- Home/
Carlisle Winery & Vineyards Carlisle Vineyard Zinfandel 2013
Fantastic new Zin release from Carlisle, one of our favorite small producers! Very limited.94 Points Antonio Galloni: "The 2013 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard brings together all the best elements of the house style. Huge and explosive on the palate, the Carlisle is wonderfully complex, with notable depth and power. Dark red cherries, wild flowers, tobacco, menthol and licorice blossom as the 2013 shows off its personality. This site, which was planted in 1927, is mostly Zinfandel. The blocks Mike Officer uses contain an estimated 39(!) other varieties, both white and red, all of which are represented in this blend." Robert Parker: "One of the great success stories in Northern California is the genesis of Carlisle Winery, whose owner, Mike Officer, began as a wine hobbiest / software developer and grew into a full-time wine producer who has done more to save head-pruned, old-vine Zinfandel vineyards than anyone else in the United States. He built his reputation on full-flavored red wines and continues to fine-tune these beauties, often field blends of what are generically referred to as “mixed blacks” planted primarily by Italian immigrants prior to Prohibition."
Ratings on Delectable
Ray Isle 
Executive Wine Editor Food & Wine Magazine
Impressive old vine Zin. Lots of spice, powerful but not out of balance. Too young! - would love to keep for several years.
Impressive old vine Zin. Lots of spice, powerful but not out of balance. Too young! - would love to keep for several years.
9.2
Brian Tuite
Way too young.
Way too young.
8.9
Meg Maker
Wine Writer, Maker's Table
Made from Zinfandel interplanted in 1927 with Petite Sirah, Grand Noir de la Calmette, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, and Peloursin; these were co-fermented with the Zin. The wine feels painfully young and quite fruity, like cherries steeped in rose syrup with a top note of menthol. Soft tannins but pronounced acidity constitute the body; the aromatic top notes of anise, mint, and leather throw out a life saver. 700 cases produced. 15.3% abv (sample)
Made from Zinfandel interplanted in 1927 with Petite Sirah, Grand Noir de la Calmette, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, and Peloursin; these were co-fermented with the Zin. The wine feels painfully young and quite fruity, like cherries steeped in rose syrup with a top note of menthol. Soft tannins but pronounced acidity constitute the body; the aromatic top notes of anise, mint, and leather throw out a life saver. 700 cases produced. 15.3% abv (sample)
7.2
Charles Garrison
Beautiful Zin; dark fruits with predominantly late season red fruits; some sediment; no heat and well balanced…
Beautiful Zin; dark fruits with predominantly late season red fruits; some sediment; no heat and well balanced…
9.3
Aaron Rankin
Burgers, corn, and Carlisle. Happy Memorial Day!
Burgers, corn, and Carlisle. Happy Memorial Day!
9.3
Trent Fletcher
My favorite of all the Carlisle Zins year over year. This is in a pretty good place right now; just a slight bit of heat on the nose and palate but not obtrusive; wonderful perfume of dark red and black berries, baking spices, sweet blackberry jam; palate very much the same with the typical Carlisle Zin bramble; sweet tannins; consumed over two days and consistent throughout; really a great structured wine that’s really enjoyable right now but should still be solid after several more years.
My favorite of all the Carlisle Zins year over year. This is in a pretty good place right now; just a slight bit of heat on the nose and palate but not obtrusive; wonderful perfume of dark red and black berries, baking spices, sweet blackberry jam; palate very much the same with the typical Carlisle Zin bramble; sweet tannins; consumed over two days and consistent throughout; really a great structured wine that’s really enjoyable right now but should still be solid after several more years.
9.4Aaron Rankin
One of those wines you love at the moment, and wish you could revisit in 5, 10 years.
One of those wines you love at the moment, and wish you could revisit in 5, 10 years.
9.3
Marconnie
Our second bottle last night and the cause of us being up so late. So thanks!!!Probably rated a little high because I’m such a Zinner...Zinhead...ZinQueen. Whatever, it was good. I would describe this wine as a good kisser. The kind that makes your toes curl and leads to more and more kisses (wine). Get some now and join us!!! - kisses, Connie
Our second bottle last night and the cause of us being up so late. So thanks!!!Probably rated a little high because I’m such a Zinner...Zinhead...ZinQueen. Whatever, it was good. I would describe this wine as a good kisser. The kind that makes your toes curl and leads to more and more kisses (wine). Get some now and join us!!! - kisses, Connie
9.5Kirk F
Happy Halloween! This is a real treat, a fascinating Zin from vines planted in 1927. This is a field blend of 87% Zin with 39, yes 39, other varietals contributing. 9 of them white! These are really hard to wait for but I'm glad we popped this tonight. Spice and dark fruit abound in a very balanced palate and the finish is tantalizingly long. Who needs candy?
Happy Halloween! This is a real treat, a fascinating Zin from vines planted in 1927. This is a field blend of 87% Zin with 39, yes 39, other varietals contributing. 9 of them white! These are really hard to wait for but I'm glad we popped this tonight. Spice and dark fruit abound in a very balanced palate and the finish is tantalizingly long. Who needs candy?
9.3Rob Squire
When in Sonoma....
When in Sonoma....
8.9
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.