Carlisle Winery & Vineyards Bennett Valley Syrah 2018

95 Points - limited                        Rare Syrah release from the Radiant Ridge Vineyard from Carlisle, one of our favorite small producers!  Very limited. If you’re a lover of Northern Rhônes, you’ll find a lot to like in this cool-ish climate Syrah. 95 Points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2018 Syrah Radiant Ridge is fabulous. Inky, rich and savory, the 2018 captures all of the signatures of this cool site on the border of the Bennett Valley appellation. Black pepper, lavender, sage and spice add layers of dimension to a core on blue/purplish fruit. The 20% whole clusters are beautifully woven into the wine’s fabric. What I admire most about the 2018 is the interplay of textural richness and cool-climate savoriness. The 2018 is a compelling wine. That’s all there is to it." 93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "From the cooler Bennett Valley in Sonoma, the 2018 Syrah Radiant Ridge Vineyard is all Syrah and has a cool-climate, complex, almost Cornas-like vibe that I certainly love. Black and blue fruits, olives, bacon fat, and ground pepper all dominate the bouquet, and this beauty hits the palate with loads of Syrah meatiness, medium to full body, ripe, polished (yet present) tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and is undeniably California Syrah yet seems to have one foot in the Northern Rhône." Robert Parker: "...From humble beginnings in 1998, Carlisle continues to go from strength to strength, growing from a solid philosophy of sourcing mainly Zinfandel and Rhône varieties from ancient vineyards in Sonoma and further afield. So, most of the vines used by Mike and Kendall Officer were planted from 1888 to 1934. From 2013, they have their own winery in which to create their magic—the old Robert Mueller winery in Russian River Valley."

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