Dark red, translucent at the edges. Aromas of dark fruits. Elegant but muted on the palate, blackberries, roast meat, anise. Sharp tannins, bright acidity, bit out of balance. Touches of heat. Finishes long and dark fruited. Still OK, but just that. Certainly past peak. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine has peaked-- preferred it two years ago. Dark berries, inky hue. Slightly over ripe nose, spice. Graphite/spice, dark berries, full bodied, nicely structured, silky. If you got it, I urge you to drink it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP and drunk with pork roast leftovers. Could not ask for more in an aged Syrah. Drinking at peak. Concentrated dark fruits and licorice along with secondary flavors. Tannin completely integrated. Pure delight. Under screwcap. Drink or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sealed with a screw cap. This bottle has not seen the best storage as it spent several years of its life in a NYC apartment, but it seems no worse for the wear. Near opaque purple with a heady nose of blackberry liqueur and some herbal and meaty undertones. As is the Carlisle style, this is unapologetically oversized but not overdone. Full-bodied and big-fruited, but with a nice lift from the underlying acidity and no noticeable oak presence. There is a pleasant smokey finish marked by firm but polished tannins. While my tastes drifted away from this style years ago, these are well made wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep black coloring. More savory, not a fruit bomb. Paired very well with some olives that brought out the sanguine elements of the wine. A more Northern Rhone-ish profile. Nicely done and good bottle composition given the age. Was pleased that the hold time on the bottle was rewarded. Under cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent screw capped bottle from a cold cellar. My experience mirrors that of Bellissimo below. Further, I found the acidity balanced, not too high. Probably still 10 years left in the bottle I had, though I guess with no further improvement, so why not just drink them now, if you have any?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purchased days ago at a wine shop, 30m decant to help with sediment. Cork was dried and crumbly. Very savory: black olive, cured meats, black pepper, smoked meat. Was exactly the style I was looking for tonight, but this was not a balanced wine. Delicious.
Screwtop enclosure. Twisted, poured then consumed over 2 nights. Raspberry, boysenberry, hints of olive juice, herbs and bacon fat. Tannins are still evident though not harsh at all; nice balance with the acids up front. Had the cork enclosure last year and felt this more fruit. Nice test of screwtop vs cork enclosure.
Strangely enough, I think Mike's zins age better than his syrahs (although in general I like his syrahs a lot). A pleasant nose of plums. Plums, blueberries on the palate, but I don't find the fruit as bright as I would like. The tannins are still heavy, good acidity. It seems a bit hot (not enough to put me off, but it's there). The finish is short. Still a perfectly nice wine, but not one of Mike's best (at least at this point in time). Perhaps better a few years ago. This was under a screw cap.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwtop Enclosure. Raspberries, blackberries, currants, licorice, minerals and floral in the nose. Black raspberries. licorice, and hints of spice in the flavor. Full bodied wine with a medium to long finish. Drinking very well now.
Cork enclosure. More savory with reserved fruit and in the background. Medium weight, will be interesting to see how this compares to the screwcap enclosure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LBTG. Screw cap. I preferred the cork. I found this wine to have too much bite and has not softened with age. Palate similar to cork but too much other stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LBTG Under Cork. I preferred the cork to the screw cap. The aging did the bottle good. The screw cap was a bit harsh to me while the cork was softer, less bite, sweet red fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very different flavor profile compared to Papas Black. Dark purple color and not as much layer flavors or complexity. This wine has a great dirt, earth taste with full mouth feel and a great wine. This is more masculine and structured compared to my recent 2006 Carlisle Papas Block which was more delicate and complex.
I have some more Cardiac Hill vs Papas Block comparisons coming. Liked this wine and structure. There is nothing not to like. There is a lot of life left in this wine. This wine had much stronger tannins vs the '06 Papas but it could just be a year less bottle age. Great Syrah flavor profile with a great mix of fruit, earth and integrated soft tannins. Quite enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poured blind, served from mag. This had the aromatic signature of syrah, done in the classic whole cluster style, with dried purple flower, bacon fat. It poured dark, showing tar and inky qualities in the palate, and was lightly boozy. I was starting to get a little fuzzy as the night wore on so I don't have any re-taste notes from after the wine sat out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw cap bottle. Was in fine shape. Full flavored syrah with no rough edges. A better bottle than shared at a Carlisle tasting about a year ago. Almost black in the glass. Fruit driven but not overly sweet. Nicely engaging. In a good spot now but could could hold further. Have one more under cork finish and will wait a year or two.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full nose of ripe, smoky black fruit and some pencil lead. Palate is full bodied with smooth, rich fruit that glides across the palate. Really fresh and poised for the size and scale. More smoke with some meat. Cardiac Hill always delivers. This version is a little less nuanced and complex than others I've had, but I think it has the stuffing and balance to age and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque purple in color. 14.2% ABV. Heady aromas of blue fruits, olive brine, barbecued meats and flowers. The palate belies the nose somewhat as the wine is less opulent than I expect from Carlisle. Elegant, savory and complex nonetheless. Flavors of blueberries, smoked meats and iron. Medium length on the finish. At nine years of age this Syrah has definitely taken on some secondary characteristics. Drink over the next year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deeply pitched violet color. Syrah which embraces the new world style and delivers fleshy fruitiness while maintaining the savory classic character of the grape. Fruit is in front of the structure, but with airtime, supple tannins exert themselves. The acidity is sneaky here as the wine is complex and it emerges with some freshness on the palate. This is welcome as this is a full bodied rich wine. The primary blackberry notes give way to some briny & meaty character, but that fruit cannot be denied.
Power is the story, but this remains graceful and is an excellent representation of California Syrah. Those savory nuances are compelling & this was a superb complement to a homemade pizza with mole Salumi & castleveltrano olives.
Smells like ripe dark berries and stone. After twirling wine, nose improved dramatically. Inky hue. Concentrated wine with nice finish. 525 cases made. Carlisle is usually very reliable-- this wine is no exception. Big, yet subtle and easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A side-by-side comparison of these wines under different closures: one under cork, one under screw cap. Strikingly different. The cork version was more open on the nose, seemingly more refined initially, and had a somewhat tighter palate, with blue fruit, pepper, and spice. The screw cap showed a note of reduction on the nose but a smoother, more balanced palate that was definitely pleasing. With air, the cork bottle opened up and smoothed out, making it a closer call between the two wines. The most interesting aspect to me was how the palate presence of the wine differed, with the screw cap showing more plush, balanced, and refined. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black with a deep ruby rim. Blackberry and mineral notes on the nose with some hints of licorice. Full bodied on the palate with good balance and a good attack. Thins out a touch on the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From screwcap. Very similar to my first bottle: A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Next day review and better than day wine with bacon, roasted game, sour cherries, floral notes and earth. Medium plus finish and a balanced effort. No heat and smooth. Excellent. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich, full-bodied wine with an intense blackberry/blueberry/blackcurrant infused nose with smoke/woodsmoke and cracked black syrah-pepper. Delicious, soft tannins and just enough acidity to give balance. A bit of salty liquorice/salinity in the aftertaste annoyed me a bit but not enough to distract this from being an outstanding wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork version...kept the screw top for later. Pulled cork for 1.5hrs. WOTN for me, absolutely gorgeous nose and complex full palate. More elegant than the Copains.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3 years since the last bottle, this came from a friend's cellar. It saw some 2 hours of slow ox air too, FWIW. Aromatically this has settled down since 2011, showing less white flower aromas, just a faint hint of that now and the bacon fat. Plush palate too, suave. Still shows the threading of black olive through the wine's mid-palate, along with lots of dark fruit and some lingering iron, dark chocolate and tar, with a hint of remaining structure. For where I see this wine, it's probably reaching an apex between plush CA and the emergence of 2ndary notes coming soon. Depending on your palate, you can gauge how you want to drink or age. I will say that the alc is quite managed here and is integrated quite well. Very nice example of Cardiac done right.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour through Vinturi and consumed over ~2 hours. Great dense, full-bodied wine with dried blueberry, prosciutto, subtle rose/floral note on the mid-palate through the finish with more dried black fruit and subtle baking spices. Velvety mouthfeel with sweet, integrated tannins and a medium-long finish. Another killer Mike O wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of blackberry, pepper, meat, blueberry and baking spice. Blackberry jam, smoked meat, baking spice, toffee, vanilla and fine tannins on the palate lead to a medium-to-long, soft finish. Full bodied. Paired with corned beef and cabbage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
winery - Dark ruby-purple. Nearly opaque. A perfumed nose of blackberry, violets, black olive, and pepper. Full-bodied but not heavy thanks to refreshing acidity and invigorating tannins. While obviously Californian, something very Northern Rhone-like about this wine. Cornas perhaps? Enjoy from release through 2020.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
About the same as my 2011 note, yes a little better integrated but also likely to keep improving ever so slightly. A somewhat one dimensional fruit profile limits my enthusiasm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Blackberry, cherry, pepper, cedar and vanilla on the nose. Dark fruit and very soft tannins lead to a smooth, medium to long finish. Full bodied. Paired with panzerotti.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Surprisingly, I think this is actually the first Carlisle I have ever drunk. It is closed by cork. PnP with a big fresh nose. At first lots of sweet spice - cardamon - then that fades to intense pepperiness. Toasted blackberries, smoky blueberries, almost achingly spicy oak, purple flowers, a bit of caramel, hot tar. Seems lush on the mouthfeel, but oddly low on fruit flavor itself. Ripe tannin structure. Finish is slightly hot and astringent. I don't know, somehow this seems to have the components there, but on the whole, although it is by no means austere, it is just not putting its game together and delivering an especially pleasurable or satisfying experience. More for tomorrow to see if that changes. 89+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted two hours. Classical Carlisle nose of baked fruit. Rich and silky with dark fruit on the palate. A suave effort, very enjoyable. Drink now or hold for several years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same as last bottle: Cork closure. Another great bottle. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A great bottle, not the heavy minerals or olives that others see, lots of fruit with a terrific density that held up to smoked pork ribs. Closer to a Zint han the extremely of Syrah. This was under screw cap, I willhold my bottle under cork for at least another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Its been about 18 months since our last bottle, and this hasn't moved much since then. Similar impressions as last time. Dark fruits, some olive, charcoal and this time I noticed just a hint of vanilla. Powerful but not thick or heavy. This one was under screw cap.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap, screwed at cellar temp and decanted. Nice, intense nose of blackberry, cardamom, and vanilla. The palate enters with juicy blackberry and raspberry and transitions through a briny, black olive into the peppery mid-palate. Finish is still showing a fair amount of French Oak but there are no rough edges and everything is seamlessly integrated. Nice Carlisle Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Blackberry, black cherry, pepper, spice, and vanilla. Dark fruit and smooth tannins lead to a long, fruit driven, finish. Medium-to-full bodied. Once again, a well made, solid Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap - consistent notes over two days. Bold but balanced, this beauty is loaded with dark fruit and spice with some pretty prickly tannins still present. Should probably wait a couple more years at least on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork closure. Another great bottle. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love Bennett Valley syrah. And I love Carlisle syrah. So it's no wonder that I love this wine. I had a bottle 2 1/2 years ago and wasn't nearly this impressed. Dark fruits, a touch of chocolate, and that characteristic Bennett Valley pepper (nicely moderated in this case) on the palate. Must make a note: Carlise + Bennett Valley = buy as much as possible (and hold it for a couple years before drinking)!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From screwcap closure. Nose: Tree moss, tar, sage and cassis hints. Palate: Soft evolved tannins compared to the last bottle tasted on 5/30/10 with dark fruits, spice and a medium length finish. This bottle is more like a matured version of the one on 5/30/10 rather than the first bottle (also a screwcap finish) tasted on 12/14/09 which was amazing and by far the best bottle of this as it was far more viscous and complex. I have one more (cork finish) left and am somewhat on the fence as to when to open it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From screwcap. Very similar to my first bottle: A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A savory Carlisle nose. A little heat, bigger tannins for a syrah. Mellows out considerably after about an hour. Then, the fruit is dark, slightly brooding, and yummy. Unfortunately, it lost A LOT on days 2 and 3, even under argon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% ABV. Cork finished bottle. Opaque dark garnet in the glass. More pronounced coffee on this bottle as compared to my last with a black fruit and leather note underneath. Medium full bodied dark berry fruit and leather notes. Pretty good. Probably would benefit from some additional cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped this wine and gave it about 4 hours of air. Alcohol is present but not intrusive. Lots of dark fruit and some pepper. Nice acidity with a good finish. Good medium-soft mouth feel. Did not feel the oak took over, but it was present.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a baby, but very enjoyable. Drank the screw cap first. Big black fruit, oaky, pepper, and still has massive tannins. Going to let the other sit for another 4-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
One year between notes. I opened this last night, tasting note is from following day. I'll say I like this better today then over dinner last. Today I am pairing it with a cheese pizza with red pepper flakes while last night it was the kick-ass Coq Au Vin at Marche in South Coast. The wine last night seemed a little boozy and oaky. Today, less of the booze note and really the aromatic is more about white flower. The palate is pretty concentrated, a bit rough with a good core of dark fruit, some bitter chocolate and the oak still a player, quite prominent for me on the finish. Has some pepper and iron mixed into the wine but it's subtle.along with tar and lavender. I still think this wine is still young and youthful and the richness against the wood seems to say 'settle more'. The wood will need to merge in here as the wine underneath is quite good but it's still in my view dominated by the barrel essence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
full bodied, with prominent alcohol that i did not expect. amazing black fruit character, black pepper, and nutmeg. a nice acidity that keeps this from getting sappy. med (+) finish. hoping the alcohol better integrates and then this could be a home run!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured (OK, actually unscrewed and poured). Blackberry, black pepper, black plum, black cherry, vanilla and toasted oak aromas and flavors. Lots of dark fruit with soft tannins on the mid-palate. Full bodied and well balanced; leading to a long, smooth, fruity finish. Good acidity as well. Paired with roast beef. Overall, a very well made Cali Syrah, and a good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impenetrable, dark purple hue, reticent nose with hint of black fruits but not much else. Oak and alcohol not overwhelming in the least. Palate gives not much more. I even geeked-out and tried the Venturi; not much difference. Tried it the second night, a bit more fruit with vague floral and spice component. Left a glass for the third night; cornucopia of fruits and a pleasant lavender nose. Nice palate with persistent tannins and distinctly spicy finish. Glorious on the last night. I will hold my remaining bottles for several years.
I was a little dissapointed with this bottle. It was showing its alc a little so we had to cool it down more than it should have been. Not a lot of fruit, kind of one dimensional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First opened Carlisle, checking in ahead of this year's offer. Not disappointed… Pop and pour, followed over a couple of hours. Very young and exuberant, certainly a rich style but with tons and tons of spice and a great finish. Purple in the glass, crushed red fruits galore on the nose. Explosion of fruit in the mouth, ripe and rich - almost too rich actually - but enormous amounts of pepper and asian spices balance it and add interest. The finish is super long with tremendous spice and minerals. Very good wine. Day 2: pretty much the same... good sign? Not sure... I'd like to see this settled down a bit and it is not clear this will happen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap, aerated and drank over 3+ hours from a decanter. Concentrated with medium heavy black fruits, mocha, olive; not syrupy yet lacking lift, especially at first. Thick in the middle, the best way I can describe it is like a shag carpet made of silk, or a maybe a well-groomed collie dog. Or maybe it's like a super well made Shiraz. Even though you can get at the delicious river of fruit right now due to the modest tannin, I'm marking my remaining cork singleton as a medium term hold... it might turn to blackberry juice but it might also work out to becoming a wine that can add some aged characteristics without losing too much fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Its been about 9 months since we last opened one of these and it hasn't changed much since then. Intense dark fruit with some olive and charcoal notes and some black pepper. Very enjoyable. Hopefully I can show some restraint and hold off on opening my last bottle for a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Black fruit and smooth, but was missing something. Don't get me wrong, this was a nice bottle of wine, but I was expecting more. Would like to see where this wine goes in 3-4 years, but that was my only bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap. Decanted for 30 minutes. I bought this bottle from WineBid, so it did not come directly from the winery. Very good, but not quite up to my last bottle. Dark purple-ruby color. The nose has nice strawberry and leather aromas. The palate is not as rich as my previous bottle. Some nice bright fruit, medium bodied. A little herbal on the palate. A good drinker, and a good food wine, but I would never guess this as a Carlisle if tasted blind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great syrah with the signature velvety texture that you always get with Carlise wines. Not a lot of tannins on the finish so I would think that this wine would not last 10+yrs like most Carlisle's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw cap, decanted for ~15 minutes. Plum, boysenberry, currants, and black pepper on the nose and palate. Medium bodied. Soft, smooth finish. A very nice syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly reticent nose of dark fruit with a little rubber underneath (in a good way). Lively acidity and dark fruits with nice tannins that need a little more time. Long finish, on a very well balanced young wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coal black color. On the nose, this is like a barrel sample - the oak is still clearly evident with dark fruit as well. The palate is dense with plums, blueberry, new oak, pepper, and minerals. This is a massive wine that needs years to come around, but it does not come across as overblown or out of balance. Overall, this is a tough wine to evaluate because of its youthfulness. I would love to try it again in about 10 years to see how it has blossomed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw cap decanted for only 10 minutes or so. Definitely opened up as the night went along. I really enjoyed this. It was not mind blowing but very nice. Some pepper near the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% ABV. Screwcap bottle. Decanted about one hour at cellar temp. Dark garnet, mostly opaque. Sweet black raspberry with a nuance of coffee and something like rubber. Medium full bodied with ripe berry fruit and a suggestion of banana(?). This is still a touch closed, but not especially tannic. 91-92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A bit of sweetness, not much focus or interest. Nice easy drinking crowd pleaser. A friend who knows my palate thought I'd hate it, which I didn't. Most popular bottle of the night amongst my friends.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw-cap, decanted 3 hours. On the nose scorched earth, minerals and red fruits. In the mouth, chewy tannins and a decent finish. Very much a cool weather syrah profile. Very well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% alcohol. Sealed under screw cap. Opened for our hour before serving but not decanted. This didn't seem to be less evolved than the previous bottle sealed under cork. Purple color, with a beautiful nose of black fruit and a touch of creamy blueberry. A distinct mineral and olive note leads to a palate that is laden with pure fruit and lovely layers of complexity. There is terrific balance here as each element unfolds, leaving a long, lingering finish and very fine tannins. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Did not decant and used a vinutri. See previous notes, however, this nose has evolved. Beef brisket, iron, huckleberry, bacon fat and charcoal are noticeable. One more year would be nice, yet this is ready and has a nice life ahead. Drink 2011 - 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ok I'll admit it I love what Mike does with syrah and this bottle was no exception. I've loved ever bottle of Carlisle syrah since the first syrah the '99 vintage. Joan loved this just as much as I did.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby. Red and black fruit aromas waft feet from the glass. Enters smooth and rich. Plums, blackberries, rasberries and a little meat on the palate. Carlisle balance and depth. Lengthy aftertaste.
This wine personifies Carlisle Syrah. Lush life!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After finishing the 2007 Jemrose Cardiac Hill last night after a punishing ass round of golf (which made the sting go away, thank you Jim Mack), I decided to keep the flow going and open the 2007 Carlisle version (via Screwcap). For reference, Mike uses the same Cardiac clones as Jim, with the exception of 877, which also goes into Jim's bottling. As I look back at my same TN on this wine from XMAS 2009, there has been some softening of Mike's bottling. Whereas I commented then about the finish being closed and some tension in the wine, I don't sense those features now. Aromatically, I get some bacon fat, flowers, some light pepper, and the same garrigue notes from last time, although those are also subtle. On the palate, the wine is soft and plush (like the last bottle), with some juicy black fruit, charcoal and some of the stone fruit pit, too. It has some of the darkness, the deep feel of the Jemrose but at this stage, Jim's version is a little more dense, more closed with Mike's bottling here more open textured. Aging? I would say Mike's wines can age another 6-12 months, with a drink window through 2013.....as a quick Day 2 update, the wine seemed to pick up a bit more palate weight with the air, bit more ink and rustic edges. Quite nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge nose but the wine is supremely well balanced with a wonderful lingering finish. How can a wine that has so much going on not be syrupy? Drink them now or put them away for years. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark color. Classic Syrah nose with game, pepper and floral notes. Deep, rich fruit on the palate. Smooth, with a good finish. Outstanding bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After a several mediocre bottles of wine lately it was time to come back to something we thought would be good. This did not disappoint. Intense and dark, this showed primary black and blue fruits. I also got fleeting notes of olive and charcoal. What I love about this wine is the intensity of flavor but also the freshness and that there is no syrupy fruit or mouthfeel. Great wine and for us this is very drinkable now even without a decant. (under cork)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holy cow did Carlisle hit a home run with this one! I think 'Cardiac Hill' is a newer bottling for them, and if memory serves, there are some other producers who make wine from this vineyard as well, but can't place them at the moment. Anyways, that is not what is important here, what is is that this is an absolutely fabulous Syrah. I've had my share of Mike's wines over the years, and this may be my favorite yet. Gobs of Syrah character with black olive, lavender blueberries, rosemary and white flowers, with a bit of pie crust going on. Is there some red cherry in there too? Oh my! One of the most striking things about this wine is how 'French' it is, esp for a Carlisle. Now, I'm not saying anyone is going to mistake this for an Hermitage or Cote Rotie, but there is a decidedly 'French' style to the palate that I believe SO many Cali Syrahs lack (but need!). This is a huge bonus for me. I would love to taste this next to the SQN Atlantis Syrah (another French-ish styled Cali Syrah). If there were one thing I could quibble with about this wine, it's that the oak may be (just a touch) clumsy, and I could see the wine chocolate-ing up. But that's splitting hairs. Great wine, great effort.
If Bennett Valley isn't careful, and keeps cranking out Rhones like this, they may become to Syrah what Sonoma Coast is to Pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red, nose a bit peppery but somewhat close. Vinturi areated and decanted with mild residulal tannins and a bit of heat but mostly nice dark fruit adn pepper with reaonsably long finsih. A bit thin and slightrly hot, but cerainly enjoyable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork closure. Nose: Very closed originally but after an hour decant showed wet cement, white pepper and black fruits. Palate: A very different wine than the last bottle on 12/14/09 (with screwcap closure). This bottle was much more shut down and backward. After decanter aeration showed spice, black pepper, considerable tannic grip and blackberries in the background. Nowhere near as rich and viscous as the last bottle. Not sure if the closure has anything to do with it or if this is just in a very awkward stage. Last 2 bottles of this will sleep for at least a couple years. Last bottle was glorious compared to this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap. Just an awesome wine. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
14.2% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Popped and poured. Expressive blackberry aromas. Exceedingly rich mouthfeel. Concentrated, focused flavors of boysenberry, cranberry cassis, with a touch of white pepper and a little smoke. Well balanced. Lingering aftertaste. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cork-top wine, rich, very full-bodied, much like previously tasted but fuller, rounder, more open and ready to drink, unfortunately it was my last bottle, fresh fruit dominated
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap. 60-120 minute decant. Drank over an hour after a 60 minute decant. Great nose of dark berry fruit, dark cocoa and a spicy, meaty note. A sensually well balanced wine, with extremely pure, crisp fruit, great acid balance, good tannins (which still need a little time) and good length. Dark (yet fresh/crisp) berry notes on the attack, with a very subtle creamy licorice, spice, fruit-leather on the mid-palate to finish. Saved half bottle for tomorrow and will post an update...will probably wait at least a year to open my next. 92+ (definitely see this score improving over the next 2-6 years)
Opened four hours before serving and double-decanted. Bottle sealed under cork. That helped. This is a baby. Red-purple color. Beautiful nose of blue and black fruit, minerals, and olives. In the mouth, substantial structure and power behind this wine, with bold fruit flavors. The acidity is terrific, leading to a long, tannic finish. Needs a couple years at least, but this is high quality allt he way. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the Cardiac under cork. Surprisingly, this was even more reductive than the screw cap. I love wines that display this initial indicator of protective winemaking. The air mixes in, the funk blows off and you get the purist expression of fruit. No exception here. Deep, rich color mimics the equally dense fruit. Pure black berry, fig and beef carpaccio. Huge, yet perfectly structured. Well integrated, with lots of upside. Saving the remaining two for a cork/cap side by side a few years from now. Great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple-red, minimal saturation. Extroverted aromas falling on the savory end of the spectrum with roasted meat, smoked tomato sauce with bacon, and olive tapenade and pungent floral scents. These followed through on the palate which was distinctly medium-bodied but with rich flavor intensity. With air some espresso, chocolatey notes emerged in the mouth which were very much a welcome compliment to the strong floral, bacon fat character and gave terrific depth and range to the long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a screw-top. A deep blood red. Fabulous nose full of focused blackberry, cured ham, violets and tar - just the right blend of fruit and slight reductive elements. Carlisle fat on the palate with sinewy red fruit, iron and effervescent minerals keeping it interesting. Lingering fruit-filled finish with that iron note. It decays into a limestone brightness. Great now or wait 4-6 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Did not decant. Nice purple with a red rim. White pepper, tar, bacon fat, and blackberry. Nice mouth feel and and a juicy finish. This could benefit from an additional year of cellaring. There’s iron as well. Drink 2011 - 2016.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark purple black in color with aromas of black fruits. Nice balance and easy to drink. Slight black pepper, black cherry, blackberry and cedar. Easy drinking and pleasureable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour. A lot going on here - fruits and spice, with a little (but not too much) of the meatiness/pepper you would expect from a Syrah. This wine seems both light and big at the same time. Definitely worth checking out right now, but I also suspect it will improve a little over the next couple of years. 92+ pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full-bodied blackberry fruit with slight vanilln, cherry, and herbal flavors, ample tannins, very good wine, terrific fruit but not as complex as other Carlisle wines, forward on the palate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose was definitely very pretty with blackberry and floral notes. This continued through the palate. In need of a long decant. Oak (and accompanying vanilla) disappeared mostly with a good decant. This needs come bottle age to show its best. Tannins are not obtrusive, but I'm sure some age on this will reveal more complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
T his wine really shines right now on the front end. A bit of smoke on the nose, but then the load of pure dark fruit hits your palate nicely. Sort of falls of mid palate though and finishes rather short and not very firm for such a young wine. Some noticeable oak as well. The start really has you thinking the wine is going to be full on, but it really lightens up a ton on the palate. A nice wine but lacks the completeness from start to finish to compare right now with some of the better Carlisle syrahs. Maybe it will pick up some weight with some bottle time?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw cap, about an hour decant and consumed over the next 2-3, starts off very delicate, floral and dark berry, maybe a little bit mineral, zero heat. Beautiful. As the evening continued the wine started picking up more weight in the fruit aspect pushing back that delicate floral flavor, maybe got a little jammy, but not in a bad way. I started picking up some other notes at this point like pencil shavings and slight burnt rubber, again not in a bad way but just showing so many levels of complexity. Overall I would love to drink this wine everyday. It has so much going on. Incredible!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Blueberry vanilla and pepper on the nose. The palette was like drinking a blueberry creme brulee with a little white pepper the flavors were incredibly intense, velvety texture and long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. We debated on erobertparker whether this was a finesse oriented wine or a power wine, and I was 100% in the finesse camp. Just a month later, and I understand the other side. Screwtop. Popped and poured, deep purple, and viscous. Huge nose of dark fruit and sawdust, no heat. Full bodied, but superbly balanced. Dark fruit, minerals, and pepper. This is a large wine, but with none of the heat or jammy characteristics you often find, even in "great" wines. Just fantastic. Despite drinking thee bottles already, I have yet to see any evolution over the course of an evening. We drink it too fast!
This is my favorite Carlisle to date, and I think it would be a terrific ringer in a blind-Sine Qua Non tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I agree that this was very primary out of the bottle, showing some heat and standing out as the sweetest of 3 Syrahs open, but as it settled out it showed bits of charcoal, cream, herbs, and maple along with blackberries galore in a heavier frame that remained balanced in the mouth. I am not sure how this will age long term, but expect to add a point or 2 in the next 2-3 years. I have yet to have a Carlisle Syrah that just wowed me with something other than pure fruit goodness, but I've had them on the young side. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screw cap, bought from retail for test drive purposes and to set a baseline for my other bottles. TN here is based on wine being open about 90 mins, pop and pour. Dark, nearly black in tone, with pepper and garrigue (like a sagey brush), perhaps even some WC notes but nothing like the Shane Jemrose, for instance. Palate is full weight with dark, intense fruit, some iron and ink. The finish closes down some, and while it shows some fleshy fruit and even some stone fruit pit notes, there is some youth here that suggests more time in the bottle would be good. Not big structure or chalk but just some tension that will ease with time. For me, and with the 2007 CA syrah vintage, this is another example of what works with the vintage, as well as with changes to syrah's approach: dark color, deep flavors and better balance. These features show here and Jim Mack's Cardiac Hill property with its cool nature helps bring it all together. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple. The nose on the Cardiac Hill was already complex (pepper, flowers, dark fruit). For me it contained the best of new-world fruit married to old-world complexity. If you go for this sort of description, I would call it feminine and elegant. (If you don't, then just call it elegant.) It had none of that candied fruit that features in my memory of the highly-touted and enjoyable Papa's Block. Sorry no formal notes; I brought it to a normal dinner, not a wine dinner. The location was fascinating, the conversation good, the roast beef excellent, but it is the wine I'll remember. I tend to enjoy wines on the young side and the wine was so good now, that I really see no point in waiting. The 2007 Cardiac Hill is one of my top five wines of the year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a glass, it had only been breathing for 3 hours, and was still completely masked, needs at least 6+ hours to open up, or more age, will retaste at a later date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Screwcap. Nose: Black fruits and a bonanza of white and black pepper, garrique and underbrush. Palate: Dense and chewy with viscosity levels that would make motor oil jealous. Blackberry fruit takes a back seat to the pepper, earth and assorted spices. Despite the almost obscene richness this wine is very light on its feet with solid tannins and ample acidity providing balance. It is an amazing wine! It is certainly infanticide to open this beauty now, but with 4 bottles I could not resist. Will certainly age out the others if I can keep my hands off of them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
As to be expected of an 07 under screw cap, this was remarkably primary going into the glass. In two short hours, this aired out to reveal sweet and pure black fruit with a hint of bacon fat and crushed chalk. What initially seemed etheral, adds weight quickly to fill and persist long and silky on the palate. Early for sure, but as a newbie to the list, I wanted to get an early impression on some of these wines. Not only a great value, but an excellent, pure, balanced and concentrated style of Syrah as well. Looking forward to how this evolves, as it alludes to a bit more complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep, clear purple. Aromas of blackberry, vanilla, pepper, tea. Medium plus acid, medium tannin. Long finish, with more meaty flavors. Blackberry, cherry, toast. Hold until 2011-12.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. There was a nice balance of fruit and black pepper on the palate. But it was a bit thinner than I had hoped for. Bought 3, but don't see need to buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/4/2023 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 85 Points
Dark red, translucent at the edges. Aromas of dark fruits. Elegant but muted on the palate, blackberries, roast meat, anise. Sharp tannins, bright acidity, bit out of balance. Touches of heat. Finishes long and dark fruited. Still OK, but just that. Certainly past peak. Drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2022 - williamswhine wrote: 91 Points
Wine has peaked-- preferred it two years ago. Dark berries, inky hue. Slightly over ripe nose, spice. Graphite/spice, dark berries, full bodied, nicely structured, silky. If you got it, I urge you to drink it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/5/2022 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 96 Points
PnP and drunk with pork roast leftovers. Could not ask for more in an aged Syrah. Drinking at peak. Concentrated dark fruits and licorice along with secondary flavors. Tannin completely integrated. Pure delight. Under screwcap. Drink or hold.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2021 - GrapeScott wrote: 91 Points
Sealed with a screw cap. This bottle has not seen the best storage as it spent several years of its life in a NYC apartment, but it seems no worse for the wear. Near opaque purple with a heady nose of blackberry liqueur and some herbal and meaty undertones. As is the Carlisle style, this is unapologetically oversized but not overdone. Full-bodied and big-fruited, but with a nice lift from the underlying acidity and no noticeable oak presence. There is a pleasant smokey finish marked by firm but polished tannins. While my tastes drifted away from this style years ago, these are well made wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2021 - btock Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep black coloring. More savory, not a fruit bomb. Paired very well with some olives that brought out the sanguine elements of the wine. A more Northern Rhone-ish profile. Nicely done and good bottle composition given the age. Was pleased that the hold time on the bottle was rewarded. Under cork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2020 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Excellent screw capped bottle from a cold cellar. My experience mirrors that of Bellissimo below. Further, I found the acidity balanced, not too high. Probably still 10 years left in the bottle I had, though I guess with no further improvement, so why not just drink them now, if you have any?
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2019 - nickgorski Likes this wine:
Purchased days ago at a wine shop, 30m decant to help with sediment. Cork was dried and crumbly. Very savory: black olive, cured meats, black pepper, smoked meat. Was exactly the style I was looking for tonight, but this was not a balanced wine. Delicious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/19/2019 - Bellissimo Likes this wine:
Screwtop enclosure. Twisted, poured then consumed over 2 nights. Raspberry, boysenberry, hints of olive juice, herbs and bacon fat. Tannins are still evident though not harsh at all; nice balance with the acids up front. Had the cork enclosure last year and felt this more fruit. Nice test of screwtop vs cork enclosure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/16/2019 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 90 Points
Drinking young as still a bit tight. Very dark with herbal, olive and bacon fat notes. Best with food. Maybe still needs a few years in the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2018 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 85 Points
Strangely enough, I think Mike's zins age better than his syrahs (although in general I like his syrahs a lot). A pleasant nose of plums. Plums, blueberries on the palate, but I don't find the fruit as bright as I would like. The tannins are still heavy, good acidity. It seems a bit hot (not enough to put me off, but it's there). The finish is short. Still a perfectly nice wine, but not one of Mike's best (at least at this point in time). Perhaps better a few years ago. This was under a screw cap.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Screwtop Enclosure. Raspberries, blackberries, currants, licorice, minerals and floral in the nose. Black raspberries. licorice, and hints of spice in the flavor. Full bodied wine with a medium to long finish. Drinking very well now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/31/2018 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 92 Points
Half way through my stash of these. Drinking well. Fruit dominant, some spice. Great with left over braised pork.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2018 - Bellissimo wrote:
Cork enclosure. More savory with reserved fruit and in the background. Medium weight, will be interesting to see how this compares to the screwcap enclosure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - Jay Hack Likes this wine: 90 Points
LBTG. Screw cap. I preferred the cork. I found this wine to have too much bite and has not softened with age. Palate similar to cork but too much other stuff.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - Jay Hack Likes this wine: 92 Points
LBTG Under Cork. I preferred the cork to the screw cap. The aging did the bottle good. The screw cap was a bit harsh to me while the cork was softer, less bite, sweet red fruit.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2017 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very different flavor profile compared to Papas Black. Dark purple color and not as much layer flavors or complexity. This wine has a great dirt, earth taste with full mouth feel and a great wine. This is more masculine and structured compared to my recent 2006 Carlisle Papas Block which was more delicate and complex.
I have some more Cardiac Hill vs Papas Block comparisons coming. Liked this wine and structure. There is nothing not to like. There is a lot of life left in this wine. This wine had much stronger tannins vs the '06 Papas but it could just be a year less bottle age. Great Syrah flavor profile with a great mix of fruit, earth and integrated soft tannins. Quite enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Book Club - Magnumfest; 4/25/2017-4/27/2017 (The Winery, Newport Beach, CA): Blind from a mag. Guessed california syrah. This showed very youthful, never would have said 10 years old, maybe that's the magic of a magnum. Medium opaque, dark fruit, lots of tannins, and charcoal. Good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Poured blind, served from mag. This had the aromatic signature of syrah, done in the classic whole cluster style, with dried purple flower, bacon fat. It poured dark, showing tar and inky qualities in the palate, and was lightly boozy. I was starting to get a little fuzzy as the night wore on so I don't have any re-taste notes from after the wine sat out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2017 - btock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Screw cap bottle. Was in fine shape. Full flavored syrah with no rough edges. A better bottle than shared at a Carlisle tasting about a year ago. Almost black in the glass. Fruit driven but not overly sweet. Nicely engaging. In a good spot now but could could hold further. Have one more under cork finish and will wait a year or two.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2016 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Full nose of ripe, smoky black fruit and some pencil lead. Palate is full bodied with smooth, rich fruit that glides across the palate. Really fresh and poised for the size and scale. More smoke with some meat. Cardiac Hill always delivers. This version is a little less nuanced and complex than others I've had, but I think it has the stuffing and balance to age and develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2016 - galewskj wrote: 90 Points
Carlisle (Shari's condo): 30 minute decant. Not as good as I remember. A big syrah, blue and black fruit. Some complexity, but it also seems clunky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Carlisle Tasting (Shari's, Mpls, MN): Tasting pour. Another big brute, black with some blue fruit, pepper, oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2016 - tomlee wrote: 90 Points
Opaque purple in color. 14.2% ABV. Heady aromas of blue fruits, olive brine, barbecued meats and flowers. The palate belies the nose somewhat as the wine is less opulent than I expect from Carlisle. Elegant, savory and complex nonetheless. Flavors of blueberries, smoked meats and iron. Medium length on the finish. At nine years of age this Syrah has definitely taken on some secondary characteristics. Drink over the next year or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2016 - bound4er wrote: 87 Points
Big, well made wine but for some reason the alcohol is really coming across on both the nose and palate. Not as enjoyable as my previous bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/16/2016 - ljl203 wrote: 91 Points
Blueberry milkshake, white pepper, leaves I liked this best immediately upon opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2016 - budman Likes this wine: 92 Points
In a good place right now. It's got a few years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2015 - Anthony Lombardi Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deeply pitched violet color. Syrah which embraces the new world style and delivers fleshy fruitiness while maintaining the savory classic character of the grape. Fruit is in front of the structure, but with airtime, supple tannins exert themselves. The acidity is sneaky here as the wine is complex and it emerges with some freshness on the palate. This is welcome as this is a full bodied rich wine. The primary blackberry notes give way to some briny & meaty character, but that fruit cannot be denied.
Power is the story, but this remains graceful and is an excellent representation of California Syrah. Those savory nuances are compelling & this was a superb complement to a homemade pizza with mole Salumi & castleveltrano olives.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/4/2015 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells like ripe dark berries and stone. After twirling wine, nose improved dramatically. Inky hue. Concentrated wine with nice finish. 525 cases made. Carlisle is usually very reliable-- this wine is no exception. Big, yet subtle and easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2015 - snarfglk wrote: 89 Points
I found this better day 1 as it lost fruit and body day 2.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2015 - gutt22 Likes this wine:
A side-by-side comparison of these wines under different closures: one under cork, one under screw cap. Strikingly different. The cork version was more open on the nose, seemingly more refined initially, and had a somewhat tighter palate, with blue fruit, pepper, and spice. The screw cap showed a note of reduction on the nose but a smoother, more balanced palate that was definitely pleasing. With air, the cork bottle opened up and smoothed out, making it a closer call between the two wines. The most interesting aspect to me was how the palate presence of the wine differed, with the screw cap showing more plush, balanced, and refined. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2015 - dougsmith Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black with a deep ruby rim. Blackberry and mineral notes on the nose with some hints of licorice. Full bodied on the palate with good balance and a good attack. Thins out a touch on the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2015 - bound4er Likes this wine: 93 Points
Big, bold and damn tasty. Has the balance and freshness that so many fruit-driven California syrahs never achieve. Well done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2015 - Sennma wrote: 90 Points
Screwcap bottle...a bit tighter than the bottle with cork. These are big wines but still in balance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2015 - Wine Poor wrote:
Had this with grilled steaks last night. Good pairing to say the least. This wine is smooth and big at the same time. A great Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2015 - mdaniel wrote: 89 Points
A little greener than most Carlisle syrahs, but still the typical Carlisle balance. From the screw cap bottling.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2015 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really nice expressive wine with soft peppery spice and cherry finish. Drinking well at present
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2015 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 92 Points
From screwcap. Very similar to my first bottle: A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2015 - budman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Screwcap version... holding up extremely well. I'm a fan!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2014 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 93 Points
Next day review and better than day wine with bacon, roasted game, sour cherries, floral notes and earth. Medium plus finish and a balanced effort. No heat and smooth. Excellent. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2014 - Grape Stuff Likes this wine: 92 Points
1.5 hour decant, consistent with my previous note
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2014 - SineQuaNon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rich, full-bodied wine with an intense blackberry/blueberry/blackcurrant infused nose with smoke/woodsmoke and cracked black syrah-pepper. Delicious, soft tannins and just enough acidity to give balance. A bit of salty liquorice/salinity in the aftertaste annoyed me a bit but not enough to distract this from being an outstanding wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2014 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 30 minutes. There was quite a bit of red and blue fruit in this. Well-integrated. Nice, but I was hoping for more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2014 - MLD70 wrote: 92 Points
Cork version...kept the screw top for later. Pulled cork for 1.5hrs. WOTN for me, absolutely gorgeous nose and complex full palate. More elegant than the Copains.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote:
3 years since the last bottle, this came from a friend's cellar. It saw some 2 hours of slow ox air too, FWIW. Aromatically this has settled down since 2011, showing less white flower aromas, just a faint hint of that now and the bacon fat. Plush palate too, suave. Still shows the threading of black olive through the wine's mid-palate, along with lots of dark fruit and some lingering iron, dark chocolate and tar, with a hint of remaining structure. For where I see this wine, it's probably reaching an apex between plush CA and the emergence of 2ndary notes coming soon. Depending on your palate, you can gauge how you want to drink or age. I will say that the alc is quite managed here and is integrated quite well. Very nice example of Cardiac done right.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2014 - Wine Poor Likes this wine: 91 Points
Inky purple in colour. Dense, smoky fruit. A big wine with a long future ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2014 - gmbdds wrote:
Tasted over several hours. Remained closed and tight as a drum. Some pretty blueberry notes escaped, otherwise reticent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2014 - Grape Stuff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pop and pour through Vinturi and consumed over ~2 hours. Great dense, full-bodied wine with dried blueberry, prosciutto, subtle rose/floral note on the mid-palate through the finish with more dried black fruit and subtle baking spices. Velvety mouthfeel with sweet, integrated tannins and a medium-long finish. Another killer Mike O wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2014 - rama Likes this wine: 92 Points
peppery nose, saline, dark fruit, long finish. better on day two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2014 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Aromas of blackberry, pepper, meat, blueberry and baking spice. Blackberry jam, smoked meat, baking spice, toffee, vanilla and fine tannins on the palate lead to a medium-to-long, soft finish. Full bodied. Paired with corned beef and cabbage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2014 - ronte bello Does not like this wine: 87 Points
Nice fruit, but one dimensional wine. Flat and no brightness. Never opened over three days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2014 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not a big fan of the screw top. However, the wine is deep purple, needs to have a bit of a decant, but is full bodied, luscious, and wonderful.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2014 - Mr T wrote:
aged well
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - Lforrest wrote:
winery - Dark ruby-purple. Nearly opaque. A perfumed nose of blackberry, violets, black olive, and pepper. Full-bodied but not heavy thanks to refreshing acidity and invigorating tannins. While obviously Californian, something very Northern Rhone-like about this wine. Cornas perhaps? Enjoy from release through 2020.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2013 - macker100 wrote: 92 Points
Smoky black fruit aromas with spice. Very dark broody raspberry flavor profile, with black olives, meat. Finish was smooth and long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2013 - silton Likes this wine: 91 Points
About the same as my 2011 note, yes a little better integrated but also likely to keep improving ever so slightly. A somewhat one dimensional fruit profile limits my enthusiasm.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2013 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Blackberry, cherry, pepper, cedar and vanilla on the nose. Dark fruit and very soft tannins lead to a smooth, medium to long finish. Full bodied. Paired with panzerotti.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2013 - texaswinelover wrote: 92 Points
My last bottle. Meat, blood with dark concentrated fruit. Generous tannins and acidity. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2013 - bobpsi wrote: 94 Points
1-1/2 hr decant. Big nose of black and blue fruits, spice, olive and smoke. Lush palate of blackberry pie, pepper and olives. Long silky finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2013 - MindMuse wrote:
Surprisingly, I think this is actually the first Carlisle I have ever drunk. It is closed by cork. PnP with a big fresh nose. At first lots of sweet spice - cardamon - then that fades to intense pepperiness. Toasted blackberries, smoky blueberries, almost achingly spicy oak, purple flowers, a bit of caramel, hot tar. Seems lush on the mouthfeel, but oddly low on fruit flavor itself. Ripe tannin structure. Finish is slightly hot and astringent. I don't know, somehow this seems to have the components there, but on the whole, although it is by no means austere, it is just not putting its game together and delivering an especially pleasurable or satisfying experience. More for tomorrow to see if that changes. 89+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasted blind. Medium to full body. Very dark in color with blackberry and blueberry flavors. Soft and sweet tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2013 - EhrlichDY wrote: 90 Points
Decanted two hours. Classical Carlisle nose of baked fruit. Rich and silky with dark fruit on the palate. A suave effort, very enjoyable. Drink now or hold for several years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2012 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 92 Points
Same as last bottle: Cork closure. Another great bottle. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - meatman wrote: 90 Points
Screwcap. A very nice Carlisle syrah, but didn't have the wow factor that I have had with numerous other Carlisles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
A big syrah. Nose is nice and more interesting than the taste, although the tast is fine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2012 - jfkwines wrote: 92 Points
A great bottle, not the heavy minerals or olives that others see, lots of fruit with a terrific density that held up to smoked pork ribs. Closer to a Zint han the extremely of Syrah. This was under screw cap, I willhold my bottle under cork for at least another year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2012 - Outplaying wrote:
Its been about 18 months since our last bottle, and this hasn't moved much since then. Similar impressions as last time. Dark fruits, some olive, charcoal and this time I noticed just a hint of vanilla. Powerful but not thick or heavy. This one was under screw cap.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2012 - emdub wrote: 93 Points
This wine is a perfect example of Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2012 - MotoMannequin wrote:
Screwcap, screwed at cellar temp and decanted. Nice, intense nose of blackberry, cardamom, and vanilla. The palate enters with juicy blackberry and raspberry and transitions through a briny, black olive into the peppery mid-palate. Finish is still showing a fair amount of French Oak but there are no rough edges and everything is seamlessly integrated. Nice Carlisle Syrah.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2012 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 2 hours. Blackberry, black cherry, pepper, spice, and vanilla. Dark fruit and smooth tannins lead to a long, fruit driven, finish. Medium-to-full bodied. Once again, a well made, solid Syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/21/2012 - PIntag wrote: 90 Points
Screwcap - consistent notes over two days. Bold but balanced, this beauty is loaded with dark fruit and spice with some pretty prickly tannins still present. Should probably wait a couple more years at least on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2012 - B Paul wrote:
Drinking very well. Though still a big wine, this has lost some of its baby fat and is showing some nuances. Well done.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2012 - dmalcolm wrote: 88 Points
Very expressive black and red fruit. I found this bottle to be a little hotter and jammier than a bottle drunk two years ago.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - JavaMonkey wrote: 92 Points
Cork closure. Another great bottle. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2012 - 97edwardc wrote: 93 Points
I love Bennett Valley syrah. And I love Carlisle syrah. So it's no wonder that I love this wine. I had a bottle 2 1/2 years ago and wasn't nearly this impressed. Dark fruits, a touch of chocolate, and that characteristic Bennett Valley pepper (nicely moderated in this case) on the palate. Must make a note: Carlise + Bennett Valley = buy as much as possible (and hold it for a couple years before drinking)!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2012 - bubbachumps wrote: 93 Points
Consistent with my prior notes, except tannins have calmed some and a very rustic and complex nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2012 - Mattshank wrote: 92 Points
From screwcap closure. Nose: Tree moss, tar, sage and cassis hints. Palate: Soft evolved tannins compared to the last bottle tasted on 5/30/10 with dark fruits, spice and a medium length finish. This bottle is more like a matured version of the one on 5/30/10 rather than the first bottle (also a screwcap finish) tasted on 12/14/09 which was amazing and by far the best bottle of this as it was far more viscous and complex. I have one more (cork finish) left and am somewhat on the fence as to when to open it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - JavaMonkey wrote: 92 Points
From screwcap. Very similar to my first bottle: A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2011 - galewskj wrote: 92 Points
A savory Carlisle nose. A little heat, bigger tannins for a syrah. Mellows out considerably after about an hour. Then, the fruit is dark, slightly brooding, and yummy. Unfortunately, it lost A LOT on days 2 and 3, even under argon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2011 - Grape Stuff wrote: 93 Points
No formal notes. Amazing floral, red fruit and spice. Amazing after 2 hours in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2011 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
14.2% ABV. Cork finished bottle. Opaque dark garnet in the glass. More pronounced coffee on this bottle as compared to my last with a black fruit and leather note underneath. Medium full bodied dark berry fruit and leather notes. Pretty good. Probably would benefit from some additional cellar time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2011 - SPK wrote:
Popped this wine and gave it about 4 hours of air. Alcohol is present but not intrusive. Lots of dark fruit and some pepper. Nice acidity with a good finish. Good medium-soft mouth feel. Did not feel the oak took over, but it was present.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2011 - texaswinelover wrote: 93 Points
Dark dark purple. Olive tapenade, peppery. Smacking acidity, full bodied and concentrated. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2011 - atun53 wrote: 91 Points
Just a baby, but very enjoyable. Drank the screw cap first. Big black fruit, oaky, pepper, and still has massive tannins. Going to let the other sit for another 4-5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
One year between notes. I opened this last night, tasting note is from following day. I'll say I like this better today then over dinner last. Today I am pairing it with a cheese pizza with red pepper flakes while last night it was the kick-ass Coq Au Vin at Marche in South Coast. The wine last night seemed a little boozy and oaky. Today, less of the booze note and really the aromatic is more about white flower. The palate is pretty concentrated, a bit rough with a good core of dark fruit, some bitter chocolate and the oak still a player, quite prominent for me on the finish. Has some pepper and iron mixed into the wine but it's subtle.along with tar and lavender. I still think this wine is still young and youthful and the richness against the wood seems to say 'settle more'. The wood will need to merge in here as the wine underneath is quite good but it's still in my view dominated by the barrel essence.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2011 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
full bodied, with prominent alcohol that i did not expect. amazing black fruit character, black pepper, and nutmeg. a nice acidity that keeps this from getting sappy. med (+) finish. hoping the alcohol better integrates and then this could be a home run!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2011 - Pacherant wrote:
lovely clear flavor. alcohol present but not too much. Fresh tasting. Good stuff. (from screwcap)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2011 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured (OK, actually unscrewed and poured). Blackberry, black pepper, black plum, black cherry, vanilla and toasted oak aromas and flavors. Lots of dark fruit with soft tannins on the mid-palate. Full bodied and well balanced; leading to a long, smooth, fruity finish. Good acidity as well. Paired with roast beef. Overall, a very well made Cali Syrah, and a good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/23/2011 - vinocerus wrote:
Impenetrable, dark purple hue, reticent nose with hint of black fruits but not much else. Oak and alcohol not overwhelming in the least. Palate gives not much more. I even geeked-out and tried the Venturi; not much difference. Tried it the second night, a bit more fruit with vague floral and spice component. Left a glass for the third night; cornucopia of fruits and a pleasant lavender nose. Nice palate with persistent tannins and distinctly spicy finish. Glorious on the last night. I will hold my remaining bottles for several years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/3/2011 - winelovr2001 wrote: 88 Points
I was a little dissapointed with this bottle. It was showing its alc a little so we had to cool it down more than it should have been. Not a lot of fruit, kind of one dimensional.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2011 - ron m wrote:
First opened Carlisle, checking in ahead of this year's offer. Not disappointed… Pop and pour, followed over a couple of hours. Very young and exuberant, certainly a rich style but with tons and tons of spice and a great finish. Purple in the glass, crushed red fruits galore on the nose. Explosion of fruit in the mouth, ripe and rich - almost too rich actually - but enormous amounts of pepper and asian spices balance it and add interest. The finish is super long with tremendous spice and minerals. Very good wine. Day 2: pretty much the same... good sign? Not sure... I'd like to see this settled down a bit and it is not clear this will happen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2011 - bobpsi wrote: 94 Points
1 Hour decant. developing more savory notes from the first bottle. Still a delicious and seamless wine. A real pleasure to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2011 - mkubow wrote: 91 Points
Good syrah - drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2011 - silton wrote: 91 Points
Screwcap, aerated and drank over 3+ hours from a decanter. Concentrated with medium heavy black fruits, mocha, olive; not syrupy yet lacking lift, especially at first. Thick in the middle, the best way I can describe it is like a shag carpet made of silk, or a maybe a well-groomed collie dog. Or maybe it's like a super well made Shiraz. Even though you can get at the delicious river of fruit right now due to the modest tannin, I'm marking my remaining cork singleton as a medium term hold... it might turn to blackberry juice but it might also work out to becoming a wine that can add some aged characteristics without losing too much fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2011 - Brady D Likes this wine: 94 Points
consistent with earlier notes. still very young. great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
Its been about 9 months since we last opened one of these and it hasn't changed much since then. Intense dark fruit with some olive and charcoal notes and some black pepper. Very enjoyable. Hopefully I can show some restraint and hold off on opening my last bottle for a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2011 - bundydavis wrote: 90 Points
Black fruit and smooth, but was missing something. Don't get me wrong, this was a nice bottle of wine, but I was expecting more. Would like to see where this wine goes in 3-4 years, but that was my only bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2011 - pismo45 wrote: 89 Points
Pretty plum and blackbery flavors in a medium body. Good fruit and nicely balanced. Drinking well now (with a homemade sausage pizza).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2011 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Screwcap. Decanted for 30 minutes. I bought this bottle from WineBid, so it did not come directly from the winery. Very good, but not quite up to my last bottle. Dark purple-ruby color. The nose has nice strawberry and leather aromas. The palate is not as rich as my previous bottle. Some nice bright fruit, medium bodied. A little herbal on the palate. A good drinker, and a good food wine, but I would never guess this as a Carlisle if tasted blind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2011 - winelovr2001 wrote: 92 Points
Great syrah with the signature velvety texture that you always get with Carlise wines. Not a lot of tannins on the finish so I would think that this wine would not last 10+yrs like most Carlisle's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2011 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Screw cap, decanted for ~15 minutes. Plum, boysenberry, currants, and black pepper on the nose and palate. Medium bodied. Soft, smooth finish. A very nice syrah.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2011 - scooter260 wrote: 93 Points
Exceptional. I'm not a big syrah fan but this was powerful yet easy to drink. lasted 2 days. firm in texture but easy to chug, too!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2010 - Wop wrote: 93 Points
Slightly reticent nose of dark fruit with a little rubber underneath (in a good way). Lively acidity and dark fruits with nice tannins that need a little more time. Long finish, on a very well balanced young wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2010 - rwstorer wrote: 90 Points
Yikes - my last bottle of this! Similar note to previous. Goes extremely well with sausage pizza!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2010 - Meerlust wrote:
Coal black color. On the nose, this is like a barrel sample - the oak is still clearly evident with dark fruit as well. The palate is dense with plums, blueberry, new oak, pepper, and minerals. This is a massive wine that needs years to come around, but it does not come across as overblown or out of balance. Overall, this is a tough wine to evaluate because of its youthfulness. I would love to try it again in about 10 years to see how it has blossomed.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2010 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Another good showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2010 - Patsdynasty wrote: 92 Points
Screw cap decanted for only 10 minutes or so. Definitely opened up as the night went along. I really enjoyed this. It was not mind blowing but very nice. Some pepper near the end.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2010 - OneLastSyrah Likes this wine: 92 Points
14.2% ABV. Screwcap bottle. Decanted about one hour at cellar temp. Dark garnet, mostly opaque. Sweet black raspberry with a nuance of coffee and something like rubber. Medium full bodied with ripe berry fruit and a suggestion of banana(?). This is still a touch closed, but not especially tannic. 91-92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2010 - yhn wrote: 87 Points
A bit of sweetness, not much focus or interest. Nice easy drinking crowd pleaser. A friend who knows my palate thought I'd hate it, which I didn't. Most popular bottle of the night amongst my friends.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 92 Points
Screw-cap, decanted 3 hours. On the nose scorched earth, minerals and red fruits. In the mouth, chewy tannins and a decent finish. Very much a cool weather syrah profile. Very well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.2% alcohol. Sealed under screw cap. Opened for our hour before serving but not decanted. This didn't seem to be less evolved than the previous bottle sealed under cork. Purple color, with a beautiful nose of black fruit and a touch of creamy blueberry. A distinct mineral and olive note leads to a palate that is laden with pure fruit and lovely layers of complexity. There is terrific balance here as each element unfolds, leaving a long, lingering finish and very fine tannins. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2010 - Matt Scott wrote: 92 Points
(Guys night out)
Did not decant and used a vinutri. See previous notes, however, this nose has evolved. Beef brisket, iron, huckleberry, bacon fat and charcoal are noticeable. One more year would be nice, yet this is ready and has a nice life ahead. Drink 2011 - 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2010 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
Ok I'll admit it I love what Mike does with syrah and this bottle was no exception. I've loved ever bottle of Carlisle syrah since the first syrah the '99 vintage.
Joan loved this just as much as I did.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 93 Points
Wow. 14.2% alcohol. Screwcap verrsion.
Dark ruby. Red and black fruit aromas waft feet from the glass. Enters smooth and rich. Plums, blackberries, rasberries and a little meat on the palate. Carlisle balance and depth. Lengthy aftertaste.
This wine personifies Carlisle Syrah. Lush life!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
After finishing the 2007 Jemrose Cardiac Hill last night after a punishing ass round of golf (which made the sting go away, thank you Jim Mack), I decided to keep the flow going and open the 2007 Carlisle version (via Screwcap). For reference, Mike uses the same Cardiac clones as Jim, with the exception of 877, which also goes into Jim's bottling. As I look back at my same TN on this wine from XMAS 2009, there has been some softening of Mike's bottling. Whereas I commented then about the finish being closed and some tension in the wine, I don't sense those features now. Aromatically, I get some bacon fat, flowers, some light pepper, and the same garrigue notes from last time, although those are also subtle. On the palate, the wine is soft and plush (like the last bottle), with some juicy black fruit, charcoal and some of the stone fruit pit, too. It has some of the darkness, the deep feel of the Jemrose but at this stage, Jim's version is a little more dense, more closed with Mike's bottling here more open textured. Aging? I would say Mike's wines can age another 6-12 months, with a drink window through 2013.....as a quick Day 2 update, the wine seemed to pick up a bit more palate weight with the air, bit more ink and rustic edges. Quite nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2010 - bmwcarl wrote:
Huge nose but the wine is supremely well balanced with a wonderful lingering finish. How can a wine that has so much going on not be syrupy? Drink them now or put them away for years. Great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2010 - B Paul wrote: 93 Points
Dark color. Classic Syrah nose with game, pepper and floral notes. Deep, rich fruit on the palate. Smooth, with a good finish. Outstanding bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
After a several mediocre bottles of wine lately it was time to come back to something we thought would be good. This did not disappoint. Intense and dark, this showed primary black and blue fruits. I also got fleeting notes of olive and charcoal. What I love about this wine is the intensity of flavor but also the freshness and that there is no syrupy fruit or mouthfeel. Great wine and for us this is very drinkable now even without a decant. (under cork)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2010 - Why Yes wrote: 93 Points
Holy cow did Carlisle hit a home run with this one! I think 'Cardiac Hill' is a newer bottling for them, and if memory serves, there are some other producers who make wine from this vineyard as well, but can't place them at the moment. Anyways, that is not what is important here, what is is that this is an absolutely fabulous Syrah. I've had my share of Mike's wines over the years, and this may be my favorite yet. Gobs of Syrah character with black olive, lavender blueberries, rosemary and white flowers, with a bit of pie crust going on. Is there some red cherry in there too? Oh my! One of the most striking things about this wine is how 'French' it is, esp for a Carlisle. Now, I'm not saying anyone is going to mistake this for an Hermitage or Cote Rotie, but there is a decidedly 'French' style to the palate that I believe SO many Cali Syrahs lack (but need!). This is a huge bonus for me. I would love to taste this next to the SQN Atlantis Syrah (another French-ish styled Cali Syrah). If there were one thing I could quibble with about this wine, it's that the oak may be (just a touch) clumsy, and I could see the wine chocolate-ing up. But that's splitting hairs. Great wine, great effort.
If Bennett Valley isn't careful, and keeps cranking out Rhones like this, they may become to Syrah what Sonoma Coast is to Pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2010 - kennyg wrote: 90 Points
Dark red, nose a bit peppery but somewhat close. Vinturi areated and decanted with mild residulal tannins and a bit of heat but mostly nice dark fruit adn pepper with reaonsably long finsih. A bit thin and slightrly hot, but cerainly enjoyable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2010 - Mattshank wrote: 91 Points
Cork closure. Nose: Very closed originally but after an hour decant showed wet cement, white pepper and black fruits. Palate: A very different wine than the last bottle on 12/14/09 (with screwcap closure). This bottle was much more shut down and backward. After decanter aeration showed spice, black pepper, considerable tannic grip and blackberries in the background. Nowhere near as rich and viscous as the last bottle. Not sure if the closure has anything to do with it or if this is just in a very awkward stage. Last 2 bottles of this will sleep for at least a couple years. Last bottle was glorious compared to this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 93 Points
Screwcap. Just an awesome wine. A dark purple-ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, raspberry, leather, smoke, and black pepper. Lush, mouthfilling fruit. The fruit is very clean, the balance is perfect. The spiciness and oak blend perfectly. Long, delicious finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2010 - Mike Dildine wrote: 94 Points
14.2% alcohol. Dark ruby red. Popped and poured. Expressive blackberry aromas. Exceedingly rich mouthfeel. Concentrated, focused flavors of boysenberry, cranberry cassis, with a touch of white pepper and a little smoke. Well balanced. Lingering aftertaste. Delicious!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2010 - Amerique wrote: 93 Points
Cork-top wine, rich, very full-bodied, much like previously tasted but fuller, rounder, more open and ready to drink, unfortunately it was my last bottle, fresh fruit dominated
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2010 - Grape Stuff wrote: 92 Points
Screwcap. 60-120 minute decant. Drank over an hour after a 60 minute decant. Great nose of dark berry fruit, dark cocoa and a spicy, meaty note. A sensually well balanced wine, with extremely pure, crisp fruit, great acid balance, good tannins (which still need a little time) and good length. Dark (yet fresh/crisp) berry notes on the attack, with a very subtle creamy licorice, spice, fruit-leather on the mid-palate to finish. Saved half bottle for tomorrow and will post an update...will probably wait at least a year to open my next. 92+ (definitely see this score improving over the next 2-6 years)
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
3/6/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
Opened four hours before serving and double-decanted. Bottle sealed under cork. That helped. This is a baby. Red-purple color. Beautiful nose of blue and black fruit, minerals, and olives. In the mouth, substantial structure and power behind this wine, with bold fruit flavors. The acidity is terrific, leading to a long, tannic finish. Needs a couple years at least, but this is high quality allt he way. A-
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
This was the Cardiac under cork. Surprisingly, this was even more reductive than the screw cap. I love wines that display this initial indicator of protective winemaking. The air mixes in, the funk blows off and you get the purist expression of fruit. No exception here. Deep, rich color mimics the equally dense fruit. Pure black berry, fig and beef carpaccio. Huge, yet perfectly structured. Well integrated, with lots of upside. Saving the remaining two for a cork/cap side by side a few years from now. Great stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2010 - RMundell wrote: 88 Points
My first Carlisle. Way too young, shows promise but not ready to drink now. Decanted for two hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2010 - AdamWallstein wrote: 93 Points
Deep purple-red, minimal saturation. Extroverted aromas falling on the savory end of the spectrum with roasted meat, smoked tomato sauce with bacon, and olive tapenade and pungent floral scents. These followed through on the palate which was distinctly medium-bodied but with rich flavor intensity. With air some espresso, chocolatey notes emerged in the mouth which were very much a welcome compliment to the strong floral, bacon fat character and gave terrific depth and range to the long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2010 - pgordon62 wrote: 91 Points
From a screw-top. A deep blood red. Fabulous nose full of focused blackberry, cured ham, violets and tar - just the right blend of fruit and slight reductive elements. Carlisle fat on the palate with sinewy red fruit, iron and effervescent minerals keeping it interesting. Lingering fruit-filled finish with that iron note. It decays into a limestone brightness. Great now or wait 4-6 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - Matt Scott wrote: 92 Points
Did not decant. Nice purple with a red rim. White pepper, tar, bacon fat, and blackberry. Nice mouth feel and and a juicy finish. This could benefit from an additional year of cellaring. There’s iron as well. Drink 2011 - 2016.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2010 - rwstorer wrote: 90 Points
Dark purple black in color with aromas of black fruits. Nice balance and easy to drink. Slight black pepper, black cherry, blackberry and cedar. Easy drinking and pleasureable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/26/2010 - B Paul wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. A lot going on here - fruits and spice, with a little (but not too much) of the meatiness/pepper you would expect from a Syrah. This wine seems both light and big at the same time. Definitely worth checking out right now, but I also suspect it will improve a little over the next couple of years. 92+ pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2010 - Amerique wrote: 91 Points
Full-bodied blackberry fruit with slight vanilln, cherry, and herbal flavors, ample tannins, very good wine, terrific fruit but not as complex as other Carlisle wines, forward on the palate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2010 - dmalcolm wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour. Rich, black fruit but buried deep. Lots of tar, olives and underbrush. Needs several more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2010 - Ben Frost wrote: 91 Points
Nose was definitely very pretty with blackberry and floral notes. This continued through the palate. In need of a long decant. Oak (and accompanying vanilla) disappeared mostly with a good decant. This needs come bottle age to show its best. Tannins are not obtrusive, but I'm sure some age on this will reveal more complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2010 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
T his wine really shines right now on the front end. A bit of smoke on the nose, but then the load of pure dark fruit hits your palate nicely. Sort of falls of mid palate though and finishes rather short and not very firm for such a young wine. Some noticeable oak as well. The start really has you thinking the wine is going to be full on, but it really lightens up a ton on the palate. A nice wine but lacks the completeness from start to finish to compare right now with some of the better Carlisle syrahs. Maybe it will pick up some weight with some bottle time?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2010 - Schu wrote: 93 Points
Screw cap, about an hour decant and consumed over the next 2-3, starts off very delicate, floral and dark berry, maybe a little bit mineral, zero heat. Beautiful. As the evening continued the wine started picking up more weight in the fruit aspect pushing back that delicate floral flavor, maybe got a little jammy, but not in a bad way. I started picking up some other notes at this point like pencil shavings and slight burnt rubber, again not in a bad way but just showing so many levels of complexity. Overall I would love to drink this wine everyday. It has so much going on. Incredible!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2010 - bobpsi wrote: 94 Points
Blueberry vanilla and pepper on the nose. The palette was like drinking a blueberry creme brulee with a little white pepper the flavors were incredibly intense, velvety texture and long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2010 - Brady D wrote: 95 Points
Wow. We debated on erobertparker whether this was a finesse oriented wine or a power wine, and I was 100% in the finesse camp. Just a month later, and I understand the other side. Screwtop. Popped and poured, deep purple, and viscous. Huge nose of dark fruit and sawdust, no heat. Full bodied, but superbly balanced. Dark fruit, minerals, and pepper. This is a large wine, but with none of the heat or jammy characteristics you often find, even in "great" wines. Just fantastic. Despite drinking thee bottles already, I have yet to see any evolution over the course of an evening. We drink it too fast!
This is my favorite Carlisle to date, and I think it would be a terrific ringer in a blind-Sine Qua Non tasting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2010 - silton wrote: 90 Points
I agree that this was very primary out of the bottle, showing some heat and standing out as the sweetest of 3 Syrahs open, but as it settled out it showed bits of charcoal, cream, herbs, and maple along with blackberries galore in a heavier frame that remained balanced in the mouth. I am not sure how this will age long term, but expect to add a point or 2 in the next 2-3 years. I have yet to have a Carlisle Syrah that just wowed me with something other than pure fruit goodness, but I've had them on the young side. Hold.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2009 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Screw cap, bought from retail for test drive purposes and to set a baseline for my other bottles. TN here is based on wine being open about 90 mins, pop and pour. Dark, nearly black in tone, with pepper and garrigue (like a sagey brush), perhaps even some WC notes but nothing like the Shane Jemrose, for instance. Palate is full weight with dark, intense fruit, some iron and ink. The finish closes down some, and while it shows some fleshy fruit and even some stone fruit pit notes, there is some youth here that suggests more time in the bottle would be good. Not big structure or chalk but just some tension that will ease with time. For me, and with the 2007 CA syrah vintage, this is another example of what works with the vintage, as well as with changes to syrah's approach: dark color, deep flavors and better balance. These features show here and Jim Mack's Cardiac Hill property with its cool nature helps bring it all together. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2009 - Brady D wrote: 95 Points
Deep purple. The nose on the Cardiac Hill was already complex (pepper, flowers, dark fruit). For me it contained the best of new-world fruit married to old-world complexity. If you go for this sort of description, I would call it feminine and elegant. (If you don't, then just call it elegant.) It had none of that candied fruit that features in my memory of the highly-touted and enjoyable Papa's Block. Sorry no formal notes; I brought it to a normal dinner, not a wine dinner. The location was fascinating, the conversation good, the roast beef excellent, but it is the wine I'll remember. I tend to enjoy wines on the young side and the wine was so good now, that I really see no point in waiting. The 2007 Cardiac Hill is one of my top five wines of the year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2009 - TJolley Likes this wine:
Had a glass, it had only been breathing for 3 hours, and was still completely masked, needs at least 6+ hours to open up, or more age, will retaste at a later date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2009 - Mattshank wrote: 93 Points
Screwcap. Nose: Black fruits and a bonanza of white and black pepper, garrique and underbrush. Palate: Dense and chewy with viscosity levels that would make motor oil jealous. Blackberry fruit takes a back seat to the pepper, earth and assorted spices. Despite the almost obscene richness this wine is very light on its feet with solid tannins and ample acidity providing balance. It is an amazing wine! It is certainly infanticide to open this beauty now, but with 4 bottles I could not resist. Will certainly age out the others if I can keep my hands off of them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2009 - Jody Smith wrote:
As to be expected of an 07 under screw cap, this was remarkably primary going into the glass. In two short hours, this aired out to reveal sweet and pure black fruit with a hint of bacon fat and crushed chalk. What initially seemed etheral, adds weight quickly to fill and persist long and silky on the palate. Early for sure, but as a newbie to the list, I wanted to get an early impression on some of these wines. Not only a great value, but an excellent, pure, balanced and concentrated style of Syrah as well. Looking forward to how this evolves, as it alludes to a bit more complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2009 - incident wrote: 92 Points
Deep, clear purple. Aromas of blackberry, vanilla, pepper, tea. Medium plus acid, medium tannin. Long finish, with more meaty flavors. Blackberry, cherry, toast. Hold until 2011-12.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2009 - 97edwardc wrote: 90 Points
I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. There was a nice balance of fruit and black pepper on the palate. But it was a bit thinner than I had hoped for. Bought 3, but don't see need to buy more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment