Carlisle Winery & Vineyards Old Hill Ranch Red Blend 2022

        Limited new Zinfandel from Carlisle. 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2022 Old Hill Ranch Red Wine is a field blend of mostly Zinfandel and a host of nearly 20 other red varieties, aged in 15% new French oak barrels. It has a deep red hue and reveals a layered and introspective nose boasting aromas of fresh leather, sage, mushroomy earth, and dried berries. Medium to full-bodied, it has a characteristic weightless feel, with ripe tannins and a well-balanced, even-keeled finish that slowly tapers away. It will be a wine to forget about in the cellar for a few years and return to as it opens up with bottle age in the next several years. Drink 2026-2040." 96 Points Wine Spectator: "Briary and brooding, this dark red offers distinctive blackberry and currant flavors infused with chunky chocolate, licorice and fruitcake spices while gathering richness and texture toward medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel. Drink now through 2035. 477 cases made. "  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." Old Hill...  Truly a magical place and recently highlighted in the Wine Spectator as one of the greatest vineyards in the world.  No matter what Mother Nature throws at it, the fruit is always superb, a reflection of all the love and TLC given to these 137-year-old vines by master grower Will Bucklin.  While yields in 2022 were considerably more than in 2020 and 2021, they were still relatively modest at approximately 2 tons per acre.  Picked September 12th.  Twenty-five days on the skins.  Pressed to all French oak, only 15% new.  Unfined.  Unfiltered.  Unbelievably delicious.

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