Violet red in color with the slightest fading at the edges. The nose is subtly floral with a hint of blackberry. My first taste on opening the bottle didn't encourage me at all. But with the briefest of time to breathe, it really came to life. Very smooth on the palate, blackberry and raspberry fruit with a bit of eucalyptus. Tannins are nicely resolved but still providing structure. Brilliant acidity that carries the fruit across the plate. Lovely balance. Finishes with sharp red fruit notes, lingering gracefully. Clearly at peak. I'd drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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Carlisle-Carlisle is usually a zin lover's zin and this wine, at around 12.5 years old, is no exception. Dark berry (boysenberry and blackberry) aromas and flavors are still abundant, with any oak treatment being mild (the fruit is more puckering than sweet ... the wine may be 15.9% ABV but despite the wine's brashness it is reasonably well hidden, and this is not at all in the vanilla-blueberry milkshake mode of some overwrought big wines). Tannins are not yet fully resolved and acidity is refreshing. I could easily confuse this with one of Mike's petite sirahs. This wine probably won't improve but should have considerable longevity all the same -- 5 to 8 years I suspect.
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Big round fruit, (black & red berries) dark and powerful. Nice jammy sweetness (in a good way). A hedonistic wine with plenty of extraction and presence but managed to stay classy and not go OTT. Balanced and tasty -for when you are in the mood for a Zin with personality and stuffing. Surprisingly fresh and will probably drink well for several more years at minimum.
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Was really looking forward to this. Popped and poured. Initial whiff of spice and then wet cardboard. Damn. Palate was little dark fruit and spice, but very little. Corked.
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7/3/2019 - Charlie C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Violet red in color with the slightest fading at the edges. The nose is subtly floral with a hint of blackberry. My first taste on opening the bottle didn't encourage me at all. But with the briefest of time to breathe, it really came to life. Very smooth on the palate, blackberry and raspberry fruit with a bit of eucalyptus. Tannins are nicely resolved but still providing structure. Brilliant acidity that carries the fruit across the plate. Lovely balance. Finishes with sharp red fruit notes, lingering gracefully. Clearly at peak. I'd drink over the next 2 or 3 years.
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3/26/2017 - ParisWino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Carlisle-Carlisle is usually a zin lover's zin and this wine, at around 12.5 years old, is no exception. Dark berry (boysenberry and blackberry) aromas and flavors are still abundant, with any oak treatment being mild (the fruit is more puckering than sweet ... the wine may be 15.9% ABV but despite the wine's brashness it is reasonably well hidden, and this is not at all in the vanilla-blueberry milkshake mode of some overwrought big wines). Tannins are not yet fully resolved and acidity is refreshing. I could easily confuse this with one of Mike's petite sirahs. This wine probably won't improve but should have considerable longevity all the same -- 5 to 8 years I suspect.
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10/29/2015 - jlgnml wrote: 90 Points
Good color, soft finish.
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3/2/2015 - bon vivant wrote:
Big round fruit, (black & red berries) dark and powerful. Nice jammy sweetness (in a good way). A hedonistic wine with plenty of extraction and presence but managed to stay classy and not go OTT. Balanced and tasty -for when you are in the mood for a Zin with personality and stuffing. Surprisingly fresh and will probably drink well for several more years at minimum.
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1/29/2014 - JFish wrote:
Was really looking forward to this. Popped and poured. Initial whiff of spice and then wet cardboard. Damn. Palate was little dark fruit and spice, but very little. Corked.
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