Not tired at all, possibly even a tad too young. Just not a very inspiring effort. It is opening up as it breathes, so perhaps another couple of hours will do the trick.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious. Definitely not past peak. Has Syrah notes of some peppers, earth and cherry. Deep purple. Maybe a little thin but really nice mix of flavors with toned down acidity for the high level of alcohol
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP. Moderately aromatic on the nose. On the palate - meaty, gamey, but not overly heavy. Lacks a bit of spark / lift. Agree that perhaps this one has seen its better days. Nevertheless, very pleasant, but it teases at what it could be, or might have been.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I really enjoyed this Syrah, although i wish I hadn't waited so long to open it. As others have mentioned it seems a bit past its prime. But still quite enjoyable. I am a fan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At a nice place. Dry tannins, good primary fruit. Mellow. Very good when first opened but better several hours later. By then, some fruit had faded and secondary notes of earth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
it was a hot day and that surely affected the tasting. thus i put the + there. I think in non-sauna situation it would have shown even better.
ripe black fruit. great primary fruit all the way through but with secondary notes coming in. Refreshing and long on the finish. ripe tannins with still some grip. chewy mid, creamy. this is excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quick TN. Popped and poured. Time has been kind to this wine. It has settled into early adulthood, finally shedding its youthful exuberance. A hint of something I normally associate with brett, but otherwise dark cherries/black raspberry/blueberry, a hint of pine/rosemary/forest/earth and fine tannins that are seemingly nearly resolved. Drinking beautifully and in a sweet spot. My last bottle. Great pairing with grilled Brazilian picahna (top round with fat cap).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yet another example of the QPR greatness that is Carlisle. While prices have crept up a few dollars here and there, Mike's "appellation" wines are still a great value. Have learned to let Carlisle syrahs rest for a while and this '05 was in a good spot, rewarding the patience. Drunk over two nights (poured off 1/2 into a 375) and the 2nd night was better. Bright red fruit profile, a food wine in that the acidity and touch of heat was fine on its own but way better with my bacon & brussels side! Not earthy per se but a nice minerality in the mouthfeel that balanced the wine. Nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about one hour before serving.
Dark garnet to almost purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of roasted meat, a little tar and plenty of currants and dried plums. Flavors of black berries, currants and dark plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next few years. Ready to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well crafted and balanced but lacking in personality, either from exuberant fruit or earthy flavors. This reminds of a lot of wines that appear so afraid to be overdone and want so much to be refined, balanced and smooth that they end up being boring. This was boring. It offends no one except me when I looked at the $40 price I paid for it. For that price I want more than a wine that is inoffensive
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best Carlisle syrah I've had in a long time, if not ever. Balanced and pure. Should get even better and age gracefully. Curious to know if this was vinified differently from most other Carlisles from the same period?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine tastes exactly like it smells. Kalamata olive brine, sizzled bacon fat, muted black fruit and a hint of Dr. Pepper (spice). The wine is extremely well made and silky smooth (especially for the price I paid $25). Paired excellent with sausage pasta. This is drinking close to it’s peak. This was my first Carlisle and certainly not my last.
See more detail at http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/37166926753
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 750ml tlv opened the previous night. Inky purple color with a bouquet dominated by aromas of bacon fat and roasted meat. Violet, spice and black fruit notes add complexity. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and flavors of dark fruit, plum, roasted meat and iron. Long finish. Impressive, and a stellar match w/Mrs. tlv's braised short ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has an explosive nose that I could smell just walking past a full glass. Black fruits and bacon fat, with palate picking up some blueberry and floral.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose is dark and rich with big black fruit and stem notes. Palate sports large scale fruit with good juicy acidity playing counterpoint. Seems that the wine still needs time to develop and show nuance. Powerful finish. I like the core - stem and herb notes starting to add complexity - but needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark stuff. Full and rich, yet carries the fruit with a threaded, core of acidity. Gets slightly sweet and hot on the finish, but I have to say, this may be the best Syrah in bottle I've had from Mr. Mike. Simply a well made wine in a bigger style. Perhaps, the most refined and composed Carlisle Syrah I've tasted to date. Just checked, it's the lowest abv, @ 15%, of any Carlsisle I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark purple, opaque. Vet nice, dark black fruit, spice, lavender and sage nose. Ripe concentrated black fruit, rich, long spicy finish, not quite balanced little too ripe and concentrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Meaty nose and palate. Definitely less sweet than most Carlisles. My only problem with it was the last glass 6 hours later had lost its acidity and was all cocoa. Score is for all of the glasses but the last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ink color. Nose of black fruits and cracked pepper deep concentration. Tastes of blackberries, black currants and pepper. Long pleasing finish. Tannins are well integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. Note after 3 hours. Earth and barnyard on the nose. Blackberries, plum and spice on the palate. Could mistake this for Northern Rhone. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
15% ABV. Dark garnet, slightly translucent in the glass. Fairly strong nose of roasting coffee beans. Meaty dark fruit with a bit of smoke. Rich, full bodied with savory/sweet meaty black fruit. Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Put some scallops wrapped in bacon in the oven and with Louie Armstong playing and crooning in the background, popped and poured this beautiful bottle. Deep purple color, nose offered red and dark fruits with nuances of meat and licorice. Still tannic, this is a dense drink with flavors of espresso, sour cherry, and chocolate. It got much better after an hour. It rocked on the second day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of smoke, mushrooms and earth that gives way to a rich yet leaning back towards medium bodied wine. This is Carlisle dialed back a touch, even showing some red fruits. I really felt this wine was quite open and drinking well, some slight tannin but nothing obtrusive. For me in a good spot now yet it will certainly develop, just not sure it will get significantly better?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought this in 2007 and finally drank it last night with a ribeye steak and portabello mushrooms. The wine was fantastic, inky dark with blackberries and tar and a stout amount of tannins. Keep or drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is way more about structure than fruit. Don't get me wrong because there's some rich black fruit in play but the dominant forces here are olives, whole cluster underbrush, tar, whiffs of barbecue and still hard tannins. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Enjoyed with some old time Kenny Burrell on CD. The wine starts off slow, tight and tart. It needs time. At the end of the bottle, with no decant, after about 90 mins it opens up to some bittersweet chocolate, iron, hint of olive, some chalk and blackberry. It still needs time but it does soften with air. Suggest another 18 months of age and for me, a different kind of Carlisle, bit more red and leaner blackberry and structure with tartness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still pretty closed upon opening, but beginning to come to life. Tight for the first couple of hours then began to unravel with dark fruits and good balance. Day 2: the wine hit its stride with fantastic balance and great nose. Looking forward to future bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. Nose of meat and bacon fat. Big wine with precise flavors. I could easily confuse this with a Northern Rhone. Fabulous and one of my favorite Carlisle Syrahs to date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was expecting Shiraz, but was pleasantly surprised at the character of this wine's lack of Cali-typicity. The nose was strikingly Rhone, though less peppery and no bacon fat.
Color: Dark red, garnet edges
Nose: Meaty, White Pepper, Underbrush, Blackberry
Palate: Blackberry an black cherry, licorice, some-what subtle mocha-choco-oak
Nice, wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic new world Syrah nose. A floral nose with some medium red fruit and some background oak. Good fruit on the palate, spice, oak and a rhubarb like palate, good balance with tannins that will allow for another 5-10 years of aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing nose of pure raspberry. Can't recall experiencing such a beautiful raspberry aroma in any other wine. Mid palate confirms the raspberry along with darker fruits and a hint of meat. Very little spice. Well balanced with relatively long finish. Very mature for such a young wine. Sad to only have one more of these left. This wine has improved by leaps and bounds since December '08
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, and then consumed over 5 hours. Medium-bodied wine that is dark magenta/purple in color. On the nose, expressive dark berries, bacon fat, and floral notes. On the palate, blackberries, blueberries, minerals, and licorice on the extremely long 40-second finish. Great balance and acidic lift here...loaded with fruit without being overbearing, this lithe Syrah is gorgeous to drink, and I'm sad this was my only bottle. Yet another great Carlisle QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted this for about an hour, but still got quite a bit of heat, which I'm normally not real sensitive to. Seemed a little disjointed at this point. My only bottle, so I won't get to see how it develops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was expecting Shiraz, but was pleasantly surprised at the character of this wine's lack of Cali-typicity. The nose was strikingly Rhone, though less peppery and no bacon fat.
Color: Dark red, garnet edges
Nose: Meaty, White Pepper, Underbrush, Blackberry
Palate: Blackberry an black cherry, licorice, some-what subtle mocha-choco-oak
Nice, wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
High toned, violets, tapenade and meat on the nose. Popped and poured, displaying a precociousness. Needs some air to settle down and strut its stuff. Although the nose is already very complex.
An hour and a half later, major changes. Wine gained some weight and so much richer than after pop and pour. Silky smooth finish. Nose has changed, this time bacon, deep red raspberry and a touch of charcoal. Beautiful mouth feel with glycerin notes pushing through. In the mouth, silky red raspberry and a touch of blueberry. There are some tannins pushing through in the end of the finish, but they are so ripe and do not take away from the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well this was opened probably a year too early, really wrapped up tight with dark cherries and chocolate, a little thin on the mid-palette and finishes with lots of acidity that kinda overwhelms the fruit right now. This has better days to come and I would suggest holding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Open in the glass for 6-7 hours. Nose of coconut, vanilla, and red raspberry. Full mouthfeel with notes of raspberry, graphite and meat, finishing with a bit of mint and garrigue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful pure dark red in color. On the nose tapenade, licorice, pure red rasberry and meaty. Stunning nose, just beautiful. In the mouth, smooth with dark cherry and tart acidity pushing through. Acidity not overbearing, but providing very enjoyable lift. This is a joy to drink now and it should be in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Barky von Schnauzers and Greenblankets decided it was finally time for a barbecue and further decided to try a couple of Cali Rhones with ribs. The BvS’s brought a Ridge ATP program Syrah/Grenache from 2001 and Greenblanket just couldn’t resist opening another 2005 Carlisle Bennett Valley. The Carlisle also sported floral aromas as well as smoky blackberries, pepper and a meaty/iodine/salty/bloody note. Cured meat (the producer says tapenade) and rich, creamy black fruit flavors continued in the mouth with well balanced structure provided by smooth tannin and generous acidity. Also lovely but way too young to be opened.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple-ruby color. Nose shows lots of purple fruit, raw beef, and a bit of pepper. Some VA is noted. Medium-bodied, juicy, and fruity in the mouth. The focus is fairly good, and the finish pleasant. A nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another Carlisle partnership between Mrs. "Old World" Brother In Law and Greenblanket. There was an odd bottle so we ripped into it as soon as it came out of the shipping box. The OWBIL himself was pretty upset about having a bottle of Syrah on the property. In his view of the world Syrah is a weird oddball wine that isn't up to his "old world" level of sophistication. Greenblanket just kept his mouth shut and enjoyed this wonderful wine. The much heralded cool climate characteristics were in full effect on the nose with licorice, iodine, fresh flowers, tarry syrah smoke, bacon fat, pepper and deep black fruits. The flavors followed on the palate along with some additional spiciness and super silky smooth tannins. There was also a very nicely integrated stemmy/barky structure. As I have noted many times - despite the ripe silky nature of this wine it is still fresh and balanced with plenty of acidity and structure. Greenblanket agrees with a previous poster that a bit more overall heft on the body of his wine would be desirable but it's important to note that this bottle was opened way early and given precious little time to breath. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Of the three 2005 syrahs I have had in the past month (RRV and DC), this is the most wrapped up of the three. Further, it posseses the lightest weight of the 3, at least at this stage. I did splash decant this wine and return in to bottle before I took it to dinner and indeed that helped, as well as another 24 hours in bottle overnight, which added some more mid-palate to the wine. Shows a bit of black pepper on the nose, along with more roasted cherry and more acidity than the other 2 syrahs above. In fact, the acidity is on par or above the fruit, along with some chocolate sticking out some so I would suggest letting this bottle rest another year or more. Yes, likely I opened way too soon but I have been working my way through the 2005 Carlisle syrahs and wanted to get a barometer on the wine, vis a vis the others, so throw stones at me later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/18/2022 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 90 Points
Not tired at all, possibly even a tad too young. Just not a very inspiring effort. It is opening up as it breathes, so perhaps another couple of hours will do the trick.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2019 - OTTMJ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious. Definitely not past peak. Has Syrah notes of some peppers, earth and cherry. Deep purple. Maybe a little thin but really nice mix of flavors with toned down acidity for the high level of alcohol
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2018 - dmitchell4 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Loved all of these this last one the most.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2018 - jwebtx wrote:
PnP tired. Past prime.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
PnP. Moderately aromatic on the nose. On the palate - meaty, gamey, but not overly heavy. Lacks a bit of spark / lift. Agree that perhaps this one has seen its better days. Nevertheless, very pleasant, but it teases at what it could be, or might have been.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2016 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2016 - sw92130 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I really enjoyed this Syrah, although i wish I hadn't waited so long to open it. As others have mentioned it seems a bit past its prime. But still quite enjoyable. I am a fan.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2016 - MLwine wrote: 89 Points
On the descent. If you have any, drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2016 - CRUSHER wrote: 89 Points
northern rhone style syrah
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2015 - bdeblank wrote: 92 Points
At a nice place. Dry tannins, good primary fruit. Mellow. Very good when first opened but better several hours later. By then, some fruit had faded and secondary notes of earth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2014 - jpmo Does not like this wine:
Some seepage around the cork. An off flavor like an over the hill bordeaux. May just have been a bad bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2014 - Mlermontov wrote: 92 Points
it was a hot day and that surely affected the tasting. thus i put the + there. I think in non-sauna situation it would have shown even better.
ripe black fruit. great primary fruit all the way through but with secondary notes coming in. Refreshing and long on the finish. ripe tannins with still some grip. chewy mid, creamy. this is excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2014 - JFish wrote:
Quick TN. Popped and poured. Time has been kind to this wine. It has settled into early adulthood, finally shedding its youthful exuberance. A hint of something I normally associate with brett, but otherwise dark cherries/black raspberry/blueberry, a hint of pine/rosemary/forest/earth and fine tannins that are seemingly nearly resolved. Drinking beautifully and in a sweet spot. My last bottle. Great pairing with grilled Brazilian picahna (top round with fat cap).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2013 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Yet another example of the QPR greatness that is Carlisle. While prices have crept up a few dollars here and there, Mike's "appellation" wines are still a great value. Have learned to let Carlisle syrahs rest for a while and this '05 was in a good spot, rewarding the patience. Drunk over two nights (poured off 1/2 into a 375) and the 2nd night was better. Bright red fruit profile, a food wine in that the acidity and touch of heat was fine on its own but way better with my bacon & brussels side! Not earthy per se but a nice minerality in the mouthfeel that balanced the wine. Nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2013 - wineismylife wrote: 91 Points
WIML91
Tasted non blind. Opened and decanted about one hour before serving.
Dark garnet to almost purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of roasted meat, a little tar and plenty of currants and dried plums. Flavors of black berries, currants and dark plums. Medium acidity, medium tannin, full bodied. Drink over the next few years. Ready to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2013 - skp88 wrote: 88 Points
Well crafted and balanced but lacking in personality, either from exuberant fruit or earthy flavors. This reminds of a lot of wines that appear so afraid to be overdone and want so much to be refined, balanced and smooth that they end up being boring. This was boring. It offends no one except me when I looked at the $40 price I paid for it. For that price I want more than a wine that is inoffensive
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - Spencer Likes this wine:
Best Carlisle syrah I've had in a long time, if not ever. Balanced and pure. Should get even better and age gracefully. Curious to know if this was vinified differently from most other Carlisles from the same period?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine tastes exactly like it smells. Kalamata olive brine, sizzled bacon fat, muted black fruit and a hint of Dr. Pepper (spice). The wine is extremely well made and silky smooth (especially for the price I paid $25). Paired excellent with sausage pasta. This is drinking close to it’s peak. This was my first Carlisle and certainly not my last.
See more detail at
http://maximumsatisfaction.tumblr.com/post/37166926753
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2012 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
From a 750ml tlv opened the previous night. Inky purple color with a bouquet dominated by aromas of bacon fat and roasted meat. Violet, spice and black fruit notes add complexity. Full-bodied with velvety tannins and flavors of dark fruit, plum, roasted meat and iron. Long finish. Impressive, and a stellar match w/Mrs. tlv's braised short ribs.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2012 - thelostverse wrote: 93 Points
This has an explosive nose that I could smell just walking past a full glass. Black fruits and bacon fat, with palate picking up some blueberry and floral.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2012 - daniel.jay wrote:
Disappointing, no fruit left. Possible heat damage?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2012 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
Nose is dark and rich with big black fruit and stem notes. Palate sports large scale fruit with good juicy acidity playing counterpoint. Seems that the wine still needs time to develop and show nuance. Powerful finish. I like the core - stem and herb notes starting to add complexity - but needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2012 - gregg g wrote:
Dark stuff. Full and rich, yet carries the fruit with a threaded, core of acidity. Gets slightly sweet and hot on the finish, but I have to say, this may be the best Syrah in bottle I've had from Mr. Mike. Simply a well made wine in a bigger style. Perhaps, the most refined and composed Carlisle Syrah I've tasted to date. Just checked, it's the lowest abv, @ 15%, of any Carlsisle I've had.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/10/2011 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Rich and plummy, lavender flavors in this wine, great grip and presence, full bodied.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2011 - wdb001 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Inky purple color, lovely floral nose and notes of dark fruit, tar, bacon fat. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2011 - gdbarton1@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Very dark purple, opaque. Vet nice, dark black fruit, spice, lavender and sage nose. Ripe concentrated black fruit, rich, long spicy finish, not quite balanced little too ripe and concentrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2011 - meatman wrote: 90 Points
Meaty nose and palate. Definitely less sweet than most Carlisles. My only problem with it was the last glass 6 hours later had lost its acidity and was all cocoa. Score is for all of the glasses but the last.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2010 - Haltermr wrote: 90 Points
Very good. Rather simple compared to the Cardiac Hill.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2010 - lpollack wrote: 92 Points
Dark ink color. Nose of black fruits and cracked pepper deep concentration. Tastes of blackberries, black currants and pepper. Long pleasing finish. Tannins are well integrated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2010 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great bottle shared with friend. No detailed notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2010 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Note after 3 hours. Earth and barnyard on the nose. Blackberries, plum and spice on the palate. Could mistake this for Northern Rhone. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine:
15% ABV. Dark garnet, slightly translucent in the glass. Fairly strong nose of roasting coffee beans. Meaty dark fruit with a bit of smoke. Rich, full bodied with savory/sweet meaty black fruit. Good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2010 - cenberra21 wrote:
Put some scallops wrapped in bacon in the oven and with Louie Armstong playing and crooning in the background, popped and poured this beautiful bottle. Deep purple color, nose offered red and dark fruits with nuances of meat and licorice. Still tannic, this is a dense drink with flavors of espresso, sour cherry, and chocolate. It got much better after an hour. It rocked on the second day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2010 - Ekoostik wrote: 92 Points
Nose of smoke, mushrooms and earth that gives way to a rich yet leaning back towards medium bodied wine. This is Carlisle dialed back a touch, even showing some red fruits. I really felt this wine was quite open and drinking well, some slight tannin but nothing obtrusive. For me in a good spot now yet it will certainly develop, just not sure it will get significantly better?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2010 - JonnyB wrote: 92 Points
Bought this in 2007 and finally drank it last night with a ribeye steak and portabello mushrooms. The wine was fantastic, inky dark with blackberries and tar and a stout amount of tannins. Keep or drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2009 - greenblanket wrote:
This is way more about structure than fruit. Don't get me wrong because there's some rich black fruit in play but the dominant forces here are olives, whole cluster underbrush, tar, whiffs of barbecue and still hard tannins. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Enjoyed with some old time Kenny Burrell on CD. The wine starts off slow, tight and tart. It needs time. At the end of the bottle, with no decant, after about 90 mins it opens up to some bittersweet chocolate, iron, hint of olive, some chalk and blackberry. It still needs time but it does soften with air. Suggest another 18 months of age and for me, a different kind of Carlisle, bit more red and leaner blackberry and structure with tartness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2009 - rmsanz wrote: 92 Points
Still pretty closed upon opening, but beginning to come to life. Tight for the first couple of hours then began to unravel with dark fruits and good balance. Day 2: the wine hit its stride with fantastic balance and great nose. Looking forward to future bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2009 - cookie7 wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Nose of meat and bacon fat. Big wine with precise flavors. I could easily confuse this with a Northern Rhone. Fabulous and one of my favorite Carlisle Syrahs to date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2009 - tkoby11 wrote: 94 Points
I was expecting Shiraz, but was pleasantly surprised at the character of this wine's lack of Cali-typicity. The nose was strikingly Rhone, though less peppery and no bacon fat.
Color: Dark red, garnet edges
Nose: Meaty, White Pepper, Underbrush, Blackberry
Palate: Blackberry an black cherry, licorice, some-what subtle mocha-choco-oak
Nice, wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2009 - pakabear wrote: 92 Points
Classic new world Syrah nose. A floral nose with some medium red fruit and some background oak. Good fruit on the palate, spice, oak and a rhubarb like palate, good balance with tannins that will allow for another 5-10 years of aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2009 - jbrekke wrote:
Amazing nose of pure raspberry. Can't recall experiencing such a beautiful raspberry aroma in any other wine. Mid palate confirms the raspberry along with darker fruits and a hint of meat. Very little spice. Well balanced with relatively long finish. Very mature for such a young wine. Sad to only have one more of these left. This wine has improved by leaps and bounds since December '08
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2009 - jonphillips wrote: 92 Points
Strong on Day 2 as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2009 - DFC wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured, and then consumed over 5 hours. Medium-bodied wine that is dark magenta/purple in color. On the nose, expressive dark berries, bacon fat, and floral notes. On the palate, blackberries, blueberries, minerals, and licorice on the extremely long 40-second finish. Great balance and acidic lift here...loaded with fruit without being overbearing, this lithe Syrah is gorgeous to drink, and I'm sad this was my only bottle. Yet another great Carlisle QPR!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2009 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
I got nothing on the nose at all. I found this wine to be tight and not giving much. not my kind of Carlisle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2009 - danseng wrote: 87 Points
Decanted this for about an hour, but still got quite a bit of heat, which I'm normally not real sensitive to. Seemed a little disjointed at this point. My only bottle, so I won't get to see how it develops.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2008 - otisabdul wrote: 90 Points
Full of blueberry and boysenberry fruit, but with a Rhonish spice on the finish. Needs a little more time to integrate. Probably best in 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2008 - tkoby11 wrote: 92 Points
I was expecting Shiraz, but was pleasantly surprised at the character of this wine's lack of Cali-typicity. The nose was strikingly Rhone, though less peppery and no bacon fat.
Color: Dark red, garnet edges
Nose: Meaty, White Pepper, Underbrush, Blackberry
Palate: Blackberry an black cherry, licorice, some-what subtle mocha-choco-oak
Nice, wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2008 - ginfizz wrote: 90 Points
No detailed notes. Better after an hour of air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2008 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Great stuff! Dark fruit and spice!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2008 - E wrote: 92 Points
This is fabulous...needs a little bit of time in the decanter to shed some heat...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2008 - jonphillips wrote: 91 Points
Interesting ... more Rhoneish than expected.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
High toned, violets, tapenade and meat on the nose. Popped and poured, displaying a precociousness. Needs some air to settle down and strut its stuff. Although the nose is already very complex.
An hour and a half later, major changes. Wine gained some weight and so much richer than after pop and pour. Silky smooth finish. Nose has changed, this time bacon, deep red raspberry and a touch of charcoal. Beautiful mouth feel with glycerin notes pushing through. In the mouth, silky red raspberry and a touch of blueberry. There are some tannins pushing through in the end of the finish, but they are so ripe and do not take away from the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/9/2008 - glaze3 wrote:
Well this was opened probably a year too early, really wrapped up tight with dark cherries and chocolate, a little thin on the mid-palette and finishes with lots of acidity that kinda overwhelms the fruit right now. This has better days to come and I would suggest holding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/17/2008 - redbaron wrote: 89 Points
Gamy, cherry, tobacco, leather and coffee flavors. Rather long and spicy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2008 - tskrueger wrote: 90 Points
Open in the glass for 6-7 hours. Nose of coconut, vanilla, and red raspberry. Full mouthfeel with notes of raspberry, graphite and meat, finishing with a bit of mint and garrigue.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful pure dark red in color. On the nose tapenade, licorice, pure red rasberry and meaty. Stunning nose, just beautiful. In the mouth, smooth with dark cherry and tart acidity pushing through. Acidity not overbearing, but providing very enjoyable lift. This is a joy to drink now and it should be in the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2008 - greenblanket wrote:
The Barky von Schnauzers and Greenblankets decided it was finally time for a barbecue and further decided to try a couple of Cali Rhones with ribs. The BvS’s brought a Ridge ATP program Syrah/Grenache from 2001 and Greenblanket just couldn’t resist opening another 2005 Carlisle Bennett Valley. The Carlisle also sported floral aromas as well as smoky blackberries, pepper and a meaty/iodine/salty/bloody note. Cured meat (the producer says tapenade) and rich, creamy black fruit flavors continued in the mouth with well balanced structure provided by smooth tannin and generous acidity. Also lovely but way too young to be opened.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2008 - nectar14 wrote: 90 Points
Purple-ruby color. Nose shows lots of purple fruit, raw beef, and a bit of pepper. Some VA is noted. Medium-bodied, juicy, and fruity in the mouth. The focus is fairly good, and the finish pleasant. A nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2008 - greenblanket wrote:
Another Carlisle partnership between Mrs. "Old World" Brother In Law and Greenblanket. There was an odd bottle so we ripped into it as soon as it came out of the shipping box. The OWBIL himself was pretty upset about having a bottle of Syrah on the property. In his view of the world Syrah is a weird oddball wine that isn't up to his "old world" level of sophistication. Greenblanket just kept his mouth shut and enjoyed this wonderful wine. The much heralded cool climate characteristics were in full effect on the nose with licorice, iodine, fresh flowers, tarry syrah smoke, bacon fat, pepper and deep black fruits. The flavors followed on the palate along with some additional spiciness and super silky smooth tannins. There was also a very nicely integrated stemmy/barky structure. As I have noted many times - despite the ripe silky nature of this wine it is still fresh and balanced with plenty of acidity and structure. Greenblanket agrees with a previous poster that a bit more overall heft on the body of his wine would be desirable but it's important to note that this bottle was opened way early and given precious little time to breath. Outstanding.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Of the three 2005 syrahs I have had in the past month (RRV and DC), this is the most wrapped up of the three. Further, it posseses the lightest weight of the 3, at least at this stage. I did splash decant this wine and return in to bottle before I took it to dinner and indeed that helped, as well as another 24 hours in bottle overnight, which added some more mid-palate to the wine. Shows a bit of black pepper on the nose, along with more roasted cherry and more acidity than the other 2 syrahs above. In fact, the acidity is on par or above the fruit, along with some chocolate sticking out some so I would suggest letting this bottle rest another year or more. Yes, likely I opened way too soon but I have been working my way through the 2005 Carlisle syrahs and wanted to get a barometer on the wine, vis a vis the others, so throw stones at me later.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2008 - NolesOnTop wrote:
Dark red. Heavy weight. Smell is tight. Slight pepper and dark fruit. Taste is chocolate, pepper and brush.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2007 - JP wrote:
Loved it. Inky and glass staining. Notes of dark fruit, black olives, and raw beef/ blood. This is rockin' right now, and it should only get better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment