This is one of the most memorable wines I’ve had this year!
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Fruit for this wine was sourced from the Hayne Vineyard in St. Helena sub-AVA of the Napa Valley. Registered with the is Historic Vineyard Society, it is one of the truly great old vine vineyards in Napa Valley. It has been owned by the same family since 1872. It was replanted with Zinfandel in 1903 after phylloxera killed the original vineyard. In addition to Zinfandel, this wine includes interplanted Petite Sirah, Trousseau Noir, and Peloursin for color and complexity. Raised in French oak, only 27% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
My tasting note follows:
The wine is an opaque crimson color with soaring and complex black and blue fruit, floral, and exotic spice aromas with hints of tar, Kirsch, earth, incense and pepper. On the palate it full-bodied, and harmonious with supple tannins. It is bouyed with remarkably vibrant acidity and flavors of boysenberry cobbler (but not jammy), black raspberry liqueur, vanilla, baking and exotic spices, with hints of mocha and mint with an appealing kiss of minerality and a long delicious, sweet finish.
16% abv|216 cs| SRP – $48| Sample purchased for review|93pts
This is one of the most memorable wines I’ve had this year!
About Carlisle Winery & Vineyard
Carlisle Winery & Vineyards is a small Sonoma County based winery based in Santa Rosa. The specialize in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated Zinfandels and red Rhone varieties (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Petite Sirah) according to their website.
Mike Officer, and his wife Kendall Carlisle are owners. Mike is the Winemaker. He caught the wine “bug” early – at age 19 – when he tasted a late-harvest Riesling (It seems like we all start with sweet wines doesn’t it?) After graduating from college, he worked in software development for five years, but realized that was not his passion. He knew the answer would involve wine, but he wasn’t sure in what capacity.
He decided to try winemaking, starting with making 5 gallons of Zinfandel in his kitchen. Some years later, he and his wife Kendall found themselves making 300 cases of “garage” wine. They decided to jump in with both feet and established Carlisle Winery & Vineyards in 1998. They’ve focused on old-vine Zinfandel, and red Rhône blends, until the 2010 vintage, when they made their first white wines.
In addition to their own estate vineyard, they source grapes from Sonoma County, primarily the Russian River, and Dry Creek AVAs. Officer always been a fan of old-vine vineyards. In fact, of the 16 vineyard sources listed on their website, half ( Gold Mine Ranch, Martinelli Road Vineyard, Montafi Ranch, Pagani Ranch Vineyard, Papera Ranch, Rossi Ranch Vineyard, Saitone Ranch, and Two Acres) are considered historic vineyards by the Historic Vineyard Society.
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We are talking Zinfandel on the 19th for #winephabetstreet. Love the variety!
In the case, you’ll be ending Wine Alphabet on a high note!
Sounds amazing, I’ve always heard of Carlisle but have not had any yet. When I see 16% abv, I usually shy away, but I’m guessing it was well balanced.
I think this one is a good reminder to not “profile” a wine by its ABV alone. I remember going to a seminar years ago where Tehran Passalaqua of Turley/Sandlands (the later certainly fall int o the low abv category) emphasized the importance of balance. He specifically mention how his wife is sensitive to high abv wine. He gave her a 17% abv wine (Grenache if memory serves) she parishes the wine for its balance and was shocked to find out it was 17% (as I would be) Long winded way to say yes. The wine has great counterbalancing acidity. I also think that certain grape varieties tend to be higher alcohol… Such as Zinfandel.