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Carlisle Winery & Vineyards Carlisle Vineyard Zinfandel 2014
94 Points Limited new Zinfandel from Carlisle. 94 Points Robert Parker: "The personality-filled Michael Officer and his beloved Carlisle Winery & Vineyards continues to turn out a gorgeous portfolio of exuberant, lovingly made, stunningly fruity and outright beautiful wines from historic vineyards and iconic grapes that, until the last generation or so, had tended to be forgotten in the early days of California winedom, after the repeal of Prohibition. Of course, that’s no longer the case, and thanks to people such as Larry Turley in Napa and Morgan Twain-Peterson, Mike Officer and Don Hartford – all Sonoma County vignerons – the preservation and exploitation of great, old-vine, dry-farmed, head-pruned vineyards is assured... ...Carlisle’s 2013s are spectacular, as one would expect, and at the end of these notes I quickly summarize his beautiful 2014s, which are probably going to be even fruitier and much more approachable once in bottle than his more concentrated and profound 2013s.
Ratings on Delectable
Patrick Derdeyn 
Russian River fruit is just so damn tasty. Can’t want to try the new Piner-Olivet blend from Carlisle this year.
Russian River fruit is just so damn tasty. Can’t want to try the new Piner-Olivet blend from Carlisle this year.
9.2
Al Shikoh
* appearance: dark purple black * aromas: dark berries, mint, violet * palate: multilayered, dark brambly berries * structure: medium body, silky tannin, medium+ acid, 15% alcohol * finish: long spicy * winemaking: sourced from vineyard planted in 1927 in Piner-Olivet district of Russian River Valley which is a great site for old vine Zinfandel, field blend of dozens of interplaneted varieties including Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, and Peloursin * pairing: homemade barbecue ribs * cost: $47
* appearance: dark purple black * aromas: dark berries, mint, violet * palate: multilayered, dark brambly berries * structure: medium body, silky tannin, medium+ acid, 15% alcohol * finish: long spicy * winemaking: sourced from vineyard planted in 1927 in Piner-Olivet district of Russian River Valley which is a great site for old vine Zinfandel, field blend of dozens of interplaneted varieties including Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, and Peloursin * pairing: homemade barbecue ribs * cost: $47
9.2
Aaron Rankin
Pairing to chicken chili, I considered a Gamay, a fresh Tempranillo, and an over extracted bomb (eh, when in Rome). Ultimately I chose this classy Zin. It’s texturally beautiful — creamy yet sleek riding on a bed of smooth, fresh acid. Between some cellar age and the complexity imparted by 87 year old vines (as of the vintage) and the diverse field blend, this wine is a real stunner against any bottle, not just its Zin brethren. Carlisle kills it and this vineyard more than deserves the namesake.
Pairing to chicken chili, I considered a Gamay, a fresh Tempranillo, and an over extracted bomb (eh, when in Rome). Ultimately I chose this classy Zin. It’s texturally beautiful — creamy yet sleek riding on a bed of smooth, fresh acid. Between some cellar age and the complexity imparted by 87 year old vines (as of the vintage) and the diverse field blend, this wine is a real stunner against any bottle, not just its Zin brethren. Carlisle kills it and this vineyard more than deserves the namesake.
9.4Alex Leonardini
As always, Carlisle killing it. Reigning in the jam and keeping acid fresh makes them one of the more complex, long-lived zinfandel producers of Zinfandel in California.
As always, Carlisle killing it. Reigning in the jam and keeping acid fresh makes them one of the more complex, long-lived zinfandel producers of Zinfandel in California.
9.4
Charles Garrison
Red fruits...’14 has a few years ahead of it
Red fruits...’14 has a few years ahead of it
9.2Aaron Rankin
Very good, with its youth not at all holding it back. The racy acid is in perfect balance to the rich fruit.
Very good, with its youth not at all holding it back. The racy acid is in perfect balance to the rich fruit.
9.3Kirk F
Enormous zin. Opened for 90 minutes, no decant. Showed very well tonight, loads of fruit. Great complement to our meals.
Enormous zin. Opened for 90 minutes, no decant. Showed very well tonight, loads of fruit. Great complement to our meals.
9.1Kirk F
Decanted while we demolished a Pinot. After 30 minutes, still massive. Plush and mouth coating - just what I like in a zin!
Decanted while we demolished a Pinot. After 30 minutes, still massive. Plush and mouth coating - just what I like in a zin!
9.2
Noah Raizman
Was worried this particular case of infanticide was going to be egregious but in fact this is Drinking beautifully - lush, full-throated but with good balancing acidity. Like blueberry and blackberry liqueur with an astonishing freshness. Nice wine.
Was worried this particular case of infanticide was going to be egregious but in fact this is Drinking beautifully - lush, full-throated but with good balancing acidity. Like blueberry and blackberry liqueur with an astonishing freshness. Nice wine.
9.2
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