Winery - Carlisle
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
The little vineyard, on the east side of the valley, is 101 years old, and was planted to a wide array of varieties, in the old Italian-American immigrant fashion. The wine is dry, complex and ageworthy. This ’08 is deep in berry, spice, licorice and anise flavors, with a tang of minerals. It’s fresh, vibrant and utterly distinctive. Will develop over the next decade.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
From a warmer part of the appellation, a very ripe wine with lots of distinction. Enormous alcohol, 16.5%, but who cares? The aroma is decadent, suggesting cassis, cherry liqueur, mocha and vanilla. Flamboyant flavors of ripe, sweet blackberries are wrapped in smooth, dry tannins.
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Carlisle Syrah - 2001
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Has some green peppercorn, minty notes in this very dry, tannic wine that lead you to believe not all the berries were fully ripe. That said, there’s enough berry flavor to stand up to a rich Italian dish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Always a leader in “Pet,” this vintage is concentrated and intense, with lush flavors of cassis, blackberry, blueberry, anise and toast. It’s a big, full-bodied wine, with firm tannins and a bit soft, but it’s oh, so drinkable! There’s a bit of heat in the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Brutally good—in fact, fabulous—Syrah. Has the class, depth and richness of the best Northern Rhônes. The density of texture is like molten lead, with a quicksilvery mouthfeel that spreads delicious fruit across the palate. Yet despite all this power, the wine feels light and feathery. It combines elegance with mass in an extraordinary way.
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Carlisle Syrah - 2000
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Bright edged in texture, the wine offers a toasty frame of Bing cherry, cinnamon, raspberry, spice and herb flavors. Cola and coffee also hold sway, held in moderate tannins. The finish is also moderate in length.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Another stunning release from Mike Officer, made from an old field blend. The aroma is gorgeous, with show-stopping wild berry fruit, grilled meat, high-toned lacquer, smoke and Oriental spice. Once you sip it, you’re addicted. Massive fruity-spicy flavors, unbelievably rich and delicious, and bone dry, with superb, complex tannins and fresh, young acids. This wine is wonderful now but clearly has the bones to improve in the cellar.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Pretty aromatics of strawberry, raspberry, and a waft of vanilla and smoke. Drinks delicate and refined, very fruity-jammy, with sleek, silky tannins. This racy wine is made from Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Licorice and spice lead off here. The wine continues with a bright-edged note, showing spicy cherry, berry, cola, chocolate and herb flavors. A little hot on the finish, it is nonetheless quite pleasing.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An amazing wine, made from old vines near Olivet Lane. The grapes were mistaken for Zinfandel for decades and sold as such, until recently identified as Petite Sirah, Valdepenas, Mourvèdre and Alicante Bouschet. This is as authentic a field blend as I have ever seen—and the best. Impossible to exaggerrate the purity, depth and concentration. Magnificent, lush texture, fabulous tannins, this wine is world class in every sense.
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