Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, licorice, spice, and earthiness in the nose. Concentrated fruit in the flavor, blackberries, black cherries and licorice. Full bodied and a medium to long finish.
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This wine is in a nice place right now. Very northern Rhone like with dark berries and white pepper on the nose and palate, good medium weight a finish. Silky mouth coating texture. Another winner from Mike. No reason to wait on this but probably has a few more years of good drinking.
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Better showing than last bottle. Fruit and savory elements more in harmony. A garnet coloring to the wine, served with lamb chops an the game flavors met the wine where it is, so that was a nice pairing. Blind, I would have guessed this to be Old World....enough garrique to make me thing something like a St. Jospeh or Croze. Fun to revist. Can hold but I think best to be enjoyed now.
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The nose was reluctant at first, showing tart blackberry, herbs, and pepper, yet fleshed out and intensified with time in the glass, adding notes of green olive and crushed stone. On the palate, it was silky with lean black fruit tones, savory herbs and saline minerality. Dark fruit saturated the senses throughout the finish with white pepper notes lingering long.
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More savory than expected. Took a good amount of air exposure before the earthen notes lifted enough for some black currant to peek through. Nose is very pleasant light purple fruits but upon approach palate is all bay leaf, touch of garrique, dried herbs. Midway through the bottle this started to change as some of the currant and bit of black cherry emerges. More of a shape shifter than typical for a Carlisle. Have one more of these, will look to pair with something savory like an herbed roast, etc.
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I found this bottle in my inventory check I did over the holidays and it was a pleasant surprise. Was interested to see how it has aged, as well as how the wine would show in terms of ripeness. I opened this last night and had a large glass. Labeled at 15.2%, so my first thought was to assess for heat, which is in some comments in the other CT notes. In my experience here, I don't find it, although I am enjoying the wine at a cooler temp, too. Aromatically, shows the fruit forward syrah tones. Palate? Really enjoy it, as it reflects an iron, steak sauce and blue/black profile with plenty of juicy acidity. Only about 80 cases of this made so not sure I run into another bottle but this wine is aging well and probably has another 2-3 years of good drinking left in it, can go 4-6 more. In terms of syrah, as I think back, this may be the best ager from Mike I have opened. Drinking excellent. PS--there have been only 4 notes on this wine in CT in the last 18 months......not much in terms of drinking reference for those who are holding these and waiting to see how these are aging..I'll stand behind my drink window.
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Second Carlisle in as many days for Carlisle tasting week and to make room for the new releases. Boy this is great stuff. Toned down considerably since my last bottle two years ago. Very meaty earthy flavors, solid fruit still holding up fine (some earlier notes suggested otherwise), tannins still noticeable but softened. Paired well with roast chicken but a joy to drink on its own. Drinking well now but no rush - I'll sit on my remaining bottle for a year or more. Mike does wonders with Bennett Valley Syrah.
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Gorgeous wine with nice balance between force, elegance and rusticity. Drinking very well right now, but seems to have long, interesting life ahead of it. Fruit is beginning to drop out however.
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Disappointed a bit as it was a bit unbalanced as tannins dominated and provided a bitter finish. Probably not decanted long enough. Layers of dark fruit and chocolate improved the wine. Only had one bottle so I'll never know how good it really is.
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This is drinking extremely well. Plenty of blackberry fruit supported by good acidity that keeps the fruit in check and the overall package is one of balance and a lighter style than I am used to for a Carlisle syrah. Yummy and highly recommended. Don't see this getting any better with further age but no need to rush to open either.
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2005 Syrah Horizontal representing 4 continents (Casa Tomek): Dark spicy berry nose with some earthy elements. High toned in the mouth with a touch of heat on the finish. Still has some years ahead of it, although I'm not sure it will get mush better. My #5 WOTN, group's #6.
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opened this at random with no expectation following an 05 KB Amber Ridge Syrah, which was tasty, but the Carlisle was stunningly better. Great combo of old world/new world--ripe, structured, stinky, smokey, earthy. If tasted blind this would be northern Rhone for me, and that's a shocker. First time I've experience this old world nuance from Carlisle.
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Deep, dark purple. Initially closed nose -- lots of swirling revealed pepper, meat, smoke and dark fruit. Lush w/o tons of fruit -- nicely balanced wine -- maybe a little burnt oak on the finish. Moderate acidity and tannins. I actually enjoyed this more at a cooler temp and before it fully opened -- more cote rotie like. i'm beginning to like the Carlisle's younger and younger.
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Jemrose in New York City: Deep and dark smelling, still smells a bit like a barrel sample, a touch animale, a bit of well integrated wood an edge of vanilla and foxy grapiness. Big but seamless on entry still tight but revealing lovely flavors of dark berry fruit, mineral tones, layered and big but the balance and integration is excellent. Lush and deep and this improved through dinner.
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Beautifully balanced wine with everything going for it. Started with no decant and then drank over several hours. Deep impenetrable color. Lots of strong 'manly' flavors - roasted meats, brambles, smoke - along with dark fruits. The balance and integration was terrific from the get go with just a bit of oak that will probably get integrated over time. It could certainly age, but it is already a complete satisfying wine. Saved some for the next day, which showed a bit more sweetness on the fruit but still teriffic.
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Saturday Night Tasting Menu at Home: Decanted one hour. Inky dark in the glass. Nose shoots out of the glass with gorgeous aromas of dark berries, vanilla, pepper and meat, with a distinct blood orange that I've often associated with this site. Big and powerful on the palate with sizable tannins that make me believe this will age very nicely. Wonderful finish. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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Dark reddish-purple colour. The nose on this is just stunning with a wild, rustic character, showing lots of meat, spices, white pepper and dark fruits. The palate is spectacular - full bodied and rich with more flavours of meat, pepper, blueberry and plum, firm tannins and good acidity adding lift. Finish is very long. Wow.
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1/10/2020 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slow ox for 7 hrs. Awesome fruit on the nose, soft tannin but has a hint of sourness. Not my favorite Carlisle but still happy to drink it.
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12/1/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blackberries, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, licorice, spice, and earthiness in the nose. Concentrated fruit in the flavor, blackberries, black cherries and licorice. Full bodied and a medium to long finish.
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12/1/2018 - acorelli Likes this wine: 92 Points
Blood nose, black currants, plums, sweetness. In beautiful condition.
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3/22/2016 - Munch Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is in a nice place right now. Very northern Rhone like with dark berries and white pepper on the nose and palate, good medium weight a finish. Silky mouth coating texture. Another winner from Mike. No reason to wait on this but probably has a few more years of good drinking.
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12/26/2015 - btock wrote: 90 Points
Better showing than last bottle. Fruit and savory elements more in harmony. A garnet coloring to the wine, served with lamb chops an the game flavors met the wine where it is, so that was a nice pairing. Blind, I would have guessed this to be Old World....enough garrique to make me thing something like a St. Jospeh or Croze. Fun to revist. Can hold but I think best to be enjoyed now.
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3/13/2015 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 91 Points
The nose was reluctant at first, showing tart blackberry, herbs, and pepper, yet fleshed out and intensified with time in the glass, adding notes of green olive and crushed stone. On the palate, it was silky with lean black fruit tones, savory herbs and saline minerality. Dark fruit saturated the senses throughout the finish with white pepper notes lingering long.
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1/31/2015 - btock wrote: 88 Points
More savory than expected. Took a good amount of air exposure before the earthen notes lifted enough for some black currant to peek through. Nose is very pleasant light purple fruits but upon approach palate is all bay leaf, touch of garrique, dried herbs. Midway through the bottle this started to change as some of the currant and bit of black cherry emerges. More of a shape shifter than typical for a Carlisle. Have one more of these, will look to pair with something savory like an herbed roast, etc.
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5/25/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote:
I found this bottle in my inventory check I did over the holidays and it was a pleasant surprise. Was interested to see how it has aged, as well as how the wine would show in terms of ripeness. I opened this last night and had a large glass. Labeled at 15.2%, so my first thought was to assess for heat, which is in some comments in the other CT notes. In my experience here, I don't find it, although I am enjoying the wine at a cooler temp, too. Aromatically, shows the fruit forward syrah tones. Palate? Really enjoy it, as it reflects an iron, steak sauce and blue/black profile with plenty of juicy acidity. Only about 80 cases of this made so not sure I run into another bottle but this wine is aging well and probably has another 2-3 years of good drinking left in it, can go 4-6 more. In terms of syrah, as I think back, this may be the best ager from Mike I have opened. Drinking excellent. PS--there have been only 4 notes on this wine in CT in the last 18 months......not much in terms of drinking reference for those who are holding these and waiting to see how these are aging..I'll stand behind my drink window.
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5/18/2013 - vinocerus wrote:
Hard to remember any previous corked bottles from Carlisle but this one was badly corked.
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10/20/2012 - budman wrote: 87 Points
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I've finally experienced a Carlisle wine that didn't WOW me.
It was hot, and there wasn't much exciting going on.
Perhaps a bad bottle? I hope so.
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7/18/2012 - Jeff Bloom wrote:
Second Carlisle in as many days for Carlisle tasting week and to make room for the new releases. Boy this is great stuff. Toned down considerably since my last bottle two years ago. Very meaty earthy flavors, solid fruit still holding up fine (some earlier notes suggested otherwise), tannins still noticeable but softened. Paired well with roast chicken but a joy to drink on its own. Drinking well now but no rush - I'll sit on my remaining bottle for a year or more. Mike does wonders with Bennett Valley Syrah.
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5/6/2012 - zheem wrote:
Gorgeous wine with nice balance between force, elegance and rusticity. Drinking very well right now, but seems to have long, interesting life ahead of it. Fruit is beginning to drop out however.
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12/27/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 89 Points
Disappointed a bit as it was a bit unbalanced as tannins dominated and provided a bitter finish. Probably not decanted long enough. Layers of dark fruit and chocolate improved the wine. Only had one bottle so I'll never know how good it really is.
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6/30/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 88 Points
A rare Carlisle that I didn't really enjoy. Must have been an "off" bottle since everyone seems to love this wine.
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2/11/2011 - RussW Likes this wine:
This is drinking extremely well. Plenty of blackberry fruit supported by good acidity that keeps the fruit in check and the overall package is one of balance and a lighter style than I am used to for a Carlisle syrah. Yummy and highly recommended. Don't see this getting any better with further age but no need to rush to open either.
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12/26/2010 - Haltermr wrote: 93 Points
Brooding and dense, yet fresh and floral. Much better than when I tried this several years ago. Heat much less apparent. Extremely good.
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12/4/2010 - glg wrote: 93 Points
With a brief decant, drinking quite well. Layers of dark fruits complemented with a touch of earth and underbrush. Possesses a very long finish.
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3/13/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
2005 Syrah Horizontal representing 4 continents (Casa Tomek): Dark spicy berry nose with some earthy elements. High toned in the mouth with a touch of heat on the finish. Still has some years ahead of it, although I'm not sure it will get mush better. My #5 WOTN, group's #6.
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1/14/2010 - budman wrote: 93 Points
Massive dark wine. No rough edges. Drank fantastic after a 90 minute decant.
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1/14/2010 - swp3 wrote: 94 Points
opened this at random with no expectation following an 05 KB Amber Ridge Syrah, which was tasty, but the Carlisle was stunningly better. Great combo of old world/new world--ripe, structured, stinky, smokey, earthy. If tasted blind this would be northern Rhone for me, and that's a shocker. First time I've experience this old world nuance from Carlisle.
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11/13/2008 - SUN-J wrote: 92 Points
Deep, dark purple. Initially closed nose -- lots of swirling revealed pepper, meat, smoke and dark fruit. Lush w/o tons of fruit -- nicely balanced wine -- maybe a little burnt oak on the finish. Moderate acidity and tannins. I actually enjoyed this more at a cooler temp and before it fully opened -- more cote rotie like. i'm beginning to like the Carlisle's younger and younger.
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9/3/2008 - Gregory Dal Piaz wrote: 92 Points
Jemrose in New York City: Deep and dark smelling, still smells a bit like a barrel sample, a touch animale, a bit of well integrated wood an edge of vanilla and foxy grapiness. Big but seamless on entry still tight but revealing lovely flavors of dark berry fruit, mineral tones, layered and big but the balance and integration is excellent. Lush and deep and this improved through dinner.
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7/26/2008 - koflaher wrote: 94 Points
Beautifully balanced wine with everything going for it. Started with no decant and then drank over several hours. Deep impenetrable color. Lots of strong 'manly' flavors - roasted meats, brambles, smoke - along with dark fruits. The balance and integration was terrific from the get go with just a bit of oak that will probably get integrated over time. It could certainly age, but it is already a complete satisfying wine. Saved some for the next day, which showed a bit more sweetness on the fruit but still teriffic.
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7/12/2008 - dmoritz wrote: 95 Points
Saturday Night Tasting Menu at Home: Decanted one hour. Inky dark in the glass. Nose shoots out of the glass with gorgeous aromas of dark berries, vanilla, pepper and meat, with a distinct blood orange that I've often associated with this site. Big and powerful on the palate with sizable tannins that make me believe this will age very nicely. Wonderful finish. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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3/19/2008 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Dark reddish-purple colour. The nose on this is just stunning with a wild, rustic character, showing lots of meat, spices, white pepper and dark fruits. The palate is spectacular - full bodied and rich with more flavours of meat, pepper, blueberry and plum, firm tannins and good acidity adding lift. Finish is very long. Wow.
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