bottle #1, it got more air time, but it was still pretty generic on the palate for a Carlisle Zin. 89-90
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2021 - hanasowner wrote: 91 Points
Popped and poured...a bit more heft than other Carlisle bottlings...very enjoyable and improved after a couple hours...wife said it was the best bottle from Carlisle she has ever had.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
1/17/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
A nice bottle given the vintage. Good acidity, lighter mouth feel, perfumed black fruit. Quite nice. Very drinkable right now. I think it is, what it is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2020 - gogiants925 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Hard to go wrong with any Carlisle zin. This Piner -Olivet one is more mid weight than most other vineyards bottlings from Carlisle. Very nice blueberry and red berry aromas. Pretty much consistent flavors on the palate and a nice smooth finish. We recently had the 2016 Piner-Olivet which my notes tell me was enjoyed a little more. Still, a really good wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/20/2020 - silton Likes this wine: 90 Points
Has some angular acids and a less effusive nose than I was hoping for. Admittedly, the most recent Zin I had before this bottle was a 2014 Carlisle Carlisle so my hopes were perhaps inflated. Needs another year?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/16/2020 - B&Dg Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not a heavy Zin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2020 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for 2.5 hours. Aromas of huckleberry, boysenberry, blueberry, wild cherry and pepper. Flavors pretty much match the aromas. Ends with a long finish of 30+ seconds with boysenberry notes. This is quite the blend!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/5/2020 - Slaz Likes this wine: 93 Points
Energetic and full of life type of Zin. Juicy blood orange notes dominate. Not at its peak yet, but very approachable with some brief decanting already.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2020 - Adam T 12 Likes this wine: 94 Points
So Rhône like, such an amazing depth of fruit, the finish goes on and on. This is a special one from Mike and I probably should have waited on it. Another year should do the trick.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Difficult to assess......tried over 3 days with the smaller bore 'vintage' Coravin needle. At times I want to give it a 91, at others a 94 and still others, everything in between. Seems to be consistently better with 1-2 hours of air and room temp. Nice pepper/spicebox and wonderful black zin fruit. Unmistakable in that regard. The fruit is just beautiful, espcially given the crummy vintage overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2020 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright, juicy Zin. Nice balance of fruit and acidity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2020 - MPilot Likes this wine: 90 Points
Michele liked this one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2020 - Michael Hollowell Likes this wine: 88 Points
Quite good. Some spice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2020 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well made, lighter style, a little too much green note for me, bur enjoyable none-the-less.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2020 - Geoff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark color, medium to full body, almost floral nose. A little lighter than most zins, but appealingly so and also a bit more complex. Lingering finish. Very enjoyable wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2019 - kcp wrote:
A little wan on the palate for some reason, thought the nose was good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely red fruited zin with soft tannins. Still young and likely will put on a bit more weight with another year or two in bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2019 - AGELVIS wrote: 88 Points
One hour decant. Whit pepper, tea leaves and raspberry on the herbal nose. Smooth, dry palate, with zesty acidity. Firm, hot tannins on the medium long finish. This is very young and should improve dramatically in the next year or two.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2019 - spicy1 wrote: 89 Points
Everyone seems to love this bottle and Carlisle says it's ready to drink but they also don't mention much beyond the fruit. There is plenty of that, both red and black and the tannins are still dominant but I am not finding much else even after a decant and drinking over two nights. Will wait at least a year before my next bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2019 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lots of juicy, vibrant, and energetic Zinfandel fruit. Admittedly young but so much joy already. Delightful "as is."
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2019 - hawkeye194223 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great on PnP and only got better in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2019 - rdf58 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bright ruby-garnet. Juicy acidity with burst of up front cherry-berry fruit. Perhaps lacking a bit of complexity but very enjoyable. Good things coming out the 2017 vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2019 - fredman wrote: 92 Points
P & P. Exquisite. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2019 - Jrp1234 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Russian river zin decanted 1 hour
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2019 - Brhouts Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great young zin
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Higher acid than the Sonoma Zin. Fine tannins, medium weight, good acidic lift. Tobacco & tar. Medium high toned. Prettier than the SoCo, give this a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2019 - newsguy1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Poured through an aerator into a decanter, where it sat for 75 minutes. (I now think a 1-hour decant would have been plenty.) Darkish purple with a hint of red. Lightening at the rim. VG nose and EXC flavors of sappy red fruit, some oak and zin spice, plus something darker at the end. Great entry, seamlessly expands in mouth and coats the palate through the middle and the 40-second finish. Perfectly in balance, with the acidity and fine, plush tannins to keep it all together. Mid-weight wine, but “iron fist in velvet glove” comes to mind. I do love me some Carlisle zins! This bottle is great now, and I expect it's going to get better. 92-94 points. Bought three and will wait until next year to pop the next bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2019 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 95 Points
So open and ready, with black and red fruit, baking spice, a little blood orange and flower shop. Lush and with a full-bodied persona. More concentrated than the ‘16, and just tasty. What a stunning example of the Piner-Olivet terroir. Drink 2019 - 2028.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/25/2019 - nickgorski Likes this wine:
45m decant, served just above cellar temp. Initial notes closer to VM, after another couple hours of air closer to the release notes. Red fruit and spice on the nose. Creamy & silky in the mouth. Initially citrus notes: orange, lemon, lifted perfume along with a healthy dose of berry and red fruit. Later the citrus faded and a stronger backbone emerged and the finish lengthened. Did lovely with sweet & spicy chicken and lemongrass rice. A healthy decant will help if drinking soon and no surprise the best may be yet to come on this one, but quite good now.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment