This is the epitome of joy and pleasure! I was debating with myself if this was a 92p’er based on pure, objective quality or I should go for 93 as I enjoyed it so much. Then I read the note below. It is so on point. I enjoyed it equally much and agree very much with the description, so I will go for 93 as well. What an absolute treat to have this incredible level of drinking pleasure in something as rare as a 15yo Zinfandel!
Edit: well, then I read the note below again. It is 5 years old. I don’t know if my rather cold Danish cellar helps it along, but it really showed like described. Awesome wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Two Carlisles and a Chenin: This is what mature Sonoma zin is supposed to be. lush, plush and oh so full of pleasure. Opens with sweet berries and violets, but there is a hint of smoked jerky there as well. Dark garnet color. mid is berries on a velvet-textured cream. raspberries and sweet spices. back has a good deal of acid to keep this big wine fresh (you cannot taste the 15.9%) finishes with a touch of brambles over the sweet fruit. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very interesting. This wine has calmed down a lot and the powerful individual flavors have melded themselves into a unified and very smooth whole. Blind, I would not have guessed that this was a Carlisle Zinfandel because it was a bit more restrained, probably due to the age. I did not drink this under optimum conditions - client Christmas party, crappy hotel event wine glasses, after having way too much delicious baked brie that coated the mouth, etc. Hence no precise note on specific flavors, but an excellent wine and my second contribution to Historic Vintage week on Wineberserkers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle of this delicious Zin. This wine is drinking beautifully with dark fruit, spice and earth. Even so I would say it has a ways to go. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 45 minutes. Brick red with a hint of purple. Moderately dense. Rich texture. Very long finish. At six years it is beginning to soften and show signs of a mature zin. Dark fruit with spice, a little anise and earth. Continued to open up over the next hour. Wonderful wine. Might have been even better if I'd waited another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very happy with this - complexity is so engaging. Given how many wines Mike makes now I haven't been buying this one in the past few vintages and am regretting that now. mental note for next year! This bottle has an engrossing nose of bramble, blackberry and anise/pepper. Glycerine mouthfeel, nice length and well balanced - no heat. An elegant but structured zin and food friendly. In a good spot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blue fruits and briar patch on the nose. Blue berries spiced with white pepper and a hint of sweet vanilla on the finish. Definitely a full-throttle zin but surprisingly smooth and balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
So smooth. What I like about the Rossi is that it always brings a bit more flavor complexity and garrique to the table, wrapped in that Carlisle zin mouthfeel. My first of this vintage and I liked it much better than the '04s I was clicking through in the last year or so. The flavor balance had a bit more fruit, a bit less herbal/meat than the '04s. Popped and poured and it's in good condition. My recommendation is drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Starts out a bit tight and tannic, with light pepper, spice, bramble. I was pleased with the balance on this wine. Sure, this is big zin but the delicious berry and smooth texture, along with some vanilla, this was great with the salmon burger and apple-jicama slaw I paired with it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank this in San Diego with ucbeau. Some tannins. Chocolate? 15.9 alch. This was big and intense. Dare I say complex. Very dark color. Over 90 minutes, this opened up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
15.9% ABV. Translucent dark ruby garnet in the glass. Rich sweet boysenberry and raspberry jam nose with a lovely nutty quality that reminds me of toasted seeds and graham cracker. Juicy, yum nose. Medium full bodied with ripe sweet black zinberry fruit in what seems to be a fairly high Ph (low acid) package (which I don't mind). A really nice mouthful of Zin with some crushed rock nuances mid palate adding interest. This is in a nice place. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black cherry, cola and licorice on the nose. I also get a faint nose of forest floor laced with orangey citrus - not prominent but its there. Silky smooth in the mouth and totally delicious. This is why I drink Carlisle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first Rossi Ranch. Black fruits, some vanilla and spice. Some heat on the nose and finish. I wasn't as impressed with this bottle as I am with most of Mike's wines. I may try the 07 before next weeks release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Sonoma's great, century-old, Rossi Ranch Vineyard. 15.9% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Red and black fruit aromas were detectable from a couple of feet away. Deep, rich black cherry,cassis, pepper and brambly spice on a balanced palate. No detectable alcohol. Aftertaste lingers for a full minute or so. Mike O. goes back to peddling wine within the next couple of weeks. I'll be lined up for my allocation!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A deep, funky, slightly bloody nose of black berry, floral red fruit, briar, dark chocolate and spicy anise. Brighter on the palate with briary fruit, white pepper, baking spices. Authoritative finish. Not quite the depth of the Montafi and Carlisle Vineyard from the save vintage. Ready.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sweet, rich, creamy, full bodied and deep without being too heavy. Lots of primary fruit here. Blackberries, plums, herbs, a touch of white pepper. Very clean, not very complex but enjoyable. No rush to drink this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this about 3-4 hours beforehand. The oak largely disappeared; the whole is deep and much more restrained, although of similar quality. Very pretty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another really good Carlisle. The 5% Alicante Bouschet really helped add complexity and bouquet to this wine. Drinking great now. Wish I had more than one bottle left. Should hold at least another three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful high toned red fruits on the nose, with some smoke, spice and baseball trading card bubble gum thing going on. In the mouth brambly fruits and a touch of heat. Overall very nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really really nice Zin. This wine just has tons of structure and I venture it has a good deal of "mixed blacks". A bit rustic esp for a Carlisle Zin, but I found this to be my liking. This is a Zin for the Petite Sirah fan. Pretty big tannins and I can see this Zin ageing pretty well for several years. Excellent stuff
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color, black center. Intriguing nose of oak, bacon fat, melted licorice and blackberry syrup with a touch of toasted almond. Oak on the palate as well, great acid balance, fine tannins, full bodied and silky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/15/2021 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is the epitome of joy and pleasure! I was debating with myself if this was a 92p’er based on pure, objective quality or I should go for 93 as I enjoyed it so much. Then I read the note below. It is so on point. I enjoyed it equally much and agree very much with the description, so I will go for 93 as well. What an absolute treat to have this incredible level of drinking pleasure in something as rare as a 15yo Zinfandel!
Edit: well, then I read the note below again. It is 5 years old. I don’t know if my rather cold Danish cellar helps it along, but it really showed like described. Awesome wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - Mlermontov wrote: 93 Points
Two Carlisles and a Chenin: This is what mature Sonoma zin is supposed to be. lush, plush and oh so full of pleasure. Opens with sweet berries and violets, but there is a hint of smoked jerky there as well. Dark garnet color. mid is berries on a velvet-textured cream. raspberries and sweet spices. back has a good deal of acid to keep this big wine fresh (you cannot taste the 15.9%) finishes with a touch of brambles over the sweet fruit. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2014 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very interesting. This wine has calmed down a lot and the powerful individual flavors have melded themselves into a unified and very smooth whole. Blind, I would not have guessed that this was a Carlisle Zinfandel because it was a bit more restrained, probably due to the age. I did not drink this under optimum conditions - client Christmas party, crappy hotel event wine glasses, after having way too much delicious baked brie that coated the mouth, etc. Hence no precise note on specific flavors, but an excellent wine and my second contribution to Historic Vintage week on Wineberserkers.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2014 - buckeye76 wrote: 92 Points
RICH FRUIT, BLACK CHERRIES AND RASPBERRIES IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH SPICE. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A MEDIUM TO LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2013 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
My last bottle of this delicious Zin. This wine is drinking beautifully with dark fruit, spice and earth. Even so I would say it has a ways to go. Drink or hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2013 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great balance. Blue fruit. Mellowed out. Carlisle is such a great QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - jfkwines wrote: 91 Points
good damn bottle of wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2012 - Ed B wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 45 minutes. Brick red with a hint of purple. Moderately dense. Rich texture. Very long finish. At six years it is beginning to soften and show signs of a mature zin. Dark fruit with spice, a little anise and earth. Continued to open up over the next hour. Wonderful wine. Might have been even better if I'd waited another year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2012 - btock wrote: 91 Points
Very happy with this - complexity is so engaging. Given how many wines Mike makes now I haven't been buying this one in the past few vintages and am regretting that now. mental note for next year! This bottle has an engrossing nose of bramble, blackberry and anise/pepper. Glycerine mouthfeel, nice length and well balanced - no heat. An elegant but structured zin and food friendly. In a good spot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2012 - psoals wrote: flawed
Corked! So sad.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2012 - ggolec wrote: 90 Points
Blue fruits and briar patch on the nose. Blue berries spiced with white pepper and a hint of sweet vanilla on the finish. Definitely a full-throttle zin but surprisingly smooth and balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - btock wrote: 92 Points
So smooth. What I like about the Rossi is that it always brings a bit more flavor complexity and garrique to the table, wrapped in that Carlisle zin mouthfeel. My first of this vintage and I liked it much better than the '04s I was clicking through in the last year or so. The flavor balance had a bit more fruit, a bit less herbal/meat than the '04s. Popped and poured and it's in good condition. My recommendation is drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2011 - lsnider wrote: 92 Points
No formal notes taken. Love these zins just seem so pure and hedonistic!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2011 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Much like the last bottle. Deep, dark fruit. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Starts out a bit tight and tannic, with light pepper, spice, bramble. I was pleased with the balance on this wine. Sure, this is big zin but the delicious berry and smooth texture, along with some vanilla, this was great with the salmon burger and apple-jicama slaw I paired with it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - dhammer53 wrote:
Drank this in San Diego with ucbeau. Some tannins. Chocolate? 15.9 alch. This was big and intense. Dare I say complex. Very dark color. Over 90 minutes, this opened up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2011 - budman wrote: 92 Points
Smooth dark fruit. Long finish. Extra-smooth mouthfeel. Excellent. Sad that I was only able to get two of these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 93 Points
15.9% ABV. Translucent dark ruby garnet in the glass. Rich sweet boysenberry and raspberry jam nose with a lovely nutty quality that reminds me of toasted seeds and graham cracker. Juicy, yum nose. Medium full bodied with ripe sweet black zinberry fruit in what seems to be a fairly high Ph (low acid) package (which I don't mind). A really nice mouthful of Zin with some crushed rock nuances mid palate adding interest. This is in a nice place. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2010 - rmodak wrote: 90 Points
Dark rich blueberry with licorice, baking spices and dill. Tannins are pronounced, so I may revisit in a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Black cherry, cola and licorice on the nose. I also get a faint nose of forest floor laced with orangey citrus - not prominent but its there. Silky smooth in the mouth and totally delicious. This is why I drink Carlisle!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2010 - gr8r84u wrote:
Carlisle is to Zinfandel what Heinz is to Ketchup. Hands down my favorite Zin producer. Mike is s rockstar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
My first Rossi Ranch. Black fruits, some vanilla and spice. Some heat on the nose and finish. I wasn't as impressed with this bottle as I am with most of Mike's wines. I may try the 07 before next weeks release.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 92 Points
From Sonoma's great, century-old, Rossi Ranch Vineyard. 15.9% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Red and black fruit aromas were detectable from a couple of feet away. Deep, rich black cherry,cassis, pepper and brambly spice on a balanced palate. No detectable alcohol. Aftertaste lingers for a full minute or so. Mike O. goes back to peddling wine within the next couple of weeks. I'll be lined up for my allocation!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 90 Points
A deep, funky, slightly bloody nose of black berry, floral red fruit, briar, dark chocolate and spicy anise. Brighter on the palate with briary fruit, white pepper, baking spices. Authoritative finish. Not quite the depth of the Montafi and Carlisle Vineyard from the save vintage. Ready.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2010 - Anonymous Likes this wine: 91 Points
Sweet, rich, creamy, full bodied and deep without being too heavy. Lots of primary fruit here. Blackberries, plums, herbs, a touch of white pepper. Very clean, not very complex but enjoyable. No rush to drink this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2010 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Beginning to open up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2009 - LikeABC wrote:
wasn't showing as well as the other two blind zins. still very good, but suspect it needs another year or two in the bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
Young. Touch of alcohol upon opening, but still some tannins and acid that need to resolve. Hold another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/11/2009 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Opened this about 3-4 hours beforehand. The oak largely disappeared; the whole is deep and much more restrained, although of similar quality. Very pretty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2009 - Screameagle wrote: 92 Points
Another really good Carlisle. The 5% Alicante Bouschet really helped add complexity and bouquet to this wine. Drinking great now. Wish I had more than one bottle left. Should hold at least another three years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2009 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful high toned red fruits on the nose, with some smoke, spice and baseball trading card bubble gum thing going on. In the mouth brambly fruits and a touch of heat. Overall very nicely done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2009 - Ekoostik wrote: 93 Points
Really really nice Zin. This wine just has tons of structure and I venture it has a good deal of "mixed blacks". A bit rustic esp for a Carlisle Zin, but I found this to be my liking. This is a Zin for the Petite Sirah fan. Pretty big tannins and I can see this Zin ageing pretty well for several years. Excellent stuff
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2009 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color, black center. Intriguing nose of oak, bacon fat, melted licorice and blackberry syrup with a touch of toasted almond. Oak on the palate as well, great acid balance, fine tannins, full bodied and silky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment